Tranny fluid overfull?

[BRIANZ]

Ok. Ive got an '03 Explorer (which has no tranny dipstick to check the fluid level) with the v8 and We were out of town over the memorial day weekend. While driving on the freeway up a long hill coming back into town, I look in the rear view mirror and see smoke blowing out the back. I pull over and look under the explorer and it is leaking tranny fluid and blowing it onto the exhaust. Thus the smoke. We have an extended warranty and so I took it in yesterday and the place checks out the fluid level and it turns out they tell me the fluid level was overfilled. They got it to the right level and ran it and checked it and now no more leak. Hopefully, they checked it right. When we bought it, the carfax mentioned nothing about any tranny service prior to our owning it. Anyone ever hear about the factory over filling a tranny? By the way, it only has 34000 miles on it.
Brian

 

[je5]

Glad you got the extended warranty. Keep a check on it as it maybe another problem cropping up. The tranny might be overheating causing the fluid to expand. The fluid level is checked by driving at least 15 miles and parking on a level surface with the engine running. Remove the small plug in the center of the drain-plug. This is a stand-pipe and any overfull amount will spill over the top of it and run out till it levels itself. Do not remove the large drain-plug or all of your fluid will run out. Good fortune.

 

[JasonF]

Brianz I must confess that the EXACT same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. The only difference is that I have a 2004 V6 not V8. I was coming up a hill at 65mph and taking it very easy or so I thought. A couple minutes later I noticed the smoke as well. Pulled over to find a trail of tranny fluid to where my vehicle was stopped and still dripping out of the Torque converter area. I immediately took it to the nearest dealer and they informed me that the seal was blown. $8 part and a lot of labor later they had me on my way.
They said that it appeared mine was overfilled as well.

I didn't lock out the OD coming up the hill because the vehicle was not hunting for gears. I do remember that the torque converter had unlocked and I was coming up the hill at about 2800 RPM in OD. I didn't think twice about it because it was cruising up the hill no problem. Nobody has been able to tell me if torque converters are supposed to overheat in this condition. If they do, then Ford should have it programmed to not sustain an unlocked condition for more than 30 seconds or something if it is bad for the vehicle. They should simply program it to drop down to 4th gear, lock up the TC and away you go.

Regardless, I have learned to be a bit more proactive with the OD OFF button since this episode.

Can anyone clear up the confusion on whether torque converters normally overheat when driving in the unlocked position?

Thanks

Jason

 

[Timoteo]

I had a similar problem last year. Towing my boat up a long freeway grade on a hot day. Fluid came out of the vent on the top of the tranny and dripped down to the exhuast, lots of smoke. I let it cool down a bit and took it easier on it the est of the trip with no more problems. Mines run ok since.
Keep us posted.

 

[spindlecone]

Interesting,I just had a complete tranny flush two hrs ago,18 qts worth.
So I am driving home and the tranny is running 20 degs hotter than normal.
Sure as **** they overfilled it, half an inch over the crosshatched area, not a clue as to how much fluid that would be.
Will drain a QT when it cools down and see if that works, Question is, can an overfill make the tranny run hotter? if so why?