What is the danger of overfilling the transmission? There is probably an extra quart of tranny oil in mine... (the circumstances that resulted in the situation is a story that maybe is best left untold!)

Is there a potential for damage being caused by this, or just the risk of a nasty red mess?

Bryan

 

I'm assuming you have an automatic tranny, seeing how it's hard to overfill a manual, much less by a quart. From what I know, it's a BAD thing to run a auto tranny that's overfilled. Any help here guys?

That's why I buy manual tranies, one less headache.

 

Its probably a good idea to drain out the excess fluid . Trans fluid expands as it gets hot so you will really have a overfilled system when it reaches operating temp .

 

When it gets hot it is likely to blow the fluid out the filler tube and push out any seals, than maybe a pump and other internal valves etc. Best thing is go buy a plastic fluid hand pumper and 8 ft of clear flex hose from the local parts place & slowly suck out a quart into a clean container.Measure it. That is easier than pulling the pan .
92 F150 XLT
93 Aerostar AWD
89 Bronco II

 

You just answered my next question! (I wasn't too stoked about popping the pan!) Actually, I have a followup question. As soon as the weather is less condusive to posterior frostbite, I plan on flushing the tranny, and replacing the screen. I have a 1992 F-150 XLT 4x4 Automatic, I thing the tranny is a E40D, I can't recall the nomenclature at the moment.

Anyway, this appears to be a simple enough task, though I have never done it before and was wondering if anyone had any tips, or "lessons learned" that might save a few neighborhood kids from learning some new words.

Bryan

 

Hi, its a pretty easy job just crack the bolts loose unless you have a drain plug then which ever side is easiest to get a pan under take the bolts out starting there take out 3 or 4 and loosen some around the pan try to get the one side loose so it leaks in the pan might have to take out more bolts when it starts leaking let it drain then take out the rest of the bolts hold up on the pan there is still fluid in there!!!lower the pan to the drain pan then change the filter clean pan and remove gasket and reinstall with new gasket fill and go. (and please do tell us how it got over filled dont keep us in suspense here)
John

 

yea please tell us were you pretty drunk or something i remember one time i had to change my tranny heavy ole c-6 and i told my buddy to come over and that i would be down in the barn well i had a few and by the time he got there i was sleeping in the in all the mess under the truck what a hoot well i got the tranny done that night after he woke me up lol

 

If you have the the overdrive swich kick down button on the gearshift it is an E4od. Change the fluid about every 50 K miles & put on an external transmission cooler to help cool the fluid if towing or carrying a load. I have a mint 92 F150 XLT ext cab with E40d, but two wheel drive. Got it 3 years ago in the middle of a snow storm in Nebraska at $4,000 under book. Was planning on moving back down south so I would not have to work on ice in the middle of winter . So I understand about the cold fanny.

 

You know, if you don't want to remove the pan bolts to get some fluid out, you can disconnect the trans cooling lines at the rad. It would be best if you removed the supply line to the rad rather than the return line. You can easily aim the tube to a collection container. You have to be careful, maybe get someone to sit in the cab to start and stop the truck for you. As soon as you start the truck, fluid will start flowing out the line. When you think you've removed enough shut off the truck and reconnect the line. This is what i'd do rather than getting under the truck. If too much came out, just add a little but you should check the fluid with the tranny at operating temperature.

Guy

'92 F150 XL 4x4, 5.0L AOD, Headers, K&N Air Filter, 3.55 Gears, 31x10.5x15 Tires.

 

When you change your tranny fluid, don't forget you drain the Torque Converter also. It's simple on E4OD. You will see a rubber plug on center bottom of bellhousing about the size of a half dollar. Pull the plug out and look for a 5/16 bolt plug in converter. You might have to have a friend bump the motor over till you see it. In any case, it wouldn't make sense to change filter and fluid and leave dirty fluid in Torque Converter. You will need about 14 to 16.5 quarts of Mercon/Dextron III depending if you have a trans cooler. Don't over tighten torque converter bolt plug.

Xaviar
96 F-250HD 4x4 460/E4OD 4.10
Banks Power Pack, MSD 6A
MSD 8227 Coil, MSD 32199 8.5 Wires

 

 

I had a '90 light duty F250 with the e4od. I pulled a Ford 4100 tractor fairly regularly and it tended to burn the fluid fast. I dropped the pan and put in a drain plug and also installed a trans cooler. Seemed to help lots. I used a cheap drain plug kit from the local parts house - drill hole - no problem. I will do the same on my '96 f150 at the next fluid change. Why they don't put drains on trans pans factory is beyond me. I, too, have overfilled a trans. I loosened the pan to drain the excess. What a pain.

 

Hi,
If the trans. is overfull the most important problem that could happen is the fluid could be high enough to be in contact with the Hard parts of the trans. Gears,drums etc. then it would whip the fluid like an egg beater which creates air (foam) and hydraulics doesn't work well without fluid to compress instead of air. Result is possible slipping. And defenately the best option to get excess fluid out is the trans. cooler line idea.

 

This is a thread from 2001