Hey guys I need to get a service done on the trans in my 07 FX4 6.0L powerstroke with 5 speed auto. I understand there is a filter in the trans and another on one of the cooler lines.

I personally don't like flushes. On my GM gasers I like to change filters and refill the pan with fluid and then change the fluid out of the pan again about 5k later and then again at 10k later and run the filters for about 30k total. This has worked very well for my GM gas cars and trucks getting well over 150k out of stock trans in multiple cases.
Having never owned a Ford before or a powerstroke for that matter I'm a little lost as to what the best course of action is for these transmissions as well as what fluid and parts are needed. Should I just let the dealer take care of it or should I do it my self? And about how much are the parts to do it my self and how much to have the dealer do it? Any help would be appreciated.

 

I do mine myself..... I went to Ford and picked up 3 jugs of SP and the external filter. I drained the pan, measured what I drained, replaced the filter and put it about what I took out then ran it until hot. Checked the level and would have added any if needed but it was good. Think I used about 2 jugs, so next time I'll only need to buy a filter and one jug. (I MIGHT be off in the amount by 1 jug....feeble mind can't remember too good anymore) I believe the process is described up in the Maintenance section up top of the forum.

Here's bismic's procedure: Thanks bismic

REMEMBER - ONLY USE MERCON SP (Ford factory synthetic transmission fluid: Note: Ford says you can use LV also now.

<table style="WIDTH: 634pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="845"><colgroup><col style="WIDTH: 634pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 30902" width="845"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl24" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 634pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height="17" width="845">TRANSMISSION FLUID</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 39pt" height="52"><td class="xl28" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 634pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 39pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height="52" width="845">If you're only going to drain the transmission from the plug, you'll need 7-8 quarts of fluid. If you drop the pan, you will need 8-9 quarts of fluid, depending on how much drains. If you want to do a full change you'll need at least 18 quarts. Your truck doesn't have a drain plug in the torque converter, you'll need to do a flush to get all the fluid out.</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 222.75pt; mso-height-source: userset" height="297"><td class="xl29" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 634pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; HEIGHT: 222.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height="297" width="845">Change External Filter:
Loosen the filter bowl w/ an impact wrench - 22 mm 6 point socket.
Remove bowl by hand and discard all old fluid.
Do not throw out the bottom spring assembly.
Clean up the bowl, spring assembly and upper fitting with paper towels. Be careful not to get dirt into anything.
Insert new, dry filter element into upper fitting (filter base that the housing screws into)
Make sure it is in properly and the tube is not crimped.
Insert the bottom spring assembly into filter element.
Make sure it is in properly and the tube is not crimped.
Fill up the bowl 3/4 of the way with new, clean fluid. Just a few ounces needed.
Slowly lift it up around the filter element.
Move slowly so the filter element absorbs the fluid.
When the bowl meets the threads of the upper assembly,
slowly start screwing the bowl on by hand.
Once the threads are properly started, screw it on all the way by hand.
Hit it for 2 or 3 hammers with impact wrench.
You are done - now clean up!</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl25" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">Transmission (External):</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl26" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">Ford.............3C3Z-7B155-BA</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl26" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">Motorcraft.......FT-145</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl26" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">NTZ09-C09B</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl25" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">Transmission (Internal):</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height="17"><td class="xl26" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="17">Ford..............3C3Z-7A098-AA</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height="18"><td class="xl27" style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" height="18">Motorcraft.......FT-144</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Why do you need to put fluid in the filter bowl? What possible reason is there for doing that? You don't need to prime a filter, it is fed by the transmission pump. And it's only a bypass filter, it only sees 10% of the flow going through the cooler lines.

 

I think bismic did that just so as not to have to add another pint or quart with the new filter....... But ask him to be sure.

 

Sorry for the
Mark Kovalsky,
If the fluid is bright and not any smell with 170K miles on the truck
should I do a hot flush @ almost $300.00 or just a pan dump and filter
change with a repeat in X miles ? I am looking to not cause problems and keep the
transmission HAPPY. What should the X number of miles be?

Thanks

Sean

 

I am a fan of the hot flush. If you just do the pan I don't know what that interval would be.

 

Thank you so much for the info. I had never even heard of the hot flush system. Thats awesome. Can one of you answer this for me? Is the cooler filter on the feed side going to the cooler or the return side from the cooler back to the trans?

 

The external filter is before the cooler.