Help! Transmission help needed. Stuck in the boonies!

Topic: Help! Transmission help needed. Stuck in the boonies! (Read 511 times) previous topic - next topic

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June 12, 2017, 03:55:30 pm

Hello friends, I've been dealing with a terrible problem on my 1990 LD. She's 27' MB on a Ford E350/460 V8.

While getting set to visit some friends and camp on their property I began backing into the spot where I planned to drop anchor for a while. The grade was steep but not very steep. As I got to just about the very top of the grade I noticed a trail of ATF in front of me and a puddle right where I stopped. I turned her off immediately but needed to get her just a few more feet to level ground. I backed her in and just as I got in place I went to pull forward a bit and realized I had no gears. Clearly I lost all my fluid. I put her in park and killed the engine immediately. I knew it wasn't smart to attempt to keep shifting. I engaged the parking break and leveled her out as best I could.

I climbed under the chassis to inspect the situation. I'm a curious fella, a quick learner and a logical thinker but my specific understanding of transmission/engines is limited. I inspected for a leak. Other than the fluid that had landed on the exhaust and began smoking I didn't see much of a leak. I removed what I thought was the drain plug which was covered in fluid. Bit it turned out to not be a drain plug. Just a seal to access the torque converter? (I believe)

I am uncertain of how much ATF this engine will hold. Some forums say 8qts but a receipt I have from the previous owner shows a record of 16qts for a tranny flush back in '12. I added 7.5 quarts and let her run for a bit. Shifting slowly through the gears to work the fluid in. My gears came back! D,R,2,1 all engaged and worked for just the 2 or 3 feet I moved the RV. After a bit I checked the ATF dipstick and it showed empty. Not a lick of fluid but also not a drop under the RV. I had an aluminum pan under there and not one drop leaked out. So where did the fluid go? Do I need to add more?

My biggest dilemma is that I am about 4 miles down road not maintained by the county. So my AAA will not come here and a private tow will charge me almost $300/hr to come down the road! If I can get her to the pavement I can get a proper tow and bring her to a mechanic. I'm asking the forum if you guys think it's wise to attempt the 4 mile drive to the pavement. Will I further damage the transmission?

Should I add more ATF? (7.5 in currently )

Is it possible that I blew my front pump seal? How would I for sure know that if I cannot pin point a leak?

Is it possible this isn't as bad as I think and this happened because of the stress I put on the tranny going up hill in reverse? Is it possible adding ATF was all I needed to do?

I'm in a very precarious spot on the property with little to no room to test drive her. If I get her out of the woods and onto that road there's no turning back. I either push her real slow for the 4 miles to the pavement or risk blocking a narrow road and paying $300 an hour for a tow.

Please help me out. Any input or advice would be so appreciated. Thank you