Tom, I got a customer that his son-in-law has a truck that was leaking trans fluid, the mechanic he took it to replaced the t-stat and that stopped the leak, what I want to know is how is that possible? The said that there was a valve that would release the fluid when the vehicle was overheating.....now how is that suppose to save the engine? what good is that if it saves the engine and in the process destroys the trans....or was this guy full of crap that told him this?????

F.O.S. (stuff)

I don't think I even need to know what kind of vehicle this is but I know of NO thermostat (engine coolant) that has anything directly to do with trans fluid leaking. I can see if the trans got so hot from the engine or on its own for some reason that fluid might expand enough to purge out vent.

I've seen that happen in one of my own a zillion years ago racing down highway (buck or better) with a 70 Olds 455/375HP deal and trans purged - wasn't much over full if any but rustproofed the underside pretty good!

If a thermostat was causing an engine overheat the dang engine would be the first problem - right?

Something's all confused with that one........

Tom
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
http://www.acsource.com/

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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

I agree, I haven't seen 97 f250 yet with that type of valve, I have replaced 4 freeze plugs in the vehicle and one of them twice less than a year ago, I'm trying to get them to bring the truck to my shop to run some test on the heads and cooling system before something does happen to the engine.....it overheated yesterday and they said trans fluid ran out, where it came out of I don't know, but just for the sake of it all I really would like to know, if it does have a purge valve would it located inside the bell housing?

What's up with the freeze plugs - one twice!! Do they have battery acid in there for coolant or something?

Trans fluid is in cooling lines and in radiator if this one uses the radiator or perhaps a separate cooler up front there. Vent things are there somewhere - I barely take notice but it would be on top and might look like a mushroom as to not let water spray in. 4X4 and things, gearcases, differentials use a hose and vent up higher to allow for marine use of the things - you know what I mean - deep water or deep poop

Hey - perhaps the trans fluid could leak at the radiator if used for cooling and somehow leak out and then not when cooler but that makes little sense??

T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
http://www.acsource.com/

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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

This guy uses it to pull a trailer w/ lawn mowers and such, its a 4x4 and the trans coolant lines run thru the radiator, the freeze plug I replaced twice is the one next to the starter,these plugs were forced out, no rust, just by the coolant pressure in which everytime it happened he was pulling that trailer, I told him that the freeze plugs were not the problem but a symptom.