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-Just completed my swap/install of the 6.0 26 row cooler, AND serviced my transmission by draining the pan, cleaning the pan, changing the filter, draining the converter, AND putting in Castrol Mercon V full synthetic fluid.
-Everything went well with the swap/install THANKS TO Woodnthings8 for the GREAT write up!!!! (I think he is a member here??)
Anyway I'm wondering aprox how many miles I should run before changing the fluid again? my mileage is about 75% empty and 25% towing light to medium loads....
I have just driven my truck around the block a couple of times and even that short distance it seems to shift better and smoother, its only got 104k well taken care of non-abusive miles on it.
The factory recommended interval is 30,000 miles. I stay with that number, even though I use full synthetic ATF, also. I don't rack up that many miles a year, so I it would be serviced about every 1-1/2 to 2 yrs.
-Good Point!! the PO of my truck had just had the trans serviced when I bought it 4 years ago at 70k, its got 104k on it now, and I'm 99% sure he had them use standard Mercon fluid-it never looked dirty or discolored on the dipstick but I was surprised at the color when I drained it-looked a bit dirtier than I would have liked, inside of pan was VERY clean, and I don't think it had ever been off before!
If you only drained the pan and torque converter you only did a partial change. The system holds about 18 quarts. If so you would also be mixing the synthetic fluid with the standard. There is a write-up for flushing out the system completely but don't have the link saved. I think Mark wrote the procedure but not for sure. If you only did the partial flush you probably want to lower the service interval.
Guys, I'm sure I didn't get 100% of my old fluid out.
I have a 16 quart oil change container and started with is completely empty.
I drained the pan, removed it, drained whatever was still inside it.
I drained the converter completely.
I swapped in a 6.0 cooler.
I put in 16 quarts of fluid and my dipstick reads full. there couldn't have been much in the lines left or in the other parts of the transmission.
Mark, Your write up is GREAT, I've seen it, but I am not a fan of flushing.
-When all was said & done my 16 quart container was full to the brim.
You just did a flush by removing the old fluid (albeit not all of it) and put new fluid in. That's all Mark's procedure does, except it uses the transmissions own pump (the same pump that circulates your fluid right now) to help with the exchange of fluid.
So, except for the transmission pump helping you with the exchange/transfer of fluid, how is it different than what you did?
I guess I was referring to the high pressure flushing that the commercial places do, and NOT to Mark's method. I guess I didn't realize that Mark's method uses the transmission's own pump do do the flushing.
I am from the old school and have been doing trans service like I did mine here for many many years w/o problems, not that the new ways aren't good too, I just like the feeling of a nice clean pan and filter and getting my hands on everything....
Please, no offense guys.
-Got anouther question: On the trans dipstick it has a "cold" and a "hot" fill mark: Do I want to check these with engine running or off?-I know on older Fords they always said idling in park......
I guess I was referring to the high pressure flushing that the commercial places do,
Can you point me to someone that does high pressure flushing? I've heard people talk about it, but I've never seen one.
I also owned an independent shop for a few years and I never found anyone that had a high pressure flush machine for sale. And EVERYONE that sold flush machines came to my shop trying to sell me theirs! I did have a flush machine, but it used the transmission's own pump to move the fluid.
I believe that high pressure flushing is a myth.
Originally Posted by Supercab
-Got anouther question: On the trans dipstick it has a "cold" and a "hot" fill mark: Do I want to check these with engine running or off?-I know on older Fords they always said idling in park......
Newer ones are also checked warmed up, idling in park.
My trans flush machine uses the trans to do all the work also. It's fine if you know your filter is good. But I always suggest pulling the pan to clean the gunk out, change filter, add fluid, then hook up machine and do a fluid exchange. You're only using a few extra quarts that way but then I know the new fluid isn't contaminated by the gunk at the bottom of the pan.