The latest issue of MotorHome magazine stated
"due to auto manufacturers making late changes, the annual can/can't tow list will NOT be in the Jan 07 issue but delayed till the Feb 07 issue"

When ! was camped at the lake in N.C. a MH came in towing a fairly new Buick w/ auto transmission. I questioned him, and he explained he had a drain valve installed, and before towing he added several qts. of transmission fluid which he drained before using the car. He said he has been doing this for many years, and to install the drain valve cost 430.00 AS apposed to installing an auxillary pump. What do our mechanical gurus have to say about this? The drain valve was neatly installed on the drivers side under the bumper.

correction: $30.00 not 430.00

My gut tells me it would work in most, if not all, a.t.s. The basic problem is that a.t. fluid circulation pumps usually work only when the engine is running. Extra fluid would provide an oil bath to rotating parts that normally receive lubrication only from the pump.

Another solution I have seen advanced is to leave the engine idling in neutral when you tow. Not conducive to fuel economy or reducing pollution, however.

If you're certain you'll always remember to add, or drain fluid when appropriate, it should work. If you forget this chore on either end, you've got problems.

My reaction is that the man's technique is asking for trouble. He does have a "fairly new Buick", and enough time may not have elapsed to suffer consequences. A/Ts tend to be pretty robust when operated as designed, and somewhat fragile when not.

However, he may have stumbled onto a solution - many manufacturers require the engine to be run for a few minutes every couple of hundred miles to recirculate the fluid.

Anyway, if it were my car (and my money), I'd follow the mfr's recommendations or get a dolly.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Scalzo:
correction: $30.00 not 430.00

If you click the link that shows the folder with the eraser in the lower right corner of your post, you can edit your post without having to add another reply.

The person who adds fluid to the transmission is setting himself up for future problems. At the very least he should idle the car if towing all four down.

Now, if it stalls out, he's in for a world of hurt.