Hi All, I have a 93 xlt e4wd, 64000 miles. I recently had the tranny fluids changed , new filter ,new gaskets. I also have the factory rad. cooler and big external cooler under bumper. Well I towed my boat with it Aprox. 1200 pounds. Crossing mountain passes some as high as 5800ft and one at 3800. Well as i was approaching the peak of both, tranny starts blowing fluid and smoking. Pulled over and filled it with 2qts. of oil. Tranny still seems to shift fine no leaks etc. pulls like a hot damn on freeway and level ground . My ? is What the hell happened. Thanks Pat

 

Front and or Rear shaft seal on the transmission are excessively worn. The bearings may be a ittle worn too. While its a bad thing to have to have your vehicle repaired, and nobody looks forward to it (unless its preventive), this is not the most expensive thing to have serviced, and you can also do it yourself, though I have never done it before. I have been told by numberous other forum members who have done it that is is fairly straightforward. I had the seals on mine quoted at a local tranny shop, and they said $180.

 

Sounds like a typical overheat issue....You may need an aftermarket cooler. Hills are deadly on tranny temps..Ford super duties will do this also.

Dick

 

were you towing in overdrive OD?
add a transmission oil temp gauge, monitor temp...goes above 200d F, drop a gear or pull over and let cool.

 

I was towing in OD on the flats , then D, up the hill. I was on the north pass Hwy# 20 going to Brewester Wa.

 

Ford say NO OD towing with Aero A4LD tranny, only 3rd and lower
I tow in OD w the electronic version 4R55E on days below 75d F on flat ground only and drop to 3rd at least a mile before any major uphill....I'm running full fill of Mobil 1 synthetic ATF which will withstand towing temps longer before thinning, breaking down and puking out the seals and filler tube.

that's a steep hard curvy pull eastbound and long pull westbound, we've had some hot spells....
any overheating signs on engine temp gauge?

how many miles on fan clutch? any cracks in fan blades allowing excessive flexing?
low speed hill pull cooling relies almost totally on fan air draw....

has fins in radiator, condenser and tranny cooler been blow out with water nozzle lately?....i use water nozzle on hose full blast from back side....high pressure spray at DIYer car wash may have too much pressure and bend over fins.....pull grill and check visually for any plugging...shine light from backside....

if tranny cooler is not up in main air flow from grill, move....Ford mounts the factory aux tranny cooler in air blocked worthless location...

here's a cool dual sensor accurate digital temp gauge that i'm using in another truck app...runs on internal battery for several years...i use 1 probe on auto tranny out line and one on thermostat housing....far more accurate than these idiot "NORMAL" gauges auto manuf.s peddle.

http://www.azeltec.com/images/brochure.pdf
http://www.accentshopping.com/store/...rols/DS60P.asp

 

For maximum cooling get an old a/c condensor.
Clean it out good and install a pusher fan.

 

--I've often wondered if that would work well as a tranny cooler. Any precautions as to cleaning out any residue first? As it now is, I just added an extra (larger) tranny cooler from a junk yard donor. I might try your idea on my '51 F1 truck with C4, lotsa room to install it in front of the huge stock radiator there.

 

Just pour some solvent into it and blow it out.
Then reverse the procedure.