Hello all. Our F150 has 160K miles with the original auto trans. I drove it yesterday and I feel that it slipped in reverse when backing up the driveway.
Is it worth just changing the fluid & filter by dropping the pan; NOT a trans flushing, just fluid change.
Thanks

 

I'd say it would sure be worth a try. Especially if you can do it yourself.

My 05 is at 190K miles and still drives and shifts just fine.
All I have ever done trans related is drop the pan, inspect, replace pan and replenish the fluid lost (usually about 4 - 5 quarts) every 30K miles.
I add a filter change every other time.

Give it a go! Got nothing to lose really.

 

Brian, which type is OK? No towing, and 2WD, just a regular auto matic. Valvoline?
Thanks,

 

I have used Castrol, Valvoline, Advance Auto house brand, whatever, and had no problems with any of it.
Mercon V is the approved replacement for all Ford transmissions that originally spec'd Mercon.
Be sure to use Mercon V and not any other transmission fluid.
See here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/ford_tsb_06144.pdf

I have never done a flush, only drop the pan and replace the filter, then put the pan back on and fill it up.

Absent genuine extreme use: regular (esp. heavy) towing, or lots of slow use/many shifts in very hot climates, I do not think anything special is required. Heat is the culprit, so you be the judge regarding your usage.

If you are at 160K and have never changed any fluid, I would not do a flush. If things are getting rough as far as transmission performance, I would do what I do. You might be in for a transmission replacement though. Regular changes are the key and you can
t really make up for lost time.

But, if all you have is shudder, you might be OK. I'd do a change and if things improved, drive it a few thousand miles and repeat. Probably fluid/friction modifier breakdown is causing torque converter shudder, and you might be OK.

Let us know how it goes.

thanks!