I finially gotten to the point of needing to get this done. Been putting it off. Fluid is fairly dark. Truck isn't used to tow and does have a trans cooler. At 193500 miles right now. I don't think I should have any problems if I get it done. Pipe in if you disagree. I don't know how old the fluid is. Dealer wants $280 for a flush and filter change. Seem like an okay price? Seems good to me based on about $135 for a filter change... I have seen mixed reviews on flushes...

 

I wouldn't pay the dealer, I'd do it myself. I'm sure others will chime in on this. I have 2 f-150's and a 2000 expy. I do them myself...For some odd reason, the dealer thinks I'm made of money, like I'm the guy from the GEICO commercial on his motorcycle or speedboat...lol

 

There really isn't any need to do a flush. You can drain the pan and the converter and that will get nearly all of the fluid.

 

I wasn't sure if draining the pan and torque converter would get most of it. I'll give them a call and see what that would run me. As far as doing it myself, I have done everything on this truck myself, but a transmission job is a little over my head. With how delicate the E4OD seems to be I'd feel better having a professional do it so the level is correct. That and I really don't have the place to do a trans service.

 

I had mine flushed by a mechanic who had just started up business, so he didn't charge ridiculous rates and I paid $175 for the flush and 14 qts of synthetic ATF. I did help him so it didn't take as long. But it sure is cool watching the fluid go through the clear lines of the flusher and change from dirty fluid to nice clean, red stuff!

 

The E4OD is similar to the expy I have. I only had a gravel driveway. Drained the pan and torque converter, and refilled. You can refill with new merc V or Dino merc.
$5 for syn or $3.50 for Dino merc.

 

Great write-up in our own Articles section of the site: Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles


I would also go the extra mile and install an inline transmission filter:
Magnefine--Your Source For Magnefine Inline Filters

There is a TSB from Ford informing the technician to install one of these filters after a fluid flush/fill or transmission service/replacement somewhere on the interwebs....

 

Thanks for posting that rla. I knew that was around. I found that several years ago, and used that to do my trans flushes.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Did a little more digging and I actually don't think it would be too bad of a job. The only part that is really the issue for me is making sure the level is correct when I'm done. I have never done a transmission service before. And there is about a $140 difference if I do it...
I think I will wait till the term is over here in a few weeks to decide if I have the time and place to do it. If so I might just save myself the $140 and do it myself.

 

Do NOT have it done at the STEALERSHIP.

Had my old transmission (before converting to 4x4) flushed and refilled at a local shop for about $150. I have done a couple transmission fluid drain/refill jobs just in the driveway. Not difficult by any means. Can be a little messy though. Nice thing about having a shop do it though is they can flush out all of the passages, lines, etc. with their machine.

 

It's not that delicate of a job really, just a little more messy than an oil change. There is a magnet at the bottom of the oil pan that collects/attracts all of the metallic residue. Clean that magnet off and wipe out the pan before reinstalling it.