My 05 F350 4x4 now has 212,000 miles on it. This is my daily driver, about 90-150 miles a day, on highways. It only tows once in a while, 3-5 times a year, up to 8000 lbs. I have spent a good deal of time and money on the 6.0, but have neglected the transmission in doing so. I bought the truck new in 7/05, and did the dealer-recommended services up to 120k miles or so. I do not know how often the transmission was serviced in that timeframe, but probably could go back through my receipts and find that out. Other than checking fluid (which is always in the safe zone), I know it hasn't had any attention since then. I have never had any issues with the transmission until now.
In the last 3 weeks, I have noticed that the transmission hesitates before engaging reverse or drive. It doesn't seem to happen on start up in the morning. I notice it after I drive the 45 or 50 miles to work, and then go run after materials or whatever, and then as I begin the drive home. It doesn't always happen, but seems to be getting more frequent, and the hesitation has gone from a second to about 3 seconds maybe a little longer. It's particularly annoying when you back out onto a road and then sit there waiting for drive to engage while people are staring.
I fully expect to get some jabs here about neglecting the thing, and its fine I'm a big boy and can take it. So fire away. But if you don't mind, can you tell me what the issue might be, and if its something I can fix? Also any other tips I could get on the back-yard fluids exchange. I drive it every day except Saturday and Sunday and the dealers are closed then or I would take it in.

By the way, the scan gauge II shows no codes and a TFT of about 150-180. Thanks for the help.

 

It could be from neglect. Old, worn fluid can make the solenoids stick. New fluid may free them up, I've seen it happen.

The only tip I can give you about a backyard fluid exchange is that I don't know of a good way to do it on a TorqShift transmission.

 

Sounds like you are past due for a trans fluid hot machine change. Do you know when or if it was changed last?

 

According to the OP, he's the original owner, must be never. He also states the dealers are closed on Sat. They are very busy here on sats. He doesn't state where he lives. A lot of holes in this story. First thing for him to do is bring all maint. up to specs. and start from there. JMHO.

 

The only other option, if he's willing to try it is the heat-in-the-oven fluid change-out. There's a You Tube video on how to do it.

OP: Our transmissions have an internal thermostat that keeps the trans fluid circulating until it's 170 or so and then it sends it to the front filter/cooler. In order to get a fairly complete fluid change out you have to 1st run the truck to operating temp (trans over 170), change the front filter and drain the trans sump. You pull one of the return lines (don't ask me which it's in the vid or Mark can tell us) and put a clear plastic tube from that line to a bucket. Then you are putting HOT fluid in the sump and running the truck/turning off/adding more hot fluid, as it pushes the new fluid through the system, you need to run it in each gear (stopped) as well. It sounds (and looks) a bit dangerous, but could be done if you absolutely cannot get it to a dealer with a hot flush machine.

It's one of those: no free lunch deals, sorry...

 

For all the years I lived in the Detroit metro area all new car dealers, including the service departments, were closed Saturday and Sunday.

 

Not in S. Ca. People work during the week.

 

I guess my point was that he's already flirting with a truck that may stop moving, then what?! Some times you can get pretty creative when you feel that you have to: borrow a friend's truck for the day, or part day even? What's the saying?? Need is the mother of invention, or something like that?

 

Not here in South Florida, either. They are open Saturdays.

 

Thanks for all the help. I'll try to keep this from being too lengthy.
69CJ- Thanks for your input. I'm not sure what holes in my story you see. I stated that all of the recommended maintenance up to about 120,000 was done where I bought it. That was at Hillyer's Ford in Woodburn, OR. He, and all of the other Ford dealers around here, are not open on Saturdays for service. We also work during the week.
Others: I am able to borrow a buddy's truck if I need to. But I really didn't want to bring anyone else into this. You see, I have had to borrow that buddy's truck every time something else went wrong. (2) FICM's, Head gaskets, (2)Turbos, HPOP, Injectors, EGR, the list goes on. And every time it happened he would say "you really need to get a different truck". This is why I wanted to try and fix it myself. I have begun to get more comfortable working on it myself, and I do need to get the tranny fluid changed out. I have seen a video on it somewhere, possibly the same one, and have looked at some of the info Bismic has in his spreadsheets. Definitely would rather have the dealer do it if I can get the transportation and funding though. Does anyone have an idea what the ballpark cost is for a dealer flush?