To all those concerened, "Thanks for the care, but the experts say they don't see any problem / it all looks ok". Here's more details if anyone digs the specifics. Before those; here's my personal take: i felt pretty comfortable after the appointment this morning. Even after reading the paperwork and realizing that they're idiots regarding tire pressures, especially for towing - i will stick by that, that things are okay. If there was an issue, they would have been all over any potential problem.
Specifics:
Somewhere fairly early along the way, the was some small splatter-spots of something along the back quarter panel of the suv and maybe a bit om the camper, but hardly anything to notice and nothing visible underneath to take note of.
On our very long, very hot (to that point, topping 100), and very fast (and although not even doing the speed limit for parts it was still faster than ever, even if in slow lane in an 85 zone) there was a slight elevation in the transmission temp guage. It was within the normal band, but higher than I'd ever seen it - even towing the big camper. So, in caution, we hit some rest stops to stetch and see what happened to truck temps - and the temp went down to towing normal temp.
Going on, it went back up once climbing / on long continual hill; but never reached yellow level even. There's not much yellow and then red, but not much of that either. So i was not sure how specific guage may be. The elevation was a little concerning even if not up to the above-band levels.
Tried turng OD off, but that did not affect temp rises.
Stopping for gas, it returned to normal temp while filling up.
When we got to the campground that evening, that was the notice of more splatter along the driver rear quarter panel, the front left of the camper, and along the driver side of the camper. Those were just missing dirt, or slightly discolored spots - nothing specific. In looking underneath - some red liquid along bottom rear of transmission case. Basic 'source' was about 1/2 way up transmission on drivers side (where wet seemed to start, or have seeped out to). In our stops, including at campground, there was a coolant smell, but things were hot! Note: engine temperature never escalated during any of this. Anyway, the red could have been the powersteeering - but that was all dry as far as i could tell. And the other side - the big coolant hoses, seemed dry with some older stains on hoses. Everything was too hot to feel for wetness, but crossbar behind tranny was pretty 'wet' so source was up from there. And for whatever reason it was exiting on driver side and not out the back straight.
We had some calls and suggestions and helpful tips after the initial post. So........ We took it easy with just the suv going down to the cavern in the evening - about 25 miles each way. When we got there - checked tranny fluid, and if anything, it was high and definately not low. Also, in looking under - nothing dripping. Maybe a few droplets hanging, but when done - no spot was left on the ground. AKA: it seemed like whatever it was had been temporary perhaps.
Next day - same trip. And the trip was done a bit faster go see if speed had a bearing. Result: the same as prior day. Hadn't been quite as fast as in texas, but also had a slower speed zone here anyway, even using a few miles over.
We had left the trailer in overflow with a plan to pick it up and head further on **if the day went well truck-wise**; and since it did, we grabbed the trailer and headed toward Roswell.
That leg went well also. And instead of opening up a problem, there was no dripping and nothing formed underneath during the hour or two for dinner and suovineering (most places closed at 5, so we did what was open). So.....we continued on. During that a few things happened: the outside temp dropped some, we climbed another few-thousand feet of elevation, the generators had been moved out of the center (*may* have restricted lower air flow which directly fed the transmission radiator), left OD on, kept speed lower than in texas, and saw that transmission temp would rise and would drop again without stopping though. This wasn't tied to load either though....we could be going uphill under a downshift or passing band employ and the trans temp would drop. No dripping or spot after the night.
Short trip towing into AQ was fine as well as a hot trip out to the National Monument with just suv - both fine.
Shop this morning (a Ford dealer): told them that something had been spraying out - they could see the 'stains' on back quarterpanel; but it seemed to have stopped. A red fluid was on bottom of transmission case. And to change the oil. They said 45 til they got it in, 45 til it was done and to wait in room. I said i had a ride to call when needed. 2 and 1/2 hours later they call.
- driver front tire tread getting down there, but it is still okay.
- front shocks are something and could be replaced
- air filter is dirty and needs changed
- and they can't find any other problem and anything related to the transmission looked normal. It seemed just short of calling me loco.
* Told them go do the air filter, I'd address the rest when home.
The paperwork differed slightly. Everything did look ok, but tires pointed out were the rear, not front. They also proudly stated that they'd left HALF of the air out of the tires (without asking or checking on this - and for this I would fault them. Stopped by their other location later and they put them back, so not a huge deal overall).
Oh....and the radiator cap was not closed to a "click" so they did that as well as topped off the fluid. I think they mean the overflow and not cap proper. But, the guy did not mention this on the phone. It may explain the smell, and perhaps even the liqiud....i do not remember what color antifreeze is in this one, but I thought it was normal color and only our Toyotas had different color coolant.
So, that may be the whole thing. Maybe.
Mechanic back home said that the tranny may have overflowed some through a breather (this on Friday, but wanted any input before appointment here - and verified tranny was cleaned at10k miles back; so not needing done per normal maintenance schedule / problem may require otherwise of course).
At the dealer here, the guy said that the axles have breather tubes and can leak if they get too hot too - he had seen this upon lomg trip back from east coast on his truck. Also, he said that especially when towing the transmission temp could go to about 3/4 before an aux fan would kick on. This seems to be what was seen on last towing trip where it would elevate and return to normal in cycles.
Conclusion: it is ALL GOOD and ALL NORMAL until something proves this otherwise. :)
Aka: we are back to normal - taking a trip on an older vehicle and just watching as we go.
Ken
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