transmission oil leak

[J_L_K_64]

i need some input, maybe an answer to help me please

i've got a 92 ford ranger with a completely stock driveline, (3.0/a4ld auto tranny)
lately when i try to get out of town and get to the next town over, i get the truck up to about 45-50 or so on the highway and after about 5 minutes or so of the truck staying at that speed, it starts spitting smoke out so i pull over and pop the hood to see what it is, except the smoke is coming from underneath, so i crawl under and find that tranny oil is leaking on the catalytic converter which is causing the smoke, but i noticed that when that happens, it looks like it spewed out from the filler tube-hit the inside of the hood-then leaked down


anyways i can't find exactly where it is leaking from whether it is from the filler tube or somewhere else i don't know but i need some ideas/suggestions on how i could find the leak, and what might be causing it

my wifes father says he thinks that a vacuum hose might be loose or have a hole in it that connects to the tranny, would that be possible? (he can't look at it personally as he has mobility issues, but he was a mechanic for 30 some odd years and a tow truck driver for another 20 some odd years)



and i'm sorry for the walls of text
if you need more info, ask me, i'll answer the best i can

 

[J_L_K_64]

bump?

 

[Explorin94]

You have several things that can be checked.
1. Look at your bellhousing. does it have a significant drip coming from the bottom? If it does then your front seal may be gone
2. Check your dipstick tube make sure it is all the way together and no holes.
3. Look at the passenger side of the transmission. Look for a metal line then goes rubber and into the vacuum modulator for the transmission. Pull the rubber line off the transmission and see if you have fluid come out. If it does your modulator is bad, Also while you are there look at that rubber line real good. It may be broke.
4. There is a vent tube on the top of the transmission. If the top of the transmission is wet, then it is blowing fluid out of the vent.

 

[J_L_K_64]

alright, thanks for that i've got some stuff to do next time i have free time, appreciate it

 

[Explorin94]

No problem. If you need anymore help you know what to do.