T-45 leaking from vent/breather

I have a 99 with 95k manual...no tranny problems. I went to the track for my first two times the last week and ran the car hard each time...10-12 times each. Both times I had tranny fluid coming out of the little black breather/vent or whatever it is up near the shifter. Not a ton, but enough for some to drip off and me to notice it. Cleaned it off and drove all week...nothing. Only seems to happen when I drive it real hard for extended periods.

I checked the fluid level and it is ok. I am just using the good ole Motorcraft Mercon ATF.

I was thinking maybe the breather thing is clogged, but I don't really see how it could be. I made an effort to pull it out, but it seemed in there pretty good and I didn't want to break if off or anything. Does it just pull out?

Or, maybe the mercon can't handle the hard driving and I need something better in there. Thinking about...hate to say it...Syncromesh.

Anyone have any ideas or similar experience?

twogts4us said:

Syncromesh is great stuff.
That rubber plug your messing with is in their very tightly - it's the fill plug. Is the fluid up above this level (the bottom of the plug?) If so, that's likely your issue - it's overfilled. It should be filled to the bottom of the plug hole, no higher. If you pull the shifter, it may help you in removing the plug - I know I had a bear of a time removing it.

Click to expand...

I am not talking about the fill plug.

The black bulb I am talking about is a vent or breather. The fill plug is metal and is just above the drain plug. The black rubber piece is at the very top of the tranny, which you can see from under the car or if you installed a shifter it is right there on the top right side of the shifter housing.

I think we are comparing apples and oranges. I have a 99 with the T45...your 02 has a different transmission, 3650 I believe, so the plugs must be different. My fill plug is definately metal. Its just like the drain plug...just a little higher up and harder to get to. The black rubber thingy is a breather.

I have my issue resolved. My tranny was just way overfilled after I took it to a local shop. The thing takes a little over 3 qts and looks like they tried to put all 4 in there. I took my breather bulb off and it was fine. Definately over-filled.