transmission fluid leak

[R0CK1TMAN]

1998 Ford Expedition XLT 4.6L Automatic


Did some light off roading last weekend. Rampart Range Road in Monument, CO...awesome views! Any way, nothing eventful happened but today I noticed a fluid leak. Red fluid...eek! It definitely looks deep red like transmission fluid but the leak source is without a doubt coming from a hose connecting to the radiator. It is a metal conduit that connects to the radiator right below where the hose connection is for the coolant to return from the radiator to the coolant reservoir. I don't know what transmission fluid would be there for but I am an idiot. I used degreaser to clean underneath then ran it for a sec and there is no doubt this is the source.

I don't want to torque on the connection to tighten without putting it out there. Should I try to tighten or take it to a pro? Am I just way way off?

Thanks in advance,

Worried Guy


1998 Ford Expedition XLT 4.6L Automatic

 

[stamp11127]

The trans cooler is inside of the radiator tank. Either the line is leaking or the fitting. Since you are in a "rusty bucket in winter state" I would suspect the lines before the fittings.
If you try to tighten them, use two wrenches, one on the large nut with a line wrench on the fitting. You don't want to twist the entire assembly or you will break the radiator.

 

[R0CK1TMAN]

The trans cooler is inside of the radiator tank. Either the line is leaking or the fitting. Since you are in a "rusty bucket in winter state" I would suspect the lines before the fittings.
If you try to tighten them, use two wrenches, one on the large nut with a line wrench on the fitting. You don't want to twist the entire assembly or you will break the radiator.

Thanks so much for your reply. I found another forum after some digging and found a user with a Ford Ranger and the same issue.

I lightly torqued the nuts and it was as simple as that.

I am new to putting a wrench on it and I assume everything is a major repair, thanks for your spot on reply!

"rusty bucket in a winter state"??? I do not follow?

 

[StuntMan]

did the leak look something like this leak near the wheel arch?

 

[Bedrck47]

"rusty bucket in a winter state"??? I do not follow?

What it means is due to snow/salt on the roads it causes rust and creates more problems.

 

[StuntMan]

Thanks so much for your reply. I found another forum after some digging and found a user with a Ford Ranger and the same issue.

I lightly torqued the nuts and it was as simple as that.

I am new to putting a wrench on it and I assume everything is a major repair, thanks for your spot on reply!

"rusty bucket in a winter state"??? I do not follow?

I think this the cause of my leak too, did your pipe fitting look all grimy too?