Using or losing Brake Fluid? Edited to include transmission issues.

[TampaTremor]

Is anyone else experiencing a loss of brake fluid? We purchased our F250 7.3L Tremor in January and have used it to tow our camper around 9,500 miles so far and it has been mostly great.

In early June I received low brake fluid warnings so I picked up and added more fluid. I chalked it up to possibly being on the lower side from the factory.

Yesterday, after not towing too much and maybe adding 1,000 miles at most since we last topped off our brake fluid we started getting the error messages again.

It was just under the minimum line but the reservoir is rather large and it took quite a bit of fluid to bring it back up to max.

Where is all the brake fluid going? It does not leak, at least not while parked? Is this common for Super Duty trucks?

 

[BlueKilla]

Crawl under the truck and follow the brake lines to the distribution blocks, hoses, calipers and check for areas where fluid is seeping but not necessarily visibly dripping. Also check under ands around your master cylinder/brake booster and any underhood distribution blocks for presence of brake fluid. Do your brakes feel spongy or not as tight as they used to?

Since your truck has such low miles, this would probably fall under bumper to bumper warranty. Take it in and have it checked out.

 

[davidb1841]

You have a brake line or master/brake cylinder issue.........you definitley have a leak some where....take it in.........could have been a rock or other FOD clipped a brake line!

 

[Mike Alcocer]

Could be a leak from a caliper. The fluid would be spun away from the truck and wouldn't be obvious past an extra dirty/dusty wheel.

 

[Bruno]

I had a similar issue with my old GMC where fluid was pushing past a diaphragm and into the booster. Who knows where it was going from there. Not guaranteed to be your problem but is a possibility. Time to go back to the dealer!

 

[TampaTremor]

Thanks guys! We made an appointment with Ford next week. I have owned around 20 vehicles and never had to add brake fluid outside of doing extensive brake work.

I am also going to have them look at my transmission. It lurches hard 9 times out of 10 when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse. I am no longer surprised by it but it scares my wife.

 

[blueonblack21]

You have a brake line or master/brake cylinder issue.........you definitley have a leak some where....take it in.........could have been a rock or other FOD clipped a brake line!

“FOD!” I’d bet a tank of gas you’re AF, past or present…

 

[Bruno]

“FOD!” I’d bet a tank of gas you’re AF, past or present…

Man, I’m getting old. I have no idea what this says! Hahaha.

 

[stufarmer]

Man, I’m getting old. I have no idea what this says! Hahaha.

Foreign object and prior Air Force.

 

[RedZilla]

FOD will destroy a turbine engine in a flash. ?? ?

 

[Donnie With A Dee]

I once worked on a rocket launch pad and had to keep an eye out all the time for FOD.

 

[davidb1841]

I am so old I can't really remember...but I think it stood for Foreign Objects and Debris......yes Retired SMSgt

 

[Jrod250]

Could be a “FOD” clipped a brake line OR an “EX” clipped the line!!!!

 

[JB Brisket]

FOD - Foreign Object Debris, very common in the aircraft (and some manufacturing) industries.

Tampa - take it in and let the dealer check it out. I had a leak, thought it was the transmission but dealer found it to be a power steering pump leak which they fixed without question or drama. BTW, the only power steering pump leak they have seen on the 7.3. I do have quite a bit of brake dust on my wheels and the body just behind the front and rear tires, seems excessive. But do get those breaks checked out!

 

[RedZilla]

If your using brake fluid enough to set off warning lights you have a critical and dangerous problem. A minor leak can become a catastrophic failure in one stop at the working pressures of the brake system. Nothing will make your heart stop faster than a brake pedal that goes to the floor when you really need it. The dealership should be all over getting this fixed for you.

 

[ccw]

Nothing will make your heart stop faster than a brake pedal that goes to the floor when you really need it.

Can kind of confirm, though not due to a brake failure but ice.

Was starting to approach a stop sign in winter one time, saw a slight sheen on the road so decided to do a brake test and my pedal went really far down with zero impact to the speed of my truck. Was on pure ice.

Thankfully was in town, going slow because of the general conditions. Also had enough distance, plus a slight hill, before the stop sign so I geared down and was able to slow down in time. But sure was a freaky experience.

 

[TampaTremor]

I have a partial update. My truck has been at Gator Ford in Tampa since yesterday morning. They found the brake fluid leak, it was coming from a brake line where it connects to the caliper. Not sure which wheel yet?

They were able to replicate the transmission lurch and called to get permission to drop the pan in the transmission, they said they expect to see metal in the fluid and may not be the best outcome. I am just happy that it is being cared for while under warranty and nothing failed while traveling.

 

[stufarmer]

I have a partial update. My truck has been at Gator Ford in Tampa since yesterday morning. They found the brake fluid leak, it was coming from a brake line where it connects to the caliper. Not sure which wheel yet?

They were able to replicate the transmission lurch and called to get permission to drop the pan in the transmission, they said they expect to see metal in the fluid and may not be the best outcome. I am just happy that it is being cared for while under warranty and nothing failed while traveling.

Gator Ford has a great Service Department. To be honest, I buy from Brandon Ford, their service Department has been excellent for my Ford cars and F150's. But, Gator Ford knows Super Duty's. Their business is Trucks and only Trucks. I've never been disappointed. Good luck ..

 

[TampaTremor]

Gator Ford has a great Service Department. To be honest, I buy from Brandon Ford, their service Department has been excellent for my Ford cars and F150's. But, Gator Ford knows Super Duty's. Their business is Trucks and only Trucks. I've never been disappointed. Good luck ..

I agree, I went from Tampa to Chattanooga to get my Tremor so it is a transplant to Tampa and has no "home" dealership.

Gator Ford techs are definitely good with Super Duty trucks, commercial vehicles and RVs. They earn a little extra trust from me.

 

[TampaTremor]

Here is the fix they performed for the Transmission: https://ford.oemdtc.com/6951/10r140...t-with-or-without-dtcs-2020-ford-f-super-duty

From what I gather the Transmission valves are cycled extremely fast then the transmission is reset to its "learn" mode.