My dad just bought an 2001 xlt 4ltr with 110,000 miles.The vehicle had no previous maintenance records and several owners-corp fleet, auctions, two or three private owners. Yikes! More owners than we like but it ran well and is really clean. No wrecks.The trans fluid from the dipstick is a pretty clean bright red. At this mileage does that mean it has probably been changed at least once in its life? Would it be dark if it hadn't? Or does the dipstick not always tell the whole story? Should he change the fluid and the filter anyhow?

thanks,

Mark

and thanks for all responses on bleeding my clutch last spring on my B4000.

 

The tranny fluid is probably OK, but if it were my truck, I'd change it to be sure.

Recently, I bought a used, Ford certified Ranger with no service records and 38 K miles on it. Because I wanted an external transmission fluid filter on it, I had, in effect, a fluid change and I feel better because of it. I did some quick checking to try to determine if the fuel filter and air filter had been replaced as 30 K miles - just so I would know for sure where the truck was on routine maintenance.

 

I would change it........do the method where you use the tranny pump itslef to pump the fluid out a little a quart at a time.......pawpaw has how to's for it.......I also would pump out your power steeringfluid.I bet it comes out like chocolate milk

 

Fluid is mighty cheap compared to a transmission. If in doubt change it then you know were you stand. Second the fuel filter also, you would be surprised how many fuel pumps go out prematurely due to fuel filters never being changed.

 

The tranny isn't designed to operate with dirty fluid or a clogged filter & our tranny seems to be sensitive to small amounts of deposits, so with the mileage, unknown maintenance history & the fluid looking ok, yes I'd do a pan drop, filter change & continue on with a Full fluid pumpout & here from our "Tech Info" thread is how I do it on all of my vehicles.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...-pump-out.html

You'll get more fluid out of the pan thus making the pan drop Way less messy, if you begin the pan pumpout with the vehicle level, then raise it on jack stands to do the pan drop. This way the tranny pump will remove enough fluid that you won't likely spill any on the pan drop & if you do slosh some out, the specified size catch pan underneath will catch it, along with any drips, while your emptying & cleaning the pan & changing the tranny filter.

Removing the pan for cleaning & inspection of it & the pan magnets deposits, lets you get an idea of whats going on in there.

After the pumpout, I'd consider adding an inline filter to the tranny cooler return line disconnect point, like a Magnefine & there after, change it & do another pan drop, internal filter change & full fluid pumpout every 25-35K miles, depending on how the vehicle will be used & the kind of driving conditions its operated in.

With the false neutral, hanging, up & down shifts I've had on my 94 Taurus AXODE & 99 Ranger 5R55E trannies, shortening their full fluid pumpouts to 25-30K intervials has eliminated the shifting problems. My trannies have always looked squeeky clean inside, with very light pan & magnet deopstis, yet both trannies have had shift problems that shortening up the fluid service on has so far eliminated. SO, I'm a confirmed beliver in getting clean fluid & new filters in place before, or at least to, Fords severe service schedule call out.

More thoughts for consideration, let us know how it goes.

 

Thanks for all the quick responses!
Paw paw, I have read your instructions. I will look it over again and see if it is something I want to do. Otherwise, would it be best to have the dealer do this? Do they follow the same procedure? I called them and they said the first fluid and filter change out interval is 150,000 miles. Wow! Is that really what they recommend? I thought I saw it was 60,000 miles. Either way, I will let my dad know 30,000 is more like it.

also, most of the fluids look pretty clean as well. My dad is getting an oil change and will have all fluids checked.

thanks,

mark

 

The Dealers used this pumpout proceedure before getting their flush machines. Now with the flush machine they just disconnect the tranny return line & let the tranny pump the old fluid into the machine as the machine pushes new fluid into the tranny return line. They don't drop the pan & change the filter, Unless we opt for that & pay about $50 extra for it. They also use a flush solvent to clean things out, which often causes problems a few weeks down the road, if we have a dirty tranny. But we can opt out of the solvent part of the flush, so if you decide to have the Dealer service the tranny, I'd consider not opting for the solvent flush part of the service.

Around where I live, the pan drop filter change & machine full fluid pumpout is about $150, just the machine fluid pumpout, without the pan drop & filter change, is about $100.

Heck if I can get down there & do my vehicles, bet you can too, its really not difficult. Just get your things together, go slow, pre-think through what your about to do & after you do it once, you'll wonder why you haven't done it before.

I don't know any tranny shop that recommends a 150K tranny fluid service intervial & I sure wouldn't consider running any of mine that long & I doubt that the 01 vehicles had a 150K mile severe service tranny fluid call out & most of us doing short trip, around town stop & go driving, fall into Fords severe service definition.

 

I am sure i can do it. I have become a diy'er in the last two or three years with two saabs and my b4000(got sick of not knowing exactly what was being done(or even if needed) to my vehicles and paying thousands). I have done the drains on all my trannies along with many other fixes-some difficult and some easy. I will give it a go.

the dealer here in Atlanta said $189 with filter. He didnt say anything about a solvent and I know not to do that on a tranny without it having been done along the whole life of the car.

thanks,

Mark