<VV> RE: Towing Per the Tech Guide

[Keith Hammett]

The two that I towed went much farther than 50 miles at speeds higher than
the 50 mph, no foaming, fluid loss was observed.  Now who can say that seals
didn't harden up, after all these are around 40 years old.  I question that
if towing causes that much heat to be generated to harden up seals, what
kind of heat is generated when the transmission is under load?  Just how
much heat is released from the torque converter (after all it is generating
some heat by spinning the fluid)?  I think that the same applies to the
friction surfaces,clutches, and bands (when in neutral aren't the clutches
and bands released?  Thus no friction from them?).  As long as the fluid is
being moved in the transmission you shouldn't have a problem, the heat must
be below the breakdown point of transmission fluid (what ever that is).

Keith Hammett

-----Original Message-----

I have read a few towing questions and responses for a PG car, and remember
reading some time ago where it was risky to do so (and so I rented a
trailer). So,,,I went back to the Tech Guide and found two articles in the
Travel and Towing section, pages 3 and 6, by Larry Claypool that say it is
only safe to tow PG cars for 50 miles or so at 50 mph or less. The articles
state that the problem is heat build up which can causing foaming, fluid
loss, hardened seals, and damage to friction surfaces on clutches and bands.
I guess we should ask him if he has changed his mind....,or have conventions
in the winter.....
The Carbmeister

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