loss of hydraulic ATF fluid

[Jim and Carol Contratto]

I have just experienced loss ATF fluid all over the tow car and rear of coach.  Has anyone had this problem???  The reservoir tank is low  about 1/3 low.   I know it could be a line, hydraulic  pump or other components.   I have called mobile  service,  have not arrived yet, just wanted to put it out with the BAC , just wanted to cover my bases myself!!!

Jim Contratto,  Fulltimer
06 Patriot Thunder,  C-13

[Richard And Babs Ames]

Hopefully just a hose failure due to rubbing against something. ATF is used for your cooling fan instead of hydralic oil. It is usually pretty easy to trace back to the source. If just a hose they can be made up at a lot of NAPA or other auto/truck parts house.

[Tim Westman]

Jim, I had a similar problem with our coach.  It was a little difficult to find considering where it was.  It turned out that I had a bad filter gasket and it would leak down the backside of the filter.  I would have thought that a leak large enough to show on our toad would have been easier to find.  I actually had to drive the coach a few hundred miles to get some road grime on the filter to see it. Replaced filter and my problem was resolved.  Hope your solution is as simple.  

[Gerald Farris]

Your engine cooling fan and power steering are both powered by the engine driven hydraulic pump. It is usually easy to locate the leak by starting the engine and have someone turn the steering wheel as you watch the hoses. The leak will be obvious when the pressure increases as the steering wheel is turned.

Be careful no to let it spray on you as it can be dangerous.

Gerald

[Jim and Carol Contratto]

Mobile service came out yesterday, located the source of the hydraulic leak, result of 2 hydraulic  pressure lines, laying on each other chafing( actually 1 line had a chafing sleeve on it and it chafed thru the outer protective  coating into the re inforced wire braiding in the hi pressure  lines.  It took  35,000 miles to do it. The lines were  from the fluid cooler and from the hydraulic pump, return line and primary fluid line.  I recommend anyone interested  should check your lines, not rubbing against each other.   BIG MESS!!!!!!!  I am cleaning as much as I can possibly clean up by hand using a degreaser/cleaner in engine area and forward even up around the brake drums.   Not to mention the toad, all over everything.   I figured I lost a minimum of 12 qts.
My next concern I have is the ATF is all over the electrical lines,  wondering if that will cause a problem??   Any thoughts on that???

Jim Contratto , Fulltimer
06 Patriot Thunder-  C-13

[Richard And Babs Ames]

Most leaks like Jim and Carol had start out small and grow as they continue to rub. That is why routine inspections and investigations of wet areas are important.  

http://catrvclub.org/links.htm has some links you can use if your engine is a CAT to get reccomended cleaning procedures. Just normal cleaning with the degreaser should be OK.

Good luck with your clean up.

[Roy Warren Co-Admin]

I have heard of a leak on the hose as it rubbed against some of the engine frame/other hoses after the filter.  Check the hose really carefully.