OIL AND WATER DON’T MIX?

[WOADKIL]

So towing my 20’ travel trailer to South Carlsbad state park, about 15 miles out. Saw a couple of subtle funky up down shifts on cruise control. Honestly thought it was the bumpy freeway paving.
Smooth after that after playing between trailer mode, sport and drive.
Arriving at the campground 55 miles later, I saw the front and passenger fender on the trailer soaked in oil. Looks like tranny.

Looking underneath I see oily covered frame .BUT-I see a slow steady dripping from rear of tranny. Not oil, but clear looking water.

Collected some in a cup and definitely water.

Checked engine oil, OK

Checked overflow looked OK.

No tranny oil dip stick- soon to be fixed.
The tranny pan was wet around the sides and rear, but no visible damage.

Note: had dealer change tranny oil about 2 months ago…

Getting towed 55 miles back to dealer who serviced it. Still under warranty at 48k.

Curious as heck why tranny oil and water would leak at the same time.
Any ideas?!?!
(No codes and no rise in operating temp)

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[dtech]

Your dealer likely overfilled the tranny and water likely from AC drain.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Your dealer likely overfilled the tranny and water likely from AC drain.

Yeah, I think you’re right. I recall reading somewhere the condensation line drains above the transmission.

 

[TJC]

Another possibility, The heat exchanger. It keeps transmission temps at 195F using engine coolant. When the coolant reaches 195, a valve opens allowing coolant to flow into the transmission heat exxhanger. If the heat exchanger develops a leak the coolant goes into the transmission, and vice versa.

My guess is the dealer overfilled it. It only going to act up when the fluid expands enough to foam and puke out the air vent. Not good for your transmission!

 

[Dereku]

Yes get the fluid level checked asap. Do you have a temp gauge? The foaming over will happen at 240 plus degrees.

 

[TJC]

It will happen if it is overfilled at any temp. It all depends on just how overfilled it is.

 

[RangerBill]

So towing my 20’ travel trailer to South Carlsbad state park, about 15 miles out. Saw a couple of subtle funky up down shifts on cruise control. Honestly thought it was the bumpy freeway paving.
Smooth after that after playing between trailer mode, sport and drive.
Arriving at the campground 55 miles later, I saw the front and passenger fender on the trailer soaked in oil. Looks like tranny.

Looking underneath I see oily covered frame .BUT-I see a slow steady dripping from rear of tranny. Not oil, but clear looking water.

Collected some in a cup and definitely water.

Checked engine oil, OK

Checked overflow looked OK.

No tranny oil dip stick- soon to be fixed.
The tranny pan was wet around the sides and rear, but no visible damage.

Note: had dealer change tranny oil about 2 months ago…

Getting towed 55 miles back to dealer who serviced it. Still under warranty at 48k.

Curious as heck why tranny oil and water would leak at the same time.
Any ideas?!?!
(No codes and no rise in operating temp)

If the water was clear (not dyed green or yellow or orange), then it is probably AC condensate. It drains right above the transmission as previously stated. If colored water, then there is a coolant leak somewhere.

 

[Dereku]

It will happen if it is overfilled at any temp. It all depends on just how overfilled it is.

True because it foams up. Then gets hot. It super expands then and pukes everywhere

 

[Cabose-1]

Ac drain is right above transmission i believe

 

[Glocker]

Had the same exact issue. Exactly the same. Watery, oily mess after a messed up coupler of minutes shifting. My belief is the dealership overfilled the trans. It was a hot day, running home from the beach on the interstate, and the trans went nuts. When I pulled off to a gas station to check, I found AC condensation and trans fluid. Took it to the dealership and they said the trans burped. They checked levels and everything appeared fine. Never had the problem again.

 

[TJC]

Had the same exact issue. Exactly the same. Watery, oily mess after a messed up coupler of minutes shifting. My belief is the dealership overfilled the trans. It was a hot day, running home from the beach on the interstate, and the trans went nuts. When I pulled off to a gas station to check, I found AC condensation and trans fluid. Took it to the dealership and they said the trans burped. They checked levels and everything appeared fine. Never had the problem again.

Each time this happens it further weakens the transmission.

I hate what Ford has done here. It seems almost intentional. No dipstick, and the alternative is so difficult to accurately check that their own service departments get it wrong.

I'll not go into the crazy shift algos, the cheap design / implementation of the components, and the lack of known reliable mechanical components in favor of sensor based control systems that when they fail (and they will), cause catastrophic damage.

 

[Glocker]

Each time this happens it further weakens the transmission.

I hate what Ford has done here. It seems almost intentional. No dipstick, and the alternative is so difficult to accurately check that their own service departments get it wrong.

I'll not go into the crazy shift algos, the cheap design / implementation of the components, and the lack of known reliable mechanical components in favor of sensor based control systems that when they fail (and they will), cause catastrophic damage.

Yes. I'm not thrilled. It is already a weak link to begin with.

 

[WOADKIL]

Thanks for the replies!
Spoke to the performing service dept and agreed prob was over filled. Clear water drip was prob red herring, had not seen condensate drip for a while and maybe unplugged at random time.

 

[WOADKIL]

Had the same exact issue. Exactly the same. Watery, oily mess after a messed up coupler of minutes shifting. My belief is the dealership overfilled the trans. It was a hot day, running home from the beach on the interstate, and the trans went nuts. When I pulled off to a gas station to check, I found AC condensation and trans fluid. Took it to the dealership and they said the trans burped. They checked levels and everything appeared fine. Never had the problem again.

Thanks for your reply! Having it checked out today.

Also, randomly checked my rear diff level last year since I lost my 05’ F150 diff for low level. IT WAS 8oz LOW!

Need the tranny dip stick.

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