Hi Folks,I have an '03 F-350 dually diesel crew cab with 50K on the clock. I am about to switch to straight syunthetic oil. Tha got me to thinking about the transmission fluid and toying with the idea of changing to synthetic transmission fluid. I'm interested in hearing the pros and cons regarding this idea. I would also like to know if it is possible to completely vacate the existing fluid in the sysyem. Is there a filter inside the transmission or is the one I found mounted on the frame the only filter? I would like to hear from any of you that have done this work.

 

You posted in the 6.0 diesel forum, so I assume you have that engine. That means you have the 5R110 Torqshift transmission.

You cannot fully change the fluid yourself. It takes a heated flush machine, which your Ford dealer should have. Your torque converter does not have a drain, and there is a thermostat that closes off the cooler lines. So there isn't an efficient way to completely flush the system yourself.

In my opinion you should stick with the Motorcraft SP or the newer Motorcraft LV fluid. It is already a synthetic, and it is good stuff. I don't see any reason to go to the aftermarket fluids.

The above are my opinions, and not everyone will agree.

There is nothing but a screen in the pan. You do not need to open the pan.

You should have changed the fluid at 30k, and every 30k, so you are behind schedule. I think many people change the external filter every 60k, but since you are behind schedule you maybe should go ahead and do it.

If you insist on doing the job yourself, I would recommend you drain the pan and refill, and decrease the change interval to every 15k, since you will only be changing about half the fluid each time. You will need about 9 quarts to do that, each time.

 

there are 2 filters. one inside the transmission pan and the external one by the radiator on passenger side. the key thing is to replace the external one. btw, wat tranny fluid does ur car use? mine is an 05 and it uses mercon sp. jus make sure the tranny fluid is the same type ur putting in or it'll mess up ur tranny. if ur vehicle uses mercon sp (like on all torqshift trannies), then no worries. mercon sp is already a synthetic tranny fluid. if ur tranny is the 4r100, then i tink u might be using the mercon or mercon lv. not too sure. i might be wrong. but i'm sure others will chime in.

 

SP is being discontinued...Ford says to now use LV.

 

Thanks Man...Yeah, I was wondering about the need for an external unit to do the complete flush. And yes I did neglect to mention it is a 6.0 diesel. I'm a guy who does as much as I possibly can for myself which included my own TC recon. I assume the unit you refer to is heated in order to keep that cooler line thermostat open for the flush. I would be interested in seeing a demo video or some illustrations of this machine in operation. I am opposed to giving the Ford dealer any more than I have to. Not to mention that they seem to take forever to get the smallest of jobs through the system. This truck has had a really easy life in it's eight+ years and the fluid looks like new. I pulled the pan plug for a small sample. Not brown or having that tell tale burnt smell. It could be that they did this once already when it was in for a warranty related job. I would even consider building a flush unit if I could see what one is made up like. I doubt it is really all that complicated of a device.

 

wow. so it is true then. i've heard it now and then. how different is lv from sp? have u seen it or used it yet? any comments on that?

 

Here is how I change my trans fluid every 25,000 miles to 30,000 miles.
How To Get More Than 8 To 7 Quarts - Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

 

Fyi Mercron SP and LV are both fully synthetic.

 

I went from SP to LV about 10K miles ago. I can't tell a difference in shift quality, towing or not.

 

On the Motorcraft site the only trans fluid that uses the word "synthetic" is Mercon V. There is no mention that SP or LV are synthetic, did I miss something?

 

ive been running valvoline maxlife atf

 

I just changed my fluid for the second time Monday.First time I used this forums home flush proceedure.Don't even look for this in the tech folder.Poof gone, didnt work, cant work because of this temp switch in the pump of the 5R110 Trans.The idea is you cant get all the fluid out without a flush,because of the lack of a drain plug in the torq converter.

If this where my first time changing the fluid I'd drop the pan to have a look at the inside see what might be clinging to the pan bottom.

What I did this time was read,then read some more,one guy on this forum claims he tapped a plug hole into the torque converter,sounds very interesting.Somebody else chimed in with the aspect of rebalancing the converter?Either way if you drop the pan or drain it,I got eactly 2 gallons in my bucket.Yes I marked it at the 2 gallon mark.I used the valvoline maxlife,its mercon sp and lv specked.I bought it at autozone.The filter I bought at the dealer, the motorcraft one is 36.00 out the door.

I talked to the service manager about a hot flush machine.They don't have he said go to Jiffy Lube.So having a local transmission shop near my local post office in Blair,OK.I questioned the guy about a freinds E4OD shifting hard and finally got around to how best to service my 5R110,he in his opion said hot flush machines do more harm than good.So what do I do I asked,He said just keep the fluid and filter changed,and you should see a lot of miles out of your transmission.

This is my story...and I'm sticking to it.

 

Interesting that the guy who doesn't have the proper flush machine, thinks the flush machine is no good.

We have heard before that some dealers don't have the proper machine. You can find one that does.

 

Anyone know of a dealer in NW Florida, South Alabama or South Mississippi that actually has a hot flush machine?

 

Anyone know of a dealer in NW Florida, South Alabama or South Mississippi that actually has a hot flush machine? I was in Hattiesburg, Ms. last week, called the local Ford dealer about getting a torqueshift transmission flushed and the service advisor first wanted to know if it was in a car or a truck. He said they didn't change any filters during a flush but would change them if I wanted the transmission serviced. He told me they had a hot flush machine then he told me they didn't use one plus he became very argumentative.

They may have a hot flush machine but I didn't want to take a chance on that service department.

JimB
Pensacola, Fl.