Here's a revision with formatting for readability.

Here is the procedure I used to change my 04 Expedition's transmission fluid

• Tell me if you think this is effective at replacing all the fluid (without knowing the internals of the transmission it's hard to say)

Transmission Fluid change in 04 Expedition with 4R70W Transmission. This transmission has no drain plug.

Supplies:

• 14 qt new Mercon V ATF
• New transmission filter

Tools:

• 16MM open end or flare wrench
• 3/8" Ratchet, 10MM socket and 6" extension.
• Funnel to allow you to pour your ATF into the dipstick/filler tube.
• Five gallon bucket with 1-quart graduations and a lid.
• Two clear pvc hoses”
• 12' 3/8" OD clear PVC hose (for siphoning ATF out of the transmission pan via the dipstick tube)
• 12' 5/16” ID clear PVC hose (approximate size; for capturing ATF via the cooler return line)
• Drip pan or plastic sheeting (or both -- to catch mistakes)

Notes:

• This can be a messy job, especially the first time some spillage is inevitable.
• Work on as level a surface as possible, put your drip pan or plastic sheeting under the transmission to catch any spills.
• You'll be removing old ATF into your bucket and adding new ATF via funnel into the dipstick/filler tube.
• You'll need to know, at any given moment, how much old fluid you've removed. Use the graduations on your bucket for this.
• Don't empty your bucket during the process.
• You'll need to know, at any given moment, how much new fluid you've added, keep your empty ATF cans nearby and organized so you can count them.
• The old pan gasket is reusable. I suggest you re-use it unless it's damaged.

Assumptions:

• The transmission is at least somewhat warm.
• The transmission fluid level is in the middle of it's acceptable range prior to starting this procedure.
• You know the basics of and how to siphon fluid safely.

Step 1: Allow the engine cool for at least an hour after driving.
Step 2: Partially drain and remove the transmission pan, replace the filter, re-attach the pan.

• Remove the dipstick from the filler tube.
• Push your small-diameter pvc hose down into the filler tube
  • Push it all the way down into the pan.
  • Use the dipstick as a gauge to tell how far to push.
  • The hose will resist and may require twisting and pushing to reach all the way down into the pan.
• Siphon 2 qts of old ATF from the transmission into the bucket.
  • This may take some time to complete, as much as an hour.
  • This will not remove all ATF from the transmission but will remove enough to make removing the pan relatively easy and clean.
• Loosen but do not remove the pan by removing all but two kitty-corner pan bolts.
• Support the pan firmly with one hand and free the pan by removing the two remaining bolts.
  • You don't want to drop the pan because it's holding about 2 qts of ATF.
• Carefully lower and remove the pan.
• Pour the old ATF from the pan into your bucket. Your bucket should now contain about 4 qts of old ATF.
• Don't be surprised if you find a little yellow floating object in your pan, it's a prize from the Ford factory (google "floating in transmission pan ford expedition")
• Remove the old filter and fit the new one. The filter is a "press on, pull off" fit.
• Clean and inspect the old pan gasket. Re-use it unless it's damaged.
• Re-attach the gasket and pan to the transmission, torqing the pan bolts to specification.
• Remove the siphon hose from the filler tube.

Step 3: Add an equal amount of new ATF as you removed in step 2. This returns the transmission to "full", although it now contains a mix of old and new ATF.

Step 4: Swap the rest of the old ATF with new.

• Disconnect the upper coolant line from the right side of the transmission with a 16MM wrench. This is a steel line and is the "return line" that carries ATF from the radiator/cooler back to the transmission after cooling.
• Connect one end of your large-diameter clear hose to the steel return line.
• Route the other end into the bucket.
• Insert your funnel into the filler tube
• Start your car momentarily - - for just a few seconds - - until approximately one additional quart of old ATF has been pumped into the bucket.
• Add matching amount of new ATF via the filler tube.
• Repeat the above two steps until you've replaced 14 qts of old ATF with new.
• Re-attach the return line, torqing the fitting to specification.
• Remove the funnel, insert the dipstick.
• Look at the graduations on your bucket and count your empty cans to confirm you've added an equal amount of ATF to what you removed; add or subtract ATF if needed.
• If you spilled a significant amount of fluid use the dipstick to ensure your transmission contains the correct volume of ATF
• Check the ATF level.

