[Laneco]

A quarter million on a Ford transmission behind the diesel is beyond borrowed time. The loss of fluid need sorted before you worry about anything else. Likely the transmission is toast.

If I recall correctly, there are electronic controls on that transmission. When it overheats, it may be going into some type of limp-home mode which you are seeing as loss of power. Or it's just trying to saw itself in half.

**also** We had our Ford down at the dealer for about 8 months because - well, because they were clueless. During that time, the truck picked up a wicked algae contamination in the fuel. Turned the truck into a complete gutless wonder. Ran so bad climbing hills that I thought it wouldn't even go over the Siskiyous to get home. We treated it with a diesel algaecide by filling the tanks (with the correct amount of algaecide added) and running them through the system. Went through a fuel filter about every two weeks for at least 2 months before we cleared it all out.

Had the truck sit most of the summer this year while Steve was gone and the algae has come back so we're on round 2 of the treatment. Caught it early this time. Look for slimy gelatinous stuff in the fuel bowl (always clean the bowl when changin the filter) and an odd blackish color to the filter.

Ours is a 97 7.3. Trust me, you damn near can't kill the engine itself.

angela