Leaky A4LD

[Mhfco6]

I got about 180 miles in my trek back to see my grandpa who gave my this Bronco and I saw smoke pouring out of the back. I pulled over and trans fluid was on the ground. The dipstick said about 1-2 quarts low so I limped it to a parts store and filled it up. It eventually came back out the bottom. I continued on about 45 mins to my destination.


My question is should I look it 240 miles back home? It still runs fine. I am making sure to keep topping it off.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I got about 180 miles in my trek back to see my grandpa who gave my this Bronco and I saw smoke pouring out of the back. I pulled over and trans fluid was on the ground. The dipstick said about 1-2 quarts low so I limped it to a parts store and filled it up. It eventually came back out the bottom. I continued on about 45 mins to my destination.


My question is should I look it 240 miles back home? It still runs fine. I am making sure to keep topping it off.

Wheres it leaking?

If you keep it topped off it should be fine....but its gonna be an expensive trip

 

[Mhfco6]

Wheres it leaking?

If you keep it topped off it should be fine....but its gonna be an expensive trip.

Bell housing between the engine & trans. From some research, sounds like the front seal maybe? Topping off only does good damage control for sloshing around in turns. It starts about 1-2 quarts low on flat ground. If it would make it home, would still be cheaper than a tow truck.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Bell housing between the engine & trans. From some research, sounds like the front seal maybe? Topping off only does good damage control for sloshing around in turns. It starts about 1-2 quarts low on flat ground. If it would make it home, would still be cheaper than a tow truck.

Ouch.

I would probably try it.

but keep my fingers crossed too.

 

[Mhfco6]

Ouch.

I would probably try it.

but keep my fingers crossed too.

Thanks bro I’ll need all the help I can get. Here is what the dipstick looks like when truck is off. When in park it’s barely on the bottom of the stick.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You are starting it/running through the gears, and checking it with it warmed up right?

 

[Josh B]

I lost the seal in my 96 Explorer and only had 10 or 12 miles to go.
I had to stop every mile or so to let the red glow under there subside
Not sure I'd even tried that excepting I had a working fire extinguisher with me
I think mine was the 44RE or some such

 

[Mhfco6]

Ok now you guys are making me worried. Yes it’s warm and mine trans isn’t red hot, not glowing red anyway.

 

[Mhfco6]

Ive driven an hour so far at highway speeds. About to pull over and check levels and top off

 

[Mhfco6]

Made it home, once everything cools down I’ll take a look to see if anything is visible from the leak. Must not be too bad if I was able to drive 200 miles while topping off.

 

[Josh B]

Awesome man, I'm glad it worked for you, that must have been a tough call. I felt I should lay my story on you so you'd be aware of the alternative and maybe work harder to avoid it

 

[Mhfco6]

Awesome man, I'm glad it worked for you, that must have been a tough call. I felt I should lay my story on you so you'd be aware of the alternative and maybe work harder to avoid it

Now I need to find out where it’s leaking from. I did notice while topping off the last time.. as I filled through the dipstick more evident smoke came up through the engine bay. Almost like the filler neck was broke or cracked or the all the fluid wasn’t going into the trans but leaking onto something hot .. but I checked where it goes into the trans and it looks snug and correct.

 

[Josh B]

Does it have an oil cooler in there somewhere? That's all I can think of, but then I'm not a very knowledgeable transmission man, altho I seem to be fair at tearing them up

 

[Mhfco6]

Does it have an oil cooler in there somewhere? That's all I can think of, but then I'm not a very knowledgeable transmission man, altho I seem to be fair at tearing them up

Yes the radiator has lines that run to the trans. I’m hoping it just a filler neck or cooler line issue. When I would stop to top off the truck would start to over heat and I noticed some coolant leaking near under the overflow reservoir area. But once I started driving again or started the truck up it wasn’t over heating again. Hopefully someone here will chime in with some ideas.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yes the radiator has lines that run to the trans. I’m hoping it just a filler neck or cooler line issue. When I would stop to top off the truck would start to over heat and I noticed some coolant leaking near under the overflow reservoir area. But once I started driving again or started the truck up it wasn’t over heating again. Hopefully someone here will chime in with some ideas.

The motor is going to get hotter for a short time after you shut it off because the coolant quits circulating. I doubt thats related to your trans issue.