dfaithen

Hi All, first thanks to everyone on here. over the last year this forum has helped me solve countless issues as a first time jeep owner. This is the first time I havent been able to find my answers already here in the existing posts. I have seen some similar but none have led me to my answers. I am suddenly experiencing an issue where transfluid comes pouring out of dispstick as soon as it wams up. The fluid does not seem burnt at all so i dont think its overheating. I did have a leak from the sending line connector so when that was leaking i did add fluid. I suspected i had overfilled, but the levels seem correct. im checking it at operating temp, idling in neutral. level is just below the dot in the mid range. I do have the factory installed aux cooler. I would really apreciate any ideas or theories as to what may be happening here. this is my daily driver and ive never had any issue at all with overheating at the trans or at the engine. Today im going to drop the pan and check the filter. I figure that will also give me a chance to really drain out whats in there and get a bertter look at the fuid as well as drain out serveral quarts to be sure that proper level is re-established. ive also read a bit about the torque converter "hiding" fluid so that it apears on stick to be good level but really its too high? if someone can shed more light on that and how to combat it, id appreciate it. I figure when i drain it ill only put in 2 or 3 quarts to start instead of the typical 4. That way i know its not too high. Does this seem reasonable course of action?
another note. im pretty sure it shouldnt matter but my dipstick tube did get a little bent out of shape a couple months ago when i dropped the trans replace my flexplate and torque converter. but i have seen no issues at all since until 2 days ago.

dfaithen

open to any and all ideas.

Ralph77

I would just use the drain plug for the time being. Wild guesses would be maybe if the tranny breather line was clogged or kinked. Same with the tranny lines themselves. Maybe it is just overfilled.

Bugout4x4

I think your issue is actually simple and it starts with the design of these transmissions. A design I have always questioned. The dipstick tube enters the transmission through the side of the pan and BELOW the fluid level. Most others enter down though the case and then into the sump ABOVE the fluid level.

I think your venting is plugged and it is not venting when it gets hot. Seeing how the dipstick tube is below the fluid level any pressure that is not relieved via another route is going to push fluid out the dipstick tube because it has nowhere else to go. Let me go look at mine to see where the vent actually is for the transmission. There is one on the transfer case, but I'm not sure where the vent is for the trans.

Anyone else know off hand?

Bugout4x4

Yep... You are on it Ralph. Venting plugged. The tube being below the fluid level will cause this for sure.

Ralph77

I had a couple pictures saved to my computer for when I extended all the breathers, rear diff, TC, and tranny, up to next where the front diff one is. Just in case I could not find them

Bugout4x4

Right on Ralph! There it is, on top in the front. I was not sure if it shared the Transfer case vent or not. Does that have a riser hose hooked to it also?

Never mind... I see it now. lol

Ralph77

If I remember correctly, cause I did it last year of the year before, there is a check valve at the end of both the tranny and TC breather lines. Now that I think about it maybe it is the check valve where the problem lies. Anyway, I figured they used check valves there to keep water out. Because they do hang kinda lower from the factory. So me running the lines up into the engine compartment could use the top hat breathers like the front diff does.

Bugout4x4

Yep, I think you are right. That hose and all needs to be cleaned out. And if it doesn't have a hose hooked to it, or if the hose has a break, I'm sure it is gunked up where it enters the tranny for sure.

dfaithen

thanks guys, im certain its not overfilled. i dropped the pan yesterday to see what id get out and give a visual inspection to the inside of the pan. everything there looks good except the copious rtv instead os a trans pan gasket. lol. clean pan. red fluid. slightly cloudy but very slightly. all in all the fluid looks good to me. only got out about 2.5 quarts so it definately wasnt overfilled. no sign of overheating. as far as the breather, can i just fish a wire through to make sure its clear? seems i have to lower the trans a bit to get to it. i cant get my hand up there and it doesnt seem to have any kind of snorkel hose on it.alos i just dont see how it would have gotten suddenly clogged. i have had no issues until bamm, this started happening

Bugout4x4

It is supposed to have a hose. So you can bet junk is in there. Yep, Somehow you are going to need to clean that out. Try a wire and maybe some WD40 or similar if you can reach it with these. Then it does need a hose and end cap attached back to it sooner rather than later.

dfaithen

well if there is a hose on it, i cant get me hand up there to reach it. just pu tthe pan and filter back on. refilled to perfect level, drove around the block and as soon as I put it in park and shut it off, it did the same thing. going to lower the trans so i can find the breather and check it.

Ralph77

You should be able to see them. When I put the TC and tranny lines up into the engine compartment I didn't put a whole new hose on. I took off the check valves and just extended the hose the distance I needed. Was able to see them from the engine compartment on the passenger side behind some wiring at the top of the tranny tunnel.

dfaithen

It was definitely the breather vent. turns out the was a hose up there out of reach. It was ziptied to the tvcable above the bellhousing. I think the tv cable moved, causing the breather hose to crimp up at the ziptie. Lower trans, cut ziptie, move breather tube up to better mounting, problem solved. spontaneaous clogging didn't seem likely to me since it has only seen highway lately, but i hadn't considered spontaneous kinking.
So as a follow up. whats the consensus on the factory aux cooler vs an aftermarket. Is there any point to swapping them if im not having issues? cooing related that is. Or am i better off swapping to an aftermarket for what im assuming is more substantial cooling from say a hayden 678?

Ralph77

Glad that worked out for you. I was just spitballing but the more we talked about it then more other things occurred to me. Nice when the simplest solution is the right one. LOL.