transmission problems

[gafiredog]

I have a1985 crewcab dually with a 454, 400turbo. I was driving today, and at an intersection waiting for the light, smoke started coming out from under the truck, very heavy. I pulled over in a parking lot, and opened the hood, and transmission fluid was boiling out of the filler tube of the transmission, the smoke was coming from the fluid spilling on to the exhaust. What would cause this? and has anybody had this happen to them? I have never seen this happen before. TIA.

[cadillac_al]

Just being low on fluid will make the fluid overheat. Other than that something could be going on with the trans cooler

[gafiredog]

thanks for the help

[old Rusty C10]

hopefully you didnt fry the transmission.. another thing is I always run an auxullary cooler and every once in a while i take the pressure washer and make sure the fins of the cooling system and air conditioner are cleaned. they need to have a clear and unobstructed flow

[gafiredog]

Thank Bob, I just put a new trans. cooler on it about a month ago. I went out today, and checked the fluid, and all the lines. Everything looked good, except the fluid was a bit low. I added some fluid, and it seems to be working fine. I ask the guy at the parts store about it, he had never heard of it happening either.

[Pontiac1976]

If there was a new trans cooler installed and it had some air still in the system giving you a false full reading, if you did not run the motor to up to temp in park for 20min-30 min re-check fluid top up if needed. Your first road run may have been air and low fluid heating up get out. Do not forget longer hoses lines & cooler hold more fluid you have to add that whatever the trans calls for. Keep eye on it for a few weeks see if it normalizes out. Make sure your line flow in corrects direction. If you not moving on real hot days over 40mph as the air flow throw the cooler will all most not cool fast enough for the heat buildup.