This is a continuation of a post I made this Monday. 1997 F250, extended cab, E4OD, 4.10's with 285/75/16. No mods except a tymar intake. Ford replacement tranny about apprx. 60k ago. Tranny fluid replaced last week. Pulling a 14ft cattle trailer last weekend with one horse (I can't imagine it would weigh more than 5k) about 100 miles at highway speed the tranny puked about 4 qts of fluid under the body. I had it towed, scanned for codes (none) and filled back up. Fluid was not burnt. Assumed faulty trailer brake wiring kept t.c. from locking, thus over heating. Repaired wiring and towed same load today. No leaks after apprx. 20 miles at highway speed. At destination tranny had blown 2 qts of fluid. (still not burnt) T.C. was locking like should on this tow. I know it was hot today (100 or so) was running at about 68 mph (at that speed the truck would not shift down on grades, apprx, 2200 rpm's) but I'm guessing the tranny is still getting too hot. Am I trying to drive too fast? I'm getting passed right and left by dodges with loads twice mine (at least), my coolant temp guage goes to around the "R" in Normal, but that doesn't tell me anything. But it usally sits on the "N" when driving unloaded under the same conditions. I'm thinking it's time to replace the punny tranny cooler, but there has to be something else wrong as this load has to be too light to cause this kind of problem. Right? Anyone have any thoughts about what I'm missing? I don't want to buy a new tranny, but I can't keep a truck that can't pull a little weight. Thanks everyone.
AAM

 

You might want to check the cooler and radiator to see if it is clogged. There could be some restriction in the lines somewhere not letting it circulate through the cooler also. I have heard of some belching fluid when in reverse.

 

I have a 94 F150 with an E4OD that did the same thing last summer. My problem was possibly a little over-filled and towing in overdrive. The Engine temp was fine, but I think the tranny overheated. I know I dont have as much towing power as you, but the feelings seem to be mixed as to towing in Overdrive in these forums with the E4OD.

I was thinking about getting one of those tranny coolers with an electric fan.

 

Thanks for the responses. I can't imagine I'm pulling too much weight. A half ton could do this easily. It makes sense that coolant temp would get warmer (not as much as it was) so a flush is in the near future, but the tranny cooler is in front of the condenser, which is in front of the radiator right? (It's so small ya might miss it.) I'm pretty sure I can cure this with a larger tranny cooler, but I still think there is a bigger problem that caused this. Just doesn't make sense that a truck that should be able to haul 14k per factory manual would get stressed over pulling around 5k.