Expedition transmission flush procedure??
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Northern Indiana
Expedition transmission flush procedure??
Does anybody have a good procedure for flushing the transmission on my 1997 Ford Expedition? Was going to change the filter and and try to get as much fluid changed as possible. My wife is leaving for a 1500+ mile road trip on Saturday. Trying to get everything up to par. Can I use Merc V in my transmission safely?
Truck has 185,000 miles on it.
Truck has 185,000 miles on it.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 657
From: Sioux Falls Area
Mercon V is the recommended fluid for ALL transmissions which previously specified Mercon. -- no problems there.
as for a flush procedure ... you can do it by draining the pan, then unhooking the cooler return line and run the engine until you have pumped out about 4 quarts of fluid, and then refill the pan and repeat.
or, you can drain the pan, then locate the torque converter drain plug and drain the converter, then put about 6 quarts in the pan and run it for a few seconds, then put about 4 more quarts in the pan and run it for a few seconds (to fill the converter), and repeat until you have the correct fluid leve.
or, you can do what i did ... hand the keys to the only mechanic in town tell him to flush it with his machine and write him a $200 check (he used a full synthetic for me).
those are the only ways i know ... i've done the 2nd option and it works out pretty well, IMO for a do-it-yourself'er.
as for a flush procedure ... you can do it by draining the pan, then unhooking the cooler return line and run the engine until you have pumped out about 4 quarts of fluid, and then refill the pan and repeat.
or, you can drain the pan, then locate the torque converter drain plug and drain the converter, then put about 6 quarts in the pan and run it for a few seconds, then put about 4 more quarts in the pan and run it for a few seconds (to fill the converter), and repeat until you have the correct fluid leve.
or, you can do what i did ... hand the keys to the only mechanic in town tell him to flush it with his machine and write him a $200 check (he used a full synthetic for me).
those are the only ways i know ... i've done the 2nd option and it works out pretty well, IMO for a do-it-yourself'er.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,446
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From: Panama City, FL
Seth, do u have the E40D tranny in it? If so then its the same way we do it on our SD trucks with the 4R100 that Mark K wrote up. And the same way the OP specified by disconnecting the return line going back to the pan.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 657
From: Sioux Falls Area
2 notes on the drain and refill:
the converter drains pretty slow. it is a very small drain hole. i'll try to remember tonight and i can find the torque spec for the converter drain plug.
also, this method does not remove the fluid in the cooler(s) and cooler lines. might be a couple quarts worth of fluid in there that could be flushed out. one could easily unhook both cooler lines and blow the fluid out with low pressure from a air hose. easy job so long as the cooler lines don't fight you coming off.
i don't remember off hand how much fluid it takes, but i'll try to look that up tonight too.
good luck!
the converter drains pretty slow. it is a very small drain hole. i'll try to remember tonight and i can find the torque spec for the converter drain plug.
also, this method does not remove the fluid in the cooler(s) and cooler lines. might be a couple quarts worth of fluid in there that could be flushed out. one could easily unhook both cooler lines and blow the fluid out with low pressure from a air hose. easy job so long as the cooler lines don't fight you coming off.
i don't remember off hand how much fluid it takes, but i'll try to look that up tonight too.
good luck!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
I just did my transmission fluid swap this past Friday. I unhooked the return line to the transmission (rear most line). Put a hose on the end of the return line. Put the other end of the hose into a MityVac. I started the engine and went through the hears until I started seeing bubbles. I measured the amount of old fluid, then I put the new fluid in through the transmission dipstick tube. I used just over 16 quarts. I also used Peak brand regular Mercon. It was only $3.60 per quart. But Mercon V is approved as stated earlier.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 25
From: Panama City, FL
I just did my transmission fluid swap this past Friday. I unhooked the return line to the transmission (rear most line). Put a hose on the end of the return line. Put the other end of the hose into a MityVac. I started the engine and went through the hears until I started seeing bubbles. I measured the amount of old fluid, then I put the new fluid in through the transmission dipstick tube. I used just over 16 quarts. I also used Peak brand regular Mercon. It was only $3.60 per quart. But Mercon V is approved as stated earlier.
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