Pulled a guy out of the sand tonight

[Guest Friz]

Here's the scenario:

My neighbor came over tonight and said his friend was stuck in the sand. Wanted me to help get him out. My thermal actuator went out so I only have 2wd, but I figured that I'd go take a look. I know most people that get stuck in sand really aren't in that bad and are usually easy to pull out.

It was a Neon stuck in some soft sand on a road that it shouldn't have been on. I hooked up and gave a couple of gentle pulls and it came out. I did spin the tires a little, as I was in reverse with no room to turn my huge rig around. I did not pull hard at all, I've accelerated harder goofing aroung on the asphalt.

On the way home, it shifted very firm. Not nearly as easy as it did heading out to the sand. I checked the fluid level and it was down a pint. Replaced the fluid and it's fine. So I crawled under to look around. No leaks whatsoever from the tranny or the transfer case.

Where did that fluid go? I didn't work on the stuck car long enough to build up any heat, I did put it in 4lo just to get some torque out of it, but returned to 2hi when that did me no good. Fluid is nice and pink.

While putting a little extra power to it, could it have pumped some fluid into the transfer case?

It's going to the shop this week for a flush, but I'm just curious as to what happened tonight and why.

[bassdog]

Friz,

 

How did you check your fluid? Meaning was the truck in park or drive or what? I check mine in N with the e-brake on. For some reason I always show more fluid in N than in park.

 

As far as missing fluid, my guess is it is sitting in the torque converter...have you checked your t-case lately?

 

 

bassdog