Towing Issues: towing a vehicle, tow dolly, drive wheels

Question
I plan to tow a Ford Escort using a tow bar with all 4 wheels on the ground.  It has front wheel drive automatic transmission.  I understand that if something isn't disconnected with the transmission it could cause damage.  A friend of mine suggested that I could leave the engine running with it in nuetral and it wouldn't cause any damage.  Can you give me any advice?  p.s. I'll be towing about 1300 miles.

Answer
You can't make a front wheel drive vehicle towable by disconnecting the drive wheels from the transmission.  If it were rear wheel drive, you could disconnect the drive shaft from the rear transaxle and tow it forever with no problems.

The reason for the engine having to run is that the transmission oil is then pumped through the cooling system and cools and lubricates the transmission gears.  Without it, the gears would heat up and damage the transmission.  Very expensive.  It is okay to leave the engine running if you're towing a short distance (20-30 miles) providing you're engine's cooling system is working good.

However, towing with the engine running for 1300 miles is not adviseable.  Being that the Escort will be towed behind another vehicle, it will be in a vacuum created by the towing vehicle and might not get sufficient air flow to the radiator for cooling purposes.

My best advise is to rent a one way tow dolly. It will lift the front wheels off the ground and there is no possible way the transmission will be damaged.

Good Luck.