Hello all--

I recently purchased a 2005 Class C motor home. It is a Monaco Esquire 31' on a Ford chassis. It is equipped with the 6.8L and 5R110W trans. 26K miles

I am new to the V10 world. My last Ford truck was a 1992 with a 460 and E40D.

I have many questions but can anyone guide with the proper maintenance of the engine and trans?

What I've done:

changed the oil and air filters with Motorcraft oil (5W20) and Motorcraft air/oil filters

Plans to do:

1. I purchased the deeper trans pan from later 5 speeds so I can get full filtration as opposed to the limited filtration with the current set up.

Any tips on this procedure for those that have done it? Plan on using Mercon SP and Motorcraft trans filter

2. Fuel filter (Motorcraft)

Tips and advice on this procedure?

3. Trans flush/change - I have read that a heating machine is needed to do a complete exchange of fluid. Not all Ford dealers have the machine. If I drop (see #1 above) and change pan and filter, how much will I have exchanged? Should I have it flushed/exchanged at a dealer FIRST and then do trans pan and filter swap?

4. What other maintenance items should be performed?

Thanks!

 

Can't speak to the rest of it, but to change the fuel filter, yank the fuel pump relay or fuse while the engine is running, let it stall out, and the pressure will be gone. It'll throw a code. Do you have an OBD-II scanner you can reset it with? Or just disconnect the battery for a bit.

I think number three should say "tranny flush"?

 

Yes, it takes a heated flush machine to to it properly. I've seen videos where it's shown you can do it without the machine, but all they are really doing is mixing the new and old fluids, and then changing some of the mixture.

It's very rare to actually find a heated flush machine, even at a dealer. Just change what's in the pan.

 

Mark, is just replacing 8-10 qts of fluid that is lost during the pan swap (going to install a later 5R110W pan and filter) enough? I believe the new pan has a drain plug for future changes

 

Ford did change the oil spec to 5 w 30. Not sure why.
.

 

Is there a TSB # indicating this change?

 

I've seen some offical verbiage, but don't have time to go look.

 

searching, but can't find any TSB indicating a change in viscosity from 5W20 to 5W30

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post16632161

 

Thanks Charly....but doesn't cover my 2005 E-450

Also, is my E-450 6.8L V10 a 2 or 3 Valve? What generation?

 

I don't know how to define "enough." It's what's possible, unless you get really lucky and find a place with a heated flush machine, or if you take the trans out of the motorhome to change the fluid. It's certainly better than the only other alternative, which is to do nothing.
The E-Series never had the 3 valve.

 

If I change fluid with pan swap (approx 10 qts), and then change once per year (via trans pan drain plug - which is much less than 10 qts), will it keep enough of the fluid's integrity to do its job? Or is this just mixing new fluid with old fluid and not doing much - not much fluid integrity?

Or is a total fluid change the only way to ensure clean and fresh fluid that has not broken down?

 

Changing what's in the pan will help extend the life of the fluid. It's not the most ideal way, but the most ideal way isn't possible for most people.