Anyone out there work on Ranger trannies a lot? My auto tranny "developed" a leak. I don't know when it got there, but I do know it wasn't there 2 weekends ago. I know this because I changed my engine oil and I always do a complete under-body inspection at the same time.

The only way I can imagine it is the tailshaft housing gasket sprung a leak at the top of the tranny, or I super-heated the trans fluid, and it overflowed out the breather (if it has one.)

I'm hoping that's all it is (the breather) but if it's a gasket, would it be a warranty thing? I'm still under the factory 3/60 warranty. My owners manual recommends changing the trans oil and filter at 50 000 kms when used in severe duty like towing or something like that. I've never towed with it before (but that's soon to change. We just got a travel trailer.) I could probably get the oil and filter changed if the gasket is a warranty item.

Something else that may help you with getting me some answers, the fluid leakage appears to have sprayed the underside of the drivers side of my cab, and onto my frame rail, soaking my brake and fuel lines, just behind the frame boxing. Fluid also made it's way back to my left rear shock.

(This is what alerted me to a problem, as I was installing a class 3 hitch. I look over and see my shock "leaking" but it aint shock fluid. I look forward to the front of the truck and see green. On closer inspection it is a green sticker but I find the mysterious out of nowhere tranny fluid.)

Anyway, back to problem. This residual tranny fluid is still red. It isn't brown, or burned. It doesn't smell burned. I'm even questioning if there is a leak. Can an overheat situation spray fluid out my breather in this way? Is it something I should worry about, and remedy by way of a larger trans cooler? Or do you more experienced tranny techs want to lean towards a warranty gasket?

Thanks in advance.

ps it's a 5 speed auto. Not sure if it's a 44 or 55.

 

Yes, it's possible that the tranny fluid can overheat and spray out the vent tube. My 5R55E has a vent tube, so your's probably does too.

But how/why would your tranny overheat?

IMO, if you are under warranty, then make an appointment and bring it in for diagnostics. At the very least, you will have it on record with Ford as to what happened...

 

I already made an appointment at a dealership for Monday night. Too bad for me that I couldn't get it in any sooner. I have to drag a trailer home Saturday from 3 1/2 hours away, lots of hills. One summit is 1500 meters, the other is 1200. Lots of up and down.

I checked the fluid level again, it is over the hatch marks on the dipstick. Idunno. May have been a one time thing. I'll have another closer look tomorrow.

I'll have to grab a couple bottles of atf before I go, and keep an eye on it. After the dealership looks at it, I'll be upgrading to a larger cooler.

Thanks, Rockledge.