View Poll Results: why does my f250 tranny puke when I plow snow
secound rebuildt
2
66.67%
has a cooler
1
33.33%
f2tz-7v000-prm
0
0%
Voters: 3. You may not vote on this poll
red snow
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
I would get a temp gauge on your tranny and make sure you aren't overheating it. Pushing snow is hard work for an auto tranny. I have eliminated the radiator part of my cooler and am using my A/C condenser as a cooler, and it still gets to 190* in 6* weather with normal driving.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
Assuming that you're not overfilling your transmission, my next inclination would be overheat.
Are you sure there are no blockages or restrictions in your transmission cooling system?
Is the fluid bright red as it was when installed? Or is it getting brownish?
When did you change the filter (and fluid) last?
What did you use for transmission fluid? If it's old or cheap stuff, it might be foaming which will not cool and lubricate your transmission as well as it ought to and may spill out the overflow. Better fluids resist foaming better than lesser quality fluids.
I am by no means an expert, but I try to check the things I can do something about before I let a highly paid expert (butcher), uh, repair my stuff.
Are you sure there are no blockages or restrictions in your transmission cooling system?
Is the fluid bright red as it was when installed? Or is it getting brownish?
When did you change the filter (and fluid) last?
What did you use for transmission fluid? If it's old or cheap stuff, it might be foaming which will not cool and lubricate your transmission as well as it ought to and may spill out the overflow. Better fluids resist foaming better than lesser quality fluids.
I am by no means an expert, but I try to check the things I can do something about before I let a highly paid expert (butcher), uh, repair my stuff.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
As with YELLOW snow.....
don't eat the red snow either
!
I was just thinking...
I had an S-10 (I know, there's the problem right there) that had never had the coolant changed before I bought it. (I know, I shoulda checked it closer.)
I developed a cooling problem and once all the easy parts were either changed or checked, I discovered the fins were corroded entirely from the water pump. It was my daily driver so I didn't have any transmission trouble, but the poor folks I sold it to drove it about 14 miles two or three times a week.
When they called up complaining that the transmission was bad I checked the fluid and it was a good three inches up the dipstick overfull!
Later they said it had been using water as well. Well, you've figured it out, coolant was getting in the tranny. The trans oil cooler apparently started puking coolant into the trans oil. They still owed me $900 on it, so we called it even.
I tried to tell them to have a new radiator put in it and have the transmission flushed and refilled with new oil and filter, but they were convinced the transmission was finished. It still moved and shifted some. I thought it would be worth the price of some oil and filter to try it.
Back to your problem, how's the cooler and lines? Do you have an auxiliary cooler as well? Any coolant useage, rust color in coolant?
!I was just thinking...
I had an S-10 (I know, there's the problem right there) that had never had the coolant changed before I bought it. (I know, I shoulda checked it closer.)
I developed a cooling problem and once all the easy parts were either changed or checked, I discovered the fins were corroded entirely from the water pump. It was my daily driver so I didn't have any transmission trouble, but the poor folks I sold it to drove it about 14 miles two or three times a week.
When they called up complaining that the transmission was bad I checked the fluid and it was a good three inches up the dipstick overfull!
Later they said it had been using water as well. Well, you've figured it out, coolant was getting in the tranny. The trans oil cooler apparently started puking coolant into the trans oil. They still owed me $900 on it, so we called it even.
I tried to tell them to have a new radiator put in it and have the transmission flushed and refilled with new oil and filter, but they were convinced the transmission was finished. It still moved and shifted some. I thought it would be worth the price of some oil and filter to try it.
Back to your problem, how's the cooler and lines? Do you have an auxiliary cooler as well? Any coolant useage, rust color in coolant?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Two things
1) Your transmission is overheating
a) one because of the strain because
b) you are not using 4Lo
c) because of no air flow with the plow in front of it.
d) the cooler is too small
The solution is a much bigger fan cooler, use 4Lo, and do not push as much snow. FWIW: I have plowed with various Fords and Chevy trucks and have never had a transmission puke fluid, I suspect you have problems and not with just the plowing.
2) Are you sure it is not power steering fluid?
1) Your transmission is overheating
a) one because of the strain because
b) you are not using 4Lo
c) because of no air flow with the plow in front of it.
d) the cooler is too small
The solution is a much bigger fan cooler, use 4Lo, and do not push as much snow. FWIW: I have plowed with various Fords and Chevy trucks and have never had a transmission puke fluid, I suspect you have problems and not with just the plowing.
2) Are you sure it is not power steering fluid?
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New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Rebocardo's on the money. These transmissions get hot and force fluid past the front seal. Let them cool down and they usually quit leaking. Get a big cooler. Put a fan on it so you can actively cool it while plowing. Good luck & best regards.