 

I'm sorry but I don't understand the siphon part you're referring to. If you drain and pull the pan you wouldn't have anything left in the pan to siphon. Also, you say nothing about pulling the drain plug on the torque converter and draining it.

 

You lost me the second time you dropped the pan.

 

Sounds like a pretty involved process, you used. I changed the tranny fluid in our 2000 EX 4WD this past weekend. Luckily, I have a drain plug on the 4R100 transmission pan (am not sure of the 2004 model). Draining it removes about 6 quarts of fluid. Then I removed the torque converter hole cover (plastic plug), placed the gear lever in neutral and turned the crankshaft pulley clockwise (looking at the motor from the front), while feeling with my left hand whether the torque converter drain plug (not sure whether the 2004 has this plug) was aligned with the hole. Once this is done, placed a large pan under and removed the torque converter drain plug. Another ~8 quarts come out. Then removed the pan carefully - there is some residual fluid in the pan plus as you lower the pan, the residual fluid from the filter starts pouring out. Cleaned the magnet area out thoroughly, wiped the pan clean. Then installed a new filter (making sure the old filter gasket (orange broad ring) is out of the hole), placed the pan with cleaned gasket aligned. Then hand tightened the pan bolts, followed by progressively tightening them to 132 inch pounds in a logical order. In total, I removed 15 quarts of fluid.

Our truck has 110K miles and this is the third time, I have done this procedure on it.

 

Think of the parts of his write up called "Step n" as the title of the procedure and the lines following the "Step n" as the procedures within that step.

With this procedure there is no need to pull the torque converter drain plug as the tranny's pump pushes the fluid through the torque converter on its way to the tranny cooler and back the "return" line where it dumps into the bucket. (Use clear tubing so as soon as the return fluid turns bright red you are done.)

It would be helpful to mention the model tranny (or at least the engine size so we could figure out what tranny) efair is discussing. Over all the model years these Expeditions and Navigators were produced, some models have a tranny drain plug and some don't, and some have a torque converter drain plug and some don't.

Check your service manual or owner's manual to find out how much atf your rig requires. (My '02 Navigator (4R100) needs 19 quarts - it has an in-tank tranny cooler and the towing package adds as an auxillary cooler.)

 

Yep, that's how I do mine also.

 

Your procedure is similar to some of the early designs of fluid changers for lube shops were they would cut the line and pump into one bucket (like you are) while siphoning out of another bucket. The danger here is that occasionally, maybe even rarely, a bubble will get in the line. It's under high pressure and when it comes out and into your drain bucket, it's like a bomb going off and blows tranny fluid everywhere. I know the guy who developed and sold the T-tech machines used at most lube shops today. He told me how the "fluid bomb" happened during one of his competitors sales pitches. Suffice to say, it was an easy sale for his T-tech machine.

Your procedure is very thorough and probably does a good complete flush, but it is very time consuming. Props for the write up.

 

I've tried several ways to format my post for readability with no success. My original document is nicely formatted in word, but no matter what I do I lose the formatting when posting. Even if I dumb it down to notepad and use spaces for readability my text still gets reformatted. I guess I need to ?

 

Are you using the basic editor to post your message or the advanced one?

 

you lost me at revision.

 

I tried both. Which do you think should work?

 

To have any hope of retaining formatting, you would need to use the advanced editor.

If you still have trouble, give me an email address to contact you and you can send it over.

 

alloro,
it's ed underscore fair at yahoo dot com.

 

Okay sent, send me the file back and I'll take a look at it tonight when I get home.

 

Did you receive it?