I am concerned about what looks like an oil leak from the top-rear of
the automatic transmission on my 2001 AUII Falcon. Car has done
80,000km and still under warranty.

Ford have suggested the transmission oil has either overheated or lost
its "anti-foaming" properties and that I should pay them $200 to do an
oil flush and this will fix the problem. The oil drips on my driveway
are a light brown in colour. I bought the car at the auctions, so I am
not sure if it has been thrashed. I have driven it pretty sedately
since I  have owned it.

It didn't sound good when i was trying to back my small trailer up the
driveway yesterday. It sounded like it was hissing and didn't start to
move until I gave it a fair bit of throttle (about as much as you
normally would when accelerating from traffic lights).

I am concerned a service will mask a more serious problem for the next
20,000km until its out of warranty. Not sure whether to get a
professional transmission specialist to look at it. I don't have a lot
of faith in Ford service since the recent debacle with the noisy diff
in the same car.

I would appreciate your feedback/advice

Ben