I am not sure if this has been posted in this forum.

This guy uses a Hot Flush transmission machine and it takes less than 10 minutes. Ford told me it takes them 2 hours to do the same thing this guy does in minutes.

I called the number listed on the machine and there was no answer.

If you live in MO, you can drive to Grain Valley Super Duty Service. I live in California, but will contact and inquire about the price.

 

I would say that most of the regulars on this forum know who SuperDutyService is. Anthony goes by run6.0run and runs a GREAT shop with a great reputation. I'm sure he'd be glad to answer any questions you have. Also, hot flush machines at dealerships are pretty rare as far as we've been able to determine.

 

Tim,

I will call Anthony today. Thanks

 

He's a busy fellow as an owner/operator/mechanic/partsman--LOL. Him and his wife are GREAT folks for sure.

 

Ford didn't tell you that. A dealer told you that. And anyone that needs two hours to do this doesn't know what they are doing. They are incompetent.

 

I agree with Mark,

Even up here in the rust belt that job doenst take that long. I have the same machine as FORD dealers have and its not a heated machine.

Sarge

 

It was the Ford mechanic at the dealership. He said that he had to flush the transmission system in sections. I know that there is a transmission cooler. Is this flushed separate from the transmission?

The service writer would not commit to a price nor would the mechanic. I got 3 separate quotes from The Ford Store in San Leandro, Ca.

I called Serramonte Ford in Colma, CA and they quoted me at $149 ($10 extra for the large van) for a fluid exchange. The service writer said it was not a heated flush exchange, but he assured me that it will exchange all the fluid. I don't believe this will get most of the fluid out as the thermostat will not open even thought the vehicle is running. I told him the manual calls for the use of a special machine.

He said that I was the first person that has ever asked for a heated fluid exchange. I told him I have the Ford shop manuals and the procedure calls for the heated machine. I think I pissed off another service writer. He will probably circulate my number with network dealers to avoid answering anything further about heated flushes.




I did some more calling and found a local transmission shop that will drain the cooler, torque converter, and pan for $289 including 18 quarts Mercon LV. While not a heated flush, it will get most of the fluid out. This shop said they will install the new 2008 pan and filter for me at not additional labor cost.

I called another shop advertising a transmission flush on Craigslist and he said he uses a machine connected to the transmission oil cooler inlet and outlet and that the pressure will open the thermostat. If this is true, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny are coming to my home for a beer this weekend.

With so many different methods from different shops including Ford dealerships, I am looking at doing this myself by flushing it 3 times at a cost of $168. After the first 3 drain and fills, I can change the fluid and pan filter every 20k-30k miles.

 

The torque converter has no drain plug so that will be a good trick.

 

Are you saying the pressurized flush machine or manually draining and filling the system 3 times is a good trick to get most of the fluid out?

The guy with the transmission flushing machine said the pressure will open the thermostat. He charges $150 just for the labor.

 

I don't think so, sounds like BS to me. Better get the hip boots out!

 

I think he employs super heroes like Batman and Captain America. Spyderman quit last week.

 

Ford dealers are SUPPOSED to have a heated flush machine. Most do not.
That's a mechanic at a dealer. A dealer is not Ford Motor Company.

I can't tell if he's lying or just doesn't know what he's doing.

Ask them how they will drain the converter. There is no drain plug.

There are two ways it could be done. One is with a heated flush machine. The other is to remove the trans from the truck, take the converter out of the trans, and drain the fluid from it.
Unless you have the 2008+ updated filter and pan it's a waste of money to change the filter in the pan.

I keep hearing people talk about a pressurized flush machine, but I've never been able to find one. I've looked in many shops and I've searched online. Is there really such a thing as a pressurized flush machine? I don't think it could work. Anyone that understands the flow path of a transmission knows it couldn't work.

Here is another one where I can't tell if he's lying or just doesn't know anything about transmissions.

 

Thanks again Mark! I think these guys at shops just don't know.

 

I went to 2 Ford dealerships and asked if they had hot flush machines, and neither one of the service writers (both female) knew what I was talking about... they had to go ask a tech. Neither one did. Nobody around here has one.
So Mark, why weren't the converters equipped with a drain plug? I thought of installing one in mine when I had the engine out, but remembered my extended history of having great ideas go bad, and didn't.

 

Cost. That's the only reason. The bean counters wouldn't pop for the cost of drilling the hole in the converter, tapping the hole, buying the drain plug, and installing the drain plug.