I have a 93 awd. On long trips tranny seems to heat up and oil blows out vent tube onto exhaust . Leaves major smoke trail and oil all over back window. I have an aftermarket tranny cooler. Anybody have any ideas.

 

When was the last time the fluid was replaced and the tranny was fully flushed. Chances are you are letting the torque converter come unlocked and the tranny is overheating. (A tranny cooler cannot completely overcome the heat generated by this, it just buys you more time). Old fluid cannot dissipate the heat properly and overheats more easily than new fluid. There is a very strong possibility that the leak is not coming from the vents, but rather from one of the front seals in the transmission.

And as always, don't overlook the simple. What is the transmission fluid level. Its not overfilled is it?

Overheating is the leading cause of transmission failure, and on the A4LD, driving for any length of time with the torque converter unlocked results in excessive heat build up. The best thing to do when the torque converter comes unlocked from either pulling a load, or going up hills is to take it out of overdrive and use drive instead. Even if the torque converter comes unlocked in 3rd gear, the attack ratio is much lower, so the heat output is also much lower. My transmission overheated once before and puked fluid, but I was pulling a heavy trailer uphill in overdrive, and it was a hot day with old fluid. I know better now, and have not had this happen since. I have no qualms about pulling a trailer in OD, or even going up hills for that matter, but as soon as that torque converter comes unlocked, I either back off the throttle, or take it out of OD.

 

Oops, misread your post