Transmission leak only when towing | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Transmission leak only when towing

I have a 98 Explorer with a 4.0L with SOHC and automatic transmission which I use to tow a 16' Center Console boat which is well under the towing limits of the vehicle. The truck pulls it fine and I turn off the overdrive unless I'm on flat open highway. The transmission doesn't slip and the fluid is not burned. My problem is that after I have been driving for a while at 50 mph, when I stop, transmission fluid drips onto the exhaust system. There are no problems driving without a load. I'm thinking that the fluid may be getting too hot and coming out of the vent tube but the o/d light doesn't flash to indicate overheating. Would an auxiliary cooler help? I've also read that there is a thermostat in the transmission that prevents fluid from going to the cooler until it's warm. Do these act up very often? Thanks, Keith
 






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