99 & up 7.3L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 99 & up 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 1999-Up Super Duty trucks and Excursions. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 7.3L Power Stroke engine.
I have a 2001 F350 7.3. (Stock) Pulled in from camping trip yesterday and began to back the trailer (31ft) into the driveway. After that I noticed lots of transmission fluid on the street and driveway. This same thing happened to me about a year ago and mechanic said it was a seal in the torque converter. Something about the seal heating up, getting soft which allowed fluid to escape. Local dealership says this is a common thing with the 7.3 and called in "normal". Anyway, I had the seal changed. Well now this happens again. Any thoughts as to what the problem is?
Pulled same trailer 2 months ago on a very long trip with no problems???
It won't get hot on long trips. It's backing things up that get it really hot. There is an aftermarket seal that works a lot better than the stock seal.
A really good trans cooler will help. Replace the aux cooler with a cooler from a 6.0L truck. Keep the cooler in the radiator in the circuit.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
Where would I get the aftermarket seal? Who makes it? Having never done this before...would I have to drop transmission or is it something that I could do here at the house?
I have a 2001 F350 7.3. (Stock) Pulled in from camping trip yesterday and began to back the trailer (31ft) into the driveway. After that I noticed lots of transmission fluid on the street and driveway. This same thing happened to me about a year ago and mechanic said it was a seal in the torque converter. Something about the seal heating up, getting soft which allowed fluid to escape. Local dealership says this is a common thing with the 7.3 and called in "normal". Anyway, I had the seal changed. Well now this happens again. Any thoughts as to what the problem is?
Pulled same trailer 2 months ago on a very long trip with no problems???
yes, as stated,it's the backing up that's hard on our tranny's. I can pull 13k pounds all day down the highway, but toss it in reverse for just a few hundred feet without using low range, and I would suspect that front seal will definitely weep.
What I've been hearing preached for the past 5 years is, use low range (assuming 4x4 model) when backing any significant weight.
I ALWAYS use low range when backing anything over say 5000lbs, even on flat ground.
my $.02 worth.
__________________ y2k F250 7.3 psd Calif emissions, ext cab long bed 265/75/R16 E rated tires, 190k miles 4x4 (nv271 manual t-case) 7.3 #1247981 1/18/00 (forged rods), 3.73LSD, non-diode 4R100, Dp tuner stock, 60t 60e 80t 80e, high idle. DIY 6637 air filter, wicked wheel, turbo master WG controller, turbo lifesaver, bellowed uppies, 4" downpipe & exhaust, 203t-stat, triple pod glowshift gauges (egt, tranny, boost), Ride-rite 2330 air bags, BTS VB, Sports a Western plow when the white stuff flies.
Trailers:
I'm usually towing 1 of several trailers I've built.
15ft car hauler (1000lbs empty; 5500lbs loaded)
26ft deck over car hauler (2000lbs empty; 7k loaded)
36ft car hauler (Was tongue pull; have since converted into 5er'. 4500lbs empty; 14k loaded) https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/IMG_4130.JPG
Where would I get the aftermarket seal? Who makes it? Having never done this before...would I have to drop transmission or is it something that I could do here at the house?
Any trans supply house will have it. I don't remember who makes it.
The trans has to come out to change the seal.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
No mine is a 2wd. So the diagnosis is that I need a new front seal?
Another Question....I am about to start running back and forth to the deer lease with NO load. Do you think the seal would be a problem without a trailer in tow?
You may not need a new seal. If you don't back up with a large load it probably isn't going to leak again. If you change the aux cooler for a 6.0L cooler it probably will stay cool enough to not leak when backing a large load.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
As Mark said, you may not need a new seal. I was backing mine up a hill to park a travel trailer and dumped ATF all over the place. Definitely got my attention. I made sure the tranny was topped off correctly and drove it another 50,000 miles, many of them towing the TT with no problems. Then I had the BTS tranny installed. Even with additional cooling capacity, Tru Cool Max but no OTW cooler, I can see the tranny temps begin to rise if I have to do a lot of backing and maneuvering. If you do not yet have a transmission temperature gauge, I'd highly recommend you install one so you can monitor those temps.
__________________
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Early 99 F250 PSD (XLE4) XLT, Extended Cab, Short Bed, 4X2, BTS Trans/TC, 3.73 Limited Slip, Transfer Flow 48 Gal. Mid-Ship Tank
Western WA - Member since August 2001
I had this problem multiple times until I put the 6.0 cooler in. If you start out with cooler tranny temps chances are it wont happen again too GET A TRANS GAUGE
1973 K5 Blazer 383stroker,TrickFlow alum.heads,Crower forged rods-roller lifter cam-roller rockers,Keith Black10.5:1,Doug Thorley tri-y,MSD,ARP,Q-jet,on 1 ton axles,1991 front clip,3K miles on FULL body off rebuild
Even with additional cooling capacity, Tru Cool Max but no OTW cooler, I can see the tranny temps begin to rise if I have to do a lot of backing and maneuvering.
That's where the oil to water (OTW) cooler really shines. It would really help in those situations.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
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Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
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