Transmission Fluid Poured Out On Freeway - Long Term Damage?

[Safari Wagon]

Driving at about 55mph in cruise control, the engine starts reving all of a sudden. I turn the cruise off and press the gas to maintan speed, engine revs but does not push the car. I gas one more time, rpms go up but the car does not speed up. I put the car in neutral, turn off the engine and coast to a stop.
This happens while I am towing my boat to a local lake...!

There was a rupture in a hose going to the oil cooler. So it was not due to the load. There was a slight smell of burnt oil and the dipstick smells the same. Most of the fluid poured out at speed leaving the bottom and rear of my car covered in oil. And the boat... you guessed it! Covered in reddish oil!

Luckily I have AAA with extended mileage and RV/boat service. Got home, replaced the two hoses that the stupid dumb a@# mechanic used to connect to the cooler. The hoses were used/old and had no rub protection where they came around the AC condenser. Filled the oil and started her up. It was a little wierd at first when shifting - stalled when shifting into reverse and the rpms jumped wiered when shifting into drive. However after a short drive it seems to be okay.

So the dilema now is to decide whether to try to sell the car before the transmission starts acting up or to keep it and decide what to do when it happens.

Does anyone have any comparable experience with a similar break-down and know whether this can cause long term damage.

I love the wagon! Its a great car for me. It tows great but I sometimes have doubts in my mind about its durability with such use.

Opinions / comments welcomed.

Thank you!
(PS: the car is a 1993 V6 wagon with a clean title, straight body, and 133 k miles, runs great)

[blkavalon]

drain you oil and see whether you have any metal particles in it. i don't belive that you will have any long term damage. is it running same as before?

[reluctantmechanic]

two schools of thought on this.

1) your transmission (unlike your engine) just stops working when the fluid is gone. No damage

2) your transmission gets fried due to lack of fluid.

I'm in camp #1 - I had a trans line come off long, long ago, trans stopped working, drove for another 80k...

Hope that helps.

[LynchburgCSI]

You stopped RIGHT AWAY. As long as there was no major metal in the fluid when you drained it, you should be okay. That's my vote.

[fenixus]

I would drain to see how the fluid looks like and smells. besides that if no huge metal chunks are found on metal plug then just refill and enjoy

[deadrx7conv]

Definitely pull the pan off for a filter inspection and magnet cleaning.
Then, top it off an keep driving.

It would be smart to install an inline filter. This way, if there was any wear floating around, the Magnefine/ATP/SPxFiltran will grab it.

[RichieRichJP]

Originally Posted by Safari Wagon

There was a rupture in a hose going to the oil cooler.

You mean the transmission cooler?
Or the oil cooler for the engine?
Just wanted to make sure...

[Safari Wagon]

Originally Posted by blkavalon

drain you oil and see whether you have any metal particles in it. i don't belive that you will have any long term damage. is it running same as before?

Seems to be running fine.
RichieRichJP - the transmission oil cooler.

I'll drain the fluid, clean the pan, and change the filter today.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement everyone!

[JohnGD]

If there are no excessive debris in the pan you should be fine. Use at least a synthetic blend ATF if you can, including the differential.

Another thing you can do if concerned is to take a sample of the ATF midway during the drain and send it in for oil analysis. Or at least keep it around in a jar so you can decide later. Wipe the drain area clean before removing the drain plug.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/transmission.php

Originally Posted by Safari Wagon

Seems to be running fine.
RichieRichJP - the transmission oil cooler.

I'll drain the fluid, clean the pan, and change the filter today.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement everyone!

[Safari Wagon]

Update:
Drained the fluid, changed the filter and gasket.

The oil smells burnt. Here are the pictures of the pan and magnets -
(I have not changed auto trans fluid in a long time so I am not too familiar with what is normal, but it looked like excessive to me....)

[carsrus]

Sell it QUICK. Those metal chunks on it mean its toast.

Sure maybe itll magically run for a while but I personally wouldn't chance it because ive seen trannys will less junk grenade and lose gears.

[Zembonez]

I disagree. It's old to begin with. If the fluid hasn't been changed in a long time, you can expect a little buildup in the pan. The pics you post aren't alarming.

If it shifts fine and doesn't exhibit any problems, I say what you have is what you can expect to have sometime down the road. Drive it!

[zythr]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I disagree. It's old to begin with. If the fluid hasn't been changed in a long time, you can expect a little buildup in the pan. The pics you post aren't alarming.

If it shifts fine and doesn't exhibit any problems, I say what you have is what you can expect to have sometime down the road. Drive it!

You subtly want to buy his car

[Hajoca]

Since you stopped immediately, the only thing was your transmission pumped out most of the oil. The anti scuff properties in the 'original fluid ' is spent, your new fluid should be fine.

You mentioned changing the fluid long ago - drain and fill I presume, and the chips and flakes are from 133k miles of use? Then that is pretty much normal wear debris.

[71Corolla]

I saw the pans of a few transmissions at a shop a few months ago. They had 10 times that amount of metal in them, and they still worked okay after a fluid swap.

Put some new fluid and go for a drive.