I would like to do a complete drain of the trans fluid on our 94 Ranger 4.0.
I have read horror stories about what shops can do with the newer machines that can flush out all the old fluid.
But, I have read on here that it is recommended at times.

My trans seems to be shifting properly with no problems but the fluid isn't looking good and is smelling a little burnt.
I haven't run it low. Filter was changed @ 30k and the truck has 57k on it now.
I can just change the filter and 3 quarts easy enough but would prefer changing out all of it.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
-greg

 

I am no expert on whatever trans would be in your Ranger but I would think there would be more than 3 quarts in the pan to drain out.
Also check to see if you have access toand a drain on your converter too.
I'd highly recomend staying away from flushing......it DOES cause problems sometimes.
Also recomend going to the Mercon V full synthetic fluid, much better for the trans and can be run much longer than conventional fluid. Hope this helps.

 

I do most of the work on my truck and avoid all mechanics but in this case, I pay the dealership to flush my auto tranny. You can drop the pan and change the filter yourself but that is not a complete exchange of tranny fluid.

 

you do not have many miles on the tranny but it is "old". there is a school of thought that on older trannys a true flush is not suggested....You could do the drain and fill a few times or you can disconnect a tranny line at the radiator and run the truck as you fill the tranny this will repalce the fluid without the potential issues of a "flush"

 

That sounds interesting. How would I determine which cooler line was the correct one to use?

 

From this forums "Tech Info" thread, is a posting on how I do a complete tranny fluid pump out & filter change on my 99 Rangers 5R55E tranny & 94 Taurus AXODE tranny. This proceedure was used by Ford before they had a flush machine.
It's easy to do & will save about $50-$100 over having a shop, or Dealer do it with a flush machine.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...-pump-out.html

If we'll do the initial pan emtying pump out, with the tranny return line removed, the vehicle level & at idle, we can get just about all of the fluid out of the pan, before raising the vehicle on stands for the pan drop & that'll make the pan drop Way less messy.

If we raise the front end on ramps or stands before the pump out, a lot of the fluid goes to the rear/low end of the pan, so a lot can't be removed by the tranny pump & that makes the pan drop a little "tippy" & more messy.

The flush machine service is ok, just have them First drop the pan to clean it & change the tranny filter, BUT don't have them do the solvent induction part of the continuing flush/pump out, after they reinstall & refill the pan.

On dirty, sludged, gum, varnshed up tranny innards, the solvent often dislodges debris that later ends up in the valve body to cause mischief.

You'll have to pay about $50 extra for the pan drop & filter change, but imo it's worth it in the long run.

Also on most tranny machine flush services, a pan drop & filter change isn't included, so when they do the solvent induction part of the service, it stirs up what ever is in the tranny pan, so it first gets strained through the tranny filter, further clogging it up, then goes on to loosen sludge, gum & varnish in other parts of the tranny & all that stuff thats loosened up but isn't removed on the fluid pump out right away, is what usually causes the later mischief, when the new tranny fluids detergents finish softening the deposits & dislodge a chunk & it cloggs up something important.

So imo, if we have them first drop the pan to clean it out & change the filter, then omit the solvent flush part of the service & just have them continue the flush with new fluid, to flush out the old fluid in the valve body, torque converter, cooler & lines, (where most of the old fluid remains after a pan drop) until the full tranny fluid capacity has been removed, we'll be less likely to have follow on problems, as the detergents in the new tranny fluid can Slowly dissolve any remaining deposits, such that the tranny filter can remove them, or the new fluid can slowly dissolve & keep them in suspension so they don't settle out & cause mischief.

If we keep the tranny fluid & filter changed on time, to Fords Severe Service schedule & use a quality fluid & filter, that says on the container that it's Licensed & meets or exceeds Fords specifications for tranny fluid, the tranny innards are likely clean, or deposits are at a minimum, so we'll not likely have heavy deposit problems to worry about.
So the pan won't likely have heavy sludge deposits that'll be stirred up by the solvent & clog the tranny filter, or the valve body, torque converter, cooler or lines won't likely have large sludge, gum, or varnish deposits to be loosened by the sollvent on a tranny service, so a solvent flush service won't likely cause mischief.

A bunch of tranny service thoughts for pondering.

Let us know what you do & how it turns out.

 

WOW, thanks for all the info. I will put it to good use.
-greg

 

Unfortunately people get confused with terminology such as flushing an engine and flushing a transmission. Flushing an engine is dumping a solvent in the engine oil and cleaning out the engine. To me this is a big NO NO.
Flushing a transmission is not the same as flushing an engine. And flushing an auto transmission is SOP (exchanging all fluid in the tranny) which the dealers do and anyone that says it is dangerous is WRONG. If it was wrong then the dealer just messed up your warranty which I know is bull

 

Speaking for myself I am not confused about the terminology. I would not have an issue with "flushing" a newer tranny. You do know we are talking about a tranny that was born 18 years ago. The warranty is expired.

 

I think the bottom line is that as long as you drop the pan. You clean/change the filter and flush the tranny using a system that allows the trannys own pumps to exchange the fluid. You only add the recomended fluid and you don't find any thing in the pan, you should be ok.... Agree?

 

Thought I should finish up this thread.
I ended up sucking out 2 quarts with a vacuum pump from the fill tube and refilled with 2 new quarts. Drove it a week and repeated again until I did 8 quarts.
Then dropped the pan and replaced the filter and cleaned the pan and magnet.
No metal except for grey metallic "slime" on the magnet. Got it cleaned up and put back together. Shifted fine.
Just got back from my yearly trip to the Eastern Sierras for the trout "opener". I pull a small aluminum boat and trailer and the trans did fine.
Of course I got to stare at a CEL most of the way there. Time for another thread!

Thanks for all the great suggestions.
-greg

 

Ford Dealerships have the proper equipment to completely flush and recondition the tranny. I had it done on all my Ford vehicles and it's worth every penny. The tranny's now just glide at 40,000 miles plus.