Florida to NY: pulling a 8500# RV made it! But did I cook the transmission?

[OLDBULL8]

Just a little info.
That magnafine filter should be changed around 15K miles.

Trans oil should be changed every 30K miles when pulling heavy like that.

Dino trans oil is good for 240*F for extended time, after that it starts to break down quick.

Synthectic trans oil is good 320*F for extended time, after that it starts to break down quick.

If you do a lot of heavy pulling, a tugger kit would be to your advantage, also changes to the valve body would increase the hydraulic pressure, that helps to keep the clutches from slipping. http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/F040_VB_FORD_RWD_4_SPD_E40D_90_95_F1_CASTING_p/400-00000f040.htm

From what you say about the temps you where running, looks like you have a pretty good Auxiliary cooling system.
But, the Torque Converter develops a lot higher temperature than what your seeing on your trans temp gauge. That is where the oil can be "burnt". In 1st gear, your turning that TC at 2800 to 3000 RPM. If it's just the factory TC, they do the job with normal pulling. There are many Hi torque TC's on the market, but expensive.

Since your going to be there for the summer, and since you said the oil smells burn't, I would do this and use Synthetic oil. You don't have to pull the trans pan and it will flush the TC. http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?29296-Flushing-a-E4OD-or-4R100

 

[OLDBULL8]

We made the pull with the loaded RV, a pretty good load in the bed and 35 gallons in the bed tank. It seemed like a heavy load. 90' F250 E4OD big front mounted cooler,

Also, just keep in mind, your pulling close to 20,000 Lbs GCW up that mountain if not more weight.

 

[saburai]

Thanks guys! I'll reply in detail tonight when I've got some time.I'm. Busy deploying the solar panels and setting up off grid utilities. I did change the fluid for synthetic before I hit the road.

 

[79jasper]

i would guess it's the airflow through the air cleaner your hearing.especially if the "soup bowl" has been cut off it.this was it's purpose,to reduce that howling sound.

I wander if he's hearing the fan kick in also?

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[ironworker40]

Marketa and I are seasonal staff at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodburn. We help out teaching the teacher training courses and run a massage clinic. I wind up fixing a lot of stuff as well, the buildings are around a hundred years old. Do you still come upstate? If you do, it'd be great to meet up and grab a meal or some such.

Yes i do. I go futher up to gilboa but my family is from wawarsing just outside ellinville. My grandfather was from gramsville and worked on the road deptment building roads in that area. He and my father worked on the roundout and neversink reservouis. My other grandfather worked on the water tunnel that goes to NYC. I sent a lot of time in that area in my life. Sometime this summer I will take you up on that offer.
I's a small world. You are from pine island fl. I have friends in cape coal fl and they had a bar in matalachie on pine island but it burned down a few years ago.

 

[saburai]

I'll ask him

I wander if he's hearing the fan kick in also?

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Brilliant!
That's what he's most likely hearing!

Seriously. I hadn't even thought about the fan. Now that you've mentioned it, it makes perfect sense.
Paranoid, nearly delusional motor head driving a new to him old truck. The noise had to be something bad right?
Soup bowl is intact, and it really didn't sound like induction noise, plus, I wasn't varying the throttle.
If it is the fan, which I'm fairly certain it is, well that's a big old noisy sum *****

Hey Ironworker, I send you a pm later. Just came in for lunch and I had to check in and see if you guy's had and brilliant ideas. You did! BTW, I tooka look at the fluid, it looks and smells fine.

 

[79jasper]

When the fan on these lock up, it sounds like a plane taking off. Lol

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[crash-harris]

Mine isn't loud. After hearing everyone here say that, I thought mine was *****. Mine tends to be a bit tight, but if I'm throttling from under the hood/hand on IP, I can feel the air go from high velocity warm air to higher velocity cool air. Just never hear it.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

I wander if he's hearing the fan kick in also?

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yeah! i think you nailed it.

 

[saburai]

I'm feeling better about the old truck!
After checking out the tranny fluid, I checked the oil and it burnt a bit less than 2qts in 2000mi., 1700 of them pulling the trailer. Sound about right?

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

she might have a little blowby.my trucks use about a quart every 3k miles.iv got low miles on chip truck,and log truck has a reman engine.
that's nothing to be too concerned about though.just keep her topped up with some lube,and run 'er.you'll gain faith in her as times goes on.the 7.3l's are as tough as nails and the e4od has the highest tow ratings of all the trans options to back her.put the pedal to the floor and keep begging for more!

 

[jhenegh]

If the trans is at all greasy and has lived an easy and "cold" life for the last few years you could've just been heating up and burning off residue on the outside. Or at least getting the whole case warm enough to then smell whatever oil is on the outside, maybe not necessairly burning or smoking it.

Those temps sound fine! I don't have a thermostat on mine and it has approached 200 a few times snow plowing and runs right in the 150-180 range in summer driving and towing. Was around 150-160 for 330 miles yesterday actually with 80F air temps.

 

[pafixitman]

As far as the oil burning...I know when I had mine if I filled it full by the stick it would burn off to 3/4 in no time. I think Mel told me to leave it at 3/4 and see if that was it's sweet spot so to speak. It was. Never really had much oil consumption until I dropped the valve years later.