02 Expy trans overheating when towing
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Joined: Jul 2006
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02 Expy trans overheating when towing
Looking for any advice.
We've had an '02 Expy with the 5.4 since 2004. We've done light towing with it from day one. 6x10 enclosed trailer with about 500-600lbs loaded in it. It currently has 140K miles. We've ALWAYS kept up with the maintenance and I have always locked out OD when towing.
While in the past we did not have a trans cooler, we never had issues. But this year the first time we towed I noticed that trans fluid was coming out the overflow when we towed over two mountains we have to cross. I had a trans cooler installed and our next trip everything seemed ok.
This past weekend however we again experienced fluid coming out the overflow. Now, it was in the 90's and we had the a/c running. But I thought we had taken care of things by installing the cooler.
Can I cure this problem by simply turning off the a/c whenever we head over the two mountains we have to cross? Is there anything else that can be done/installed/changed?
Or do I have a bigger problem at hand?
Thanks in advance.
We've had an '02 Expy with the 5.4 since 2004. We've done light towing with it from day one. 6x10 enclosed trailer with about 500-600lbs loaded in it. It currently has 140K miles. We've ALWAYS kept up with the maintenance and I have always locked out OD when towing.
While in the past we did not have a trans cooler, we never had issues. But this year the first time we towed I noticed that trans fluid was coming out the overflow when we towed over two mountains we have to cross. I had a trans cooler installed and our next trip everything seemed ok.
This past weekend however we again experienced fluid coming out the overflow. Now, it was in the 90's and we had the a/c running. But I thought we had taken care of things by installing the cooler.
Can I cure this problem by simply turning off the a/c whenever we head over the two mountains we have to cross? Is there anything else that can be done/installed/changed?
Or do I have a bigger problem at hand?
Thanks in advance.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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It sounds like you have a restricted cooling line. Perhaps one of them was smashed and damaged by road debris. I'd start with a visual inspection of the cooling lines.
BTW, the A/C has very little affect on the temperature of the tranny fluid. Yes, the tranny fluid runs through the radiator and shares heat with the cooling system, but if you're not overheating, then the A/C being on or off isn't going to make any real difference.
BTW, the A/C has very little affect on the temperature of the tranny fluid. Yes, the tranny fluid runs through the radiator and shares heat with the cooling system, but if you're not overheating, then the A/C being on or off isn't going to make any real difference.
