Hello all, first time poster.
My '92 XLT (with auto and 4.2L), dumped an unknown quantity of ATF two days ago with my fiance driving. As is idled in front of the house, I would say it dropped half a quart of hot ATF. A dipstick check indicated low fluid level (as in, non on the dipstick.)

Yesterday, I got underneath it and wiped everything down to get the surface clean. Put three quarts in, let idle to warm, and checked the level. If anything it looks too high, around an inch above the crosshatched area on the dipstick. Test drove 10 miles or so, checking the fluid level twice on level ground. Got it home, no indication of fluid loss.

Wanted to get your opinions on what could have happend. Could it have been too full and boiled over (90+ heat here in Memphis)? Changed the fluid a month or so ago, may have overfilled then.

Also, on the very bottom of the metal seal between the bellhousing and the trasmission case, the seal has an exact 1-inch gap, but it looks machined to be that way. Is this present in yours?

Any opinions are greatly appreciated!

JEC

 

Sounds like pressure relief to me. Was it being driven excessively hard before it dumped the fuel?

I had that happen umpteen years ago on my 65 Mustang (new at the time) because I was pulling a uhaul trailer cross-country at 80-85 mph. Lost several quarts of transmission fluid, having to add at every gas fill up (100 miles). When I got to my destination, I took it to the dealer where I purchased it, who found no problem. I drove it 3 years without a re-occurrence.




Winford

 

 

My 91 did the same thing. Dumped enough fluid from the front pump seal while parked that it would not move. Refilled it (many quarts) and it continued to lose fluid at a smaller rate for couple of days then stopped. It was a prelude of things to come but ran fine for several more months before it gave completely out.
Sounds like your seal may be getting stiff from age. All it takes is a small amount of grit to lodge between seal face and torque conv neck (on an older seal) to cause a leak that sometimes goes away after running a while .
You did not state the mileage, but on a 92 I'll bet it is getting up there. Assuming the original transmission is in there, it is probably time for some strange things to start happening.
You may want to consider getting the seal replaced now, before you do some major trans damage from catastrophic fluid loss. While trans is down for service, a complete fluid and filter change would also be in order.
I checked mine, and did not see the gap you mentioned between bell housing and transmission??? Not sure what you were looking at. If it is open, and you can stick a small screwdriver into it, that does not sound normal.
Dialtone

 

I'm at just under 98K miles and this is her second tranny. My best guestimate is 40K miles on this one, didn't own it at the time; but the firm that did the job is first rate.

Is now the time to think about selling to avoid later trouble? I love all things automotive, but I'm certainly not a wrench!

 

Don't panic just yet and throw out a possible good automobile. 40K is not high mileage for a rebuilt transmission done right.

Question: Did you determine where the fluid came from? If front pump seal is leaking, it would be comming out between bell housing and thin metal rear engine cover plate. If it came from elsewhere (like top of transmission or high up on one side), then it is possibly comming from case vent tube. Overfilling or some kind of trapped/expanding air pocket could force some fluid out like previous poster indicated on his Mustang.
If you are no wrench and really want some peace of mind, a trip to reputable trans shop could answer your questions. If nothing else, 40K miles is a good place for a complete fluid & filter change. While they are doing that, they can look the rest of it over and check for excess debris in oil pan indicating something may be headed south.
Dialtone

 

Dialtone, Winford:

Many thanks for your insights!
I'm driving the truck today and all seems okay. Will get the fluid level right over the weekend, then take it one step at a time.

Thanks again for helping out a newbie!

JEC