Just returned from an 1800 mile trip in mountainous country. Auto tranny started to use fluid. It is not leaking out anywhere and temps were never over 160. It did smell funny. Using about a pint and a half every 150 miles or so. Where could it be going? What damage will it do?

 

Well, the ATF has to be going somewhere. If you can't see the drips on the driveway then it must be getting burned up on the exhaust, but that would still lead to drips. Better get it on the rack and see where it is coming from. Could be as simple as a tranny cooling line leaking.

Please fill out your signature so we know what year truck you have and how many miles are on it.

 

I changed the fluid before I left and had washed the bottom of the pickup off good so I would not get dirt in my face when I change the fluid. The bottom is clean as a whistle. Not leaks.
Yes I should let you all know it is an 02, 2500 FWD with 115K on it.

 

Several items come to mind. You claim absolutely no external leaks so either you did not get it full when you serviced it or you have a cooler leak. You claim you took a trip and added 1 1/2 pints per aprox. 150 miles that would equal close to 5 quarts for your total trip. That much fluid has to show up some where???

 

There is a very good chance that I did not get enough in upon filter and fluid change. I have a MagTech deep pan and I replaced about 1.5 gal of fluid. There may have been a bubble that did not show up for awhile. However once I brought it back to full under normal operating temps that should have been the end of it. I understand there is a seal between the trans and the transfer case that could be leaking but there is a weap hole for overfill there. Nothing showing up yet on the outside. Weap hole could be plugged. I just wondered if there was some way if could be getting thrown into the engine.

 

With the magtech pan how much did you add when you first filled it?? To go through that much fluid with no leaks you would have to overfill the cooling system, engine, or trasfer case if thats possible or else like i said it was not full before you left...

 

I think I am going nuts.
I first added about 1.5 gal by the way
What I don't understand now is when the truck is cold the fluid is at the full mark. When it is hot it is just below the hole in the dip stick. I thought it was supposed to expand when hot.

 

When you serviced the tranny before your trip how many quarts did you put in?

 

Your fine. The key is check it the same temp every time. It takes a long time for all of the fuild to drain backinto the pan, and you are suppose to check it idling, & in "N".

A simple case of watching the dip stick too close.