Hey whats up everyone. Newbie here. Former Ford guy haha-SHO went through it's second tranny and I decided it was time for a change. Just bought my new baby 3 weeks ago-Formula 350-well taken care of by a guy in the Air Force. Anyway I was out running it against my buds RX7 tonight and as i was in third gear at about 90 or so it suddenly revved up to over 6000. As soon as this happened I let off and coasted to a stop with smoke coming from the engine compartment. I popped the hood and there's a decent amount of tranny fluid around the left side of the motor. Also, the dipstick was up a centimeter or two from the top of the shaft for checking my fluid. I never noticed this before and I'm pretty sure it wasn't like that last time I popped the hood (two days ago to change the oil). Could it just be that the dipstick somehow was pushed up and fluid sprayed out or do you think I have a more serious problem? Once i stopped the car and restarted it it drove the half mile home without any trouble at all. There's no fluid dripping just the stuff that's there along the hoses at the top left of the motor. I'm not moving it at all now though until I get a better idea whats going on. The transmissions relatively new with a transgo kit. Thanks for any help you have!

 

It is possible for the trans to build up pressure and blow out the dipstick. One thing to check is the trans vent. It will be near the top of the trans somewhere. If its plugged the pressure buildup inside will have nowhere to go.

 

have you ran the car since this misfortune? if so, anything else happen? i would also go have the tranny looked at to make sure you didnt ruin something....unless you have the money for a new one. your sure it was tranny fluid right?

 

Possibly not enough fluid pressure being created to execute the shift and hold the 3-4 clutches. You will eventually burn the clutch packs. I ran my car like this for two years until I finally blew it up at the track. Mine would hang in second gear and hold second at WOT. When it finally puked, it simply started boiling fliuid due to slippage and pushed it out the dipstick on my headers. Nothing a couple grand couldn't fix

 

update-took her down to the local tranny shop and she's shot-so its going tomorrow to another shop for a second opinion and probably replacement (dont trust the local guy too much-i've heard bad things). thanks for helping a newbie out guys-hopefully it'll all turn out ok. not such a great experience for my first month-but when she was running it was a lot of fun so we'll see how it goes.

 

While you are rebuilding it, make sure you install a shift kit and larger servo (preferably a TransGo) and a higher stall torque converter. You should replace the converter regardless. I am not sure of your mods but even something along the lines of 2400rpm stall works wonders compared to stock and is very streetable.