never once got "hot" by dash temp gauge.
The overall temp in the pan doesn't have to rise for the seal to leak. If you power brake long enough, it will leak because the area of fluid around the seal has heated up. The dash gauge won't show it because that hot fluid cools back down pretty quick once it hits the cooler fluid & cooler metal elsewhere in the transmission.
Offroading could do it since the torque converter isn't locked. Pretty much the same conditions as power braking, except the wheels are moving a little.
Anyone have a good write up on the front pump seal? Any way to verify it is bad?
Sam
It's pretty simple. You drop the transmission and T/C, pull the T/C off, pull the seal off, drive new seal on, slip T/C back on (make sure it's seated all the way, the face should be 1/2" -1" past the bellhousing mounting face), and put the transmission & T/C back in the truck. The worst part for me is horsing the transfer case on and off.
It either leaks, or it doesn't. No really good way to 'test', unless you want to power brake for a while and let it puke fluid everywhere.