Lost transmission fluid today

[Pdwight]

I was driving to work (30 mile ) and half way there I noticed a car right behind me and a lot of smoke. I thought that car is sure smoking bad...then it passed and and the smoke was still there..a quick glance and good oil pressure and engine in the cool zone on the temp gauge....no warning lights. I pulled over at a gas stop and the entire back of the explorer was covered in transmission fluid....not a drop on the dip stick. I had the vehicle towed home and used some gunk engine cleaner on the bottom side that was completely soaked in transmission fluid and then pressure washed it off...it is now drying.

It had to empty really fast, this was no slow leak. The transmission was supposedly rebuilt a few years ago and only had about 20K on it...in fact the transmission fluid on the rear of the explorer was still nice and pink.

Any ideas where to look first ?

This is a 1994 Limited 4X4

Thanks in advance
Dwight

I do not want to lose the old girl if I can help...we been through a lot together

 

[natenkiki2004]

You'll have to fill it up with fluid and run the engine a few minutes to see where it drips from. Likely the front seal or cooler line to dump that quick. I might lean towards the cooler line, the exhaust runs nearby and fluid leaking there would quickly get up onto the exhaust and smoke. That or the trans just overheated and puked out the overflow tube onto the exhaust.

 

[Pdwight]

If none on the stick, how much I add to start this process ?

Also any Automatic transmission fluid labeled for Ford use ?

 

[Pdwight]

Bad to worse

Added 4 quarts and the leak appears to be between the engine and transmission, ther is a weep hole there and it pours out....I could move the vehicle just fine but a steady stream of fluid came out.....not sure if the old Limited is worth repair or not....nothing really wrong with it....it has a new alternator, new rotors, new radiator, interior is still in good condition

 

[the_don]

did the "steady stream of fluid" come from the front, or side of trans?

 

[Pdwight]

front, right where the cross hatch pattern is where the bellhousing meets the engine

 

[the_don]

You have a bad front pump seal. cheap and easy to replace the seal itself but you have to pull the trans to do it.

 

[natenkiki2004]

Yep, that's one of those $5 parts but $800 in labor things that sends vehicles to junkyards.

If you can pull the trans yourself, you can save the vehicle. Many threads on here about that. There's also something about the input shaft bushing and how you used to have to have them machined in but there's a new one that just pops in. I'm sure others will chime in and point you in the right direction.

 

[FR-425]

info: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55566

Pics: (VERY IMPORTANT!) Notice in the picture the seal is "staked" in. You can see that the housing around the seal has been smashed down around the seal with a chisel. This is called "staking" if not done the seal will fail.
Do not "stake" it in the same spots, create new one's. 6 locations. A lot of rebuilders do not do it and it's just a matter of time before the seal pops out. Also don't over do it and warp the seal. You will also notice in this picture that this trans has been rebuilt, that's a lot of "staking". An un-rebuilt trans will just have 6.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224969&highlight=seal

 

[Pdwight]

Thanks FR-425

I know about staking, I used to do quite a bit of gunsmithing on 1911s and Colt Pythons. Reading a bit deeper into the thread it recommends having the seal machined out to remain concentric...what are the odds of finding a used tranny and just replace it...am I shooting in the dark ??

 

[natenkiki2004]

Great odds, you always find the A4LD in a junkyard. Now, whether it works or not is another question

This is what I was talking about earlier:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3296659

There's also this thread with a lot of info:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224969&highlight=seal

 

[FR-425]

Thanks FR-425

I know about staking, I used to do quite a bit of gunsmithing on 1911s and Colt Pythons. Reading a bit deeper into the thread it recommends having the seal machined out to remain concentric...what are the odds of finding a used tranny and just replace it...am I shooting in the dark ??

Na, the machining is only for the bushing. If the bell housing is the original no machining is necessary. The machining is only needed when mating a different trans to the engine.

As for cleaning up the distortion from the staking you can just do it by hand. The Aluminum is soft enough to trim with an Exacto knife, touch up with emery.

So, the question remains; is it the original trans or a replacement that was not installed correctly?

If it's original the whole machining thing is not necessary as it was all done at factory assembly. Replacing parts and reinstalling won't mess up the alignment.

 

[Pdwight]

Na, the machining is only for the bushing. If the bell housing is the original no machining is necessary. The machining is only needed when mating a different trans to the engine.

As for cleaning up the distortion from the staking you can just do it by hand. The Aluminum is soft enough to trim with an Exacto knife, touch up with emery.

So, the question remains; is it the original trans or a replacement that was not installed correctly?

If it's original the whole machining thing is not necessary as it was all done at factory assembly. Replacing parts and reinstalling won't mess up the alignment.

Original Transmission

 

[FR-425]

That's a good thing. You can just pop a seal in there and drive on.