Signs of transmission trouble?

[bp1506]

I was driving the explorer hard all day today and when i got home i noticed about a quarter size drop on the driveway. Went in to investigate and found this to be transmission fluid. It seems to have dripped down from the vent tube from the transmission. There was also some just on the frame behind it and some spots on one of my skid plates.


i checked the fluid and it wasnt low. i drove it an hour later and it seems to be switching gears fine. I drove it hard up when i was accelerating up to around 3500 rpm and then i parked it in my driveway and i didnt get any new spots on the driveway.

Just wondering what else i should check or look for? , This is a 98 explorer sport with 138000 kilometers, i havent had any leaks from the transmission in the year that i have owned it.

thanks for looking.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I would suggest that you clean everything thoroughly, and place a piece of cardboard underneath it over night. Check it the next day. If it's dry, then don't worry about it for now. It's possible that it might have been a little overfilled, or maybe you were driving for a while on a steep incline, and it leaked out of the vent.

 

[dman726749]

prob just got a little hot and spit up a little throught the vent tube......prob be a good idea to put a cooler on it if it dosent already have one

 

[bp1506]

i think it has just the stock cooler thats infront of the radiator. I was thinking of getting the transmission and cooling system flushed during my next oil change.
The trans fluid looks red so i guess its still good.

It just scared me i guess.

Oh i have one more question while i am here. if i get the fluid flushed would it be a good idea to install one of those trans oil fliters?

 

[BrooklynBay]

An extra remote filter is a good idea. You could also install a transmission temperature gauge. They sell deep pans with built in cooling fins that hold an extra 3 quarts.

 

[bp1506]

Cool. Well i will see what happens tomorrow. check for leaks in the morning make sure all fluids are good, then go to work and see what happens.

Thanks for the help.

 

[bp1506]

I drove around town today and everything seemed fine. No new leaks and fluid is just a little above the area where it says do not fill if im crosshatched area on the dipstick. This is with the engine warm, running, in park.

I made an appointment to flush the transmission and cooling system on friday anyway just to be safe.

I was thinking of replacing the factory transmission cooler. but i wouldnt know what to get.

Is there any kits that have an electric fan that will turn on automatically when the temp is highg enough?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check Summit Racing, and JC Whitney for electric fan kits, controllers, and transmission coolers.

 

[bp1506]

I was looking at trans coolers with fans i came across this one http://store.summitracing.com/partd...&N=700+4294924500+4294854215+115&autoview=sku

Is this a good solution or is there a better choice that will fit in the stock location and be fairly easy to install?

 

[BrooklynBay]

This is an oil cooler, not a transmission cooler.

 

[bp1506]

guess i should have read more closely, oh well.