Lost all my Auto transmission Fluid

[PCrable]

Hi All,

I was recently on a Road trip from Colorado Springs to Taos, NM. After crossing the NM border, I started to notice the transmission was acting funny. I was going along at about 65 MPH and the torque converter seemed to be unlocking and then re-locking. I tried slowing down and turning the Overdrive off to see if that helped, but it was still was acting funny. I started to notice the RPM climbing slightly and the speedometer staying the same and decided it was time to get off the road and see what was the matter.



Once I pulled off and got out, I looked under the truck... the whole underside was dripping fluid :--) . I managed to locate the source of the fluid as a leak in the transmission cooling line coming from the transmission to the front air to oil transmission cooler. The line was held in plastic clips, but it had a spot where the line crossed the frame cross-member and had been rubbing. It had slowly worn a hole in the cooling line.



Luckily, some nice people came by and offered to go into town (on a Sunday afternoon 10 miles outside of Questa, NM) to try to find me some transmission fluid while I tried to repair the hole.



I added 9 quarts of fluid (was a little over-filled with that much) and managed to make it 10 miles up the road to a gas station. My tape and zip-tie repair wasn't holding and duct tape and a hose clamp didn't help any more either. I ended up taking the line off and having some people come and pick me up. The next day, I tried to find a new line at 3 dealerships in various towns in NM to no avail. I ended up at a parts store and we cut the area with the hole in it out of the tubing and then put on a 1/2" piece of rubber fuel line on it with some hose clamps to get me going again. I put the line back on and had to add about 4 more quarts of fluid.



The truck seems to be running fine except for a small shudder sometimes when it shifts from 1st to 2nd.



Now for the questions...



Do you think I did any damage to the transmission from having the fluid run down this low (probably lost 8 of the 12 quarts) ?



Do you think I should replace the cooling line or is the line with a section of rubber hose in it ok ?



Just a warning to the rest of you with Auto Trannys... check those lines.



BTW... the truck just hit 70,000 miles on the trip home.

 

[lizzyhermit]

BUMMER for you , but thanks for the heads up to the rest of us. I will be under the rattler tonight as I too have a 98. 5 2500, QC, Cummins ISB, Auto Trans, SLT, 3. 54 and mine just rolled past 77k miles. I have my trans serviced every year just so I don't have to worry about it but the mechani might have overlooked the rubbing.

 

[WyoJim]

Thanks for the post. We have two '98. 5's and with 68000 on one and it leaving for a 5000 mile trip in a week. I just had to look at them.

The one going on the trip that has 68000 miles has no sign of a rub, but the other one with 39000 miles is rubbing. Or I might say was rubbing, as I forced it away from the frame.

I think I will install a piece of foam between the line and frame on both of them.

And again, I thank you..... Jim Mackey

 

[CumminsPuller]

Same Problem........

PCrable... ... ... . my brother-in-law had the same problem on his 96' CTD. Instead of buying a new line from the stealer or going and having one made at a tube shop... ... . We just took it to the tube shop and had them silver solder over the hole... ... . Worked great and it has been holding for 30,000 miles now. There were some clamps missing on the lines which caused them to chaff... ..... Hope this helps... ...



Jason



P. S... ... . I dont believe you damaged your transmission... ..... you stopped like you should have... ... . His happened while he was driving aswell, same symptoms as you, and it has been fine ever since.

 

[Chipstien]

I'd say your fine....

But much longer and it would have been toast

 

[John]

Originally posted by PCrable

the line crossed the frame cross-member and had been rubbing. It had slowly worn a hole in the cooling line.

That is exactly what I have mentioned before... the little booby traps set by Dodge! I know EXACTLY the place you described! It's at the point where the steel transmission cooler lines are above the frame cross member and below the oil pan... and one of the lines rubs on the forward leading (radiused) edge of the cross member. My counter to that was a small length of 3/8" neoprene fuel hose that I slit lengthwise and positioned in the appropriate place. After a precautionary followup, I discovered that the piece of protective "rubber" had moved from its intended location so I further countered with a nylon "wire tie" around the diameter of the hose/trans. cooler line. Problem solved!