It's been too cold out here to get under my car to change my oil. I went to a reputable oil service center and had them throw in my mobil 1. All seemed to go well.

Being that I normally do this myself, I decided to look under my car a few days to make sure there were no leaks. Sure enough there were. I wiped the filter to make sure it was tight and started the car only to see oil pour out of the filter (99% they did not remove the old gasket.) Shut off the car and called the place to make arrangements to have the car towed in.

I demended a flat bed and sure enough they send a wrecker. I did not want to tow from the rear because of damage that will occur to the air dam. The guy wanted to tow from the front and I said no way. So we then argue about damage that will occur to my 700r4. I ended up telling him to leave and return with a flatbed.

I know this can not be good for the clutches. I am sure they thought I was some A$$ who did not know what he was talking about. The car would have to be towed on the highway not across the street. They tried to tell me that my car was still within a safe distance to tow from the front. What is that distance/speed if there is such a thing? What other parts can get damaged from towing in this manner? I am sure if it were his car he would not tow it that way.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

------------------
91 Formula 305 TPI Stock
88 Formula 350 TPI Stock

 

I wouldnt ever Tow My car from the front More than a mile or so.

But then, I dont Know jack )



------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver

Livin' the Stereotype

 

Wm, I drive a for a towing company and I understand how you feel. The driver that you spoke with should have gone and gotten a rollback and said thank you for your buisness. If I get a call for a sports car I always take the rollback, too many problems of the type you describe.

As a proffessional, He should have never even thought of towing your rear-wheel drive car from the front unless he wanted to get under and knock the driveshaft out. If you still have your owners manual you can look up the section for towing and it say to tow with the rear wheels off the groung or with the driveshaft disconnected. It also says there if you MUST tow your car from the front only go a few miles and do not exceed something like 30 mph. My personal feelings are 2 blocks and 10 mph

When the engine is not running there is no lubrication in the trans, due to the pump being turned by the input shaft. The output shaft and all connected to it are however turning and creating friction and wear. I'm not sure of exactly what damage occurs but I do know it will blow your trans in short order.

 

I wish I'd have known this about 6 months ago. Now I'm wondering if this is why my tranny went out a while back. Back in June my alternator went out and I had to have my car towed home. The guy towed it by the fronts (rears rolling on the road) for 4+ miles going about 50mph. My tranny went out less than a month later. I did spin the tires quite a bit but do you think this would have been the main reason my tranny went out?

------------------
Red 1986 SC, 2.8L, newly rebuilt 700R4, 3.42 Posi, t-tops, 133K miles and counting, K&N air filters, hopefully more to come!

 

Thanks to all who have replied. I felt bad turning the first driver away. I know towing cars can be difficult work. I ended up using a different towing company and had it flat-bedded this afternoon. The extra frustration was worth the piece-of-mind knowing I did the right thing.

Turned out there was a crack in the gasket of the oil flter.

------------------
91 Formula 305 TPI Stock
88 Formula 350 TPI Stock

 

Are all your tow truck drivers too cheap to buy dollies? When towing a rear wheel drive car they pick up the front end then put the dollies under the rear wheels. Your car then never touches the ground when towed.

Just call the towing company and tell them to send a truck that has rear wheel dollies on the truck. Because of all the ground effects on cars now a days they should also be using some sort of Stinger boom to pick up the car by the front wheels. If they use the old style Holmes sling then tell them to go away.

I flat tow my race car to the track. I leave the drive shaft on and put the TH350 in neutral. It's only 3 miles and the speed limit is only 40 mph (70kph). All within towing limits in the drivers manual. If I have a long distance to tow it, then I take off my driveshaft. Someday I'll get a trailer for it.

------------------
Stephen's racing page

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
454 Big Block buildup now in progress for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

Stephen, Dollies are archaic piles of crap. They were around long before rollback's were thought of. In the five yeaers of towing I've had to dollie twice and will avoid it at all costs.

Wm, you did the right thing. You have the right to have your vechicle towed in a manner that you are comfortable with. Never feel bad turning away someone who will possibly damage your vehicle. Something to watch in the future is when they load a car with airdams and ground F/X onto a rollback that the driver is aware of the clearance as they load. and if your car has louvers on the rear window NEVER let them tow your car backwards. The airflow will rip the louvers clean off the car.

Jason, It didn't help your trans but I doubt that was the only reason it went south. It might have accelerated the problem but not caused it to let go a month later.