I fashioned this ATF pump from an old 1 gallon pump-up sprayer for use on my '05 Explorer. The Explorer has a "stand pipe" in the pan and fills thru a 1/8" pipe fitting from the bottom. There is a ball valve to regulate flow. I simply added the compression fitting and curved tubing (made from an old air blow gun) as an adaptor for use on the 6r80. I can also use it for filling other fluids, i.e. the transfer case.

 

I was told by my local dealer not to do a tranny fluid and filter change because it could cause big problems. I'm at 150,000 miles and would really like to do it if it's not going to roach my tranny. The dealer quoted me something ridiculous like $1200 for a filter and fluid change, I would rather buy a new trans than pay that much for a filter and fluid...

 

150K is the interval Ford specifies. I did mine at 186K, but it had a record it was done at 120K. My fluid was black as night. All that suspended matter in the trans is eventually going to cause an issue. ZF (the company Ford bought the patent for this trans) says to change at 60K. This trans (very similar anyway) is used in many BMW sedans. There is a video from ZF saying the manufacturers say lifetime, but the guys who designed it suggest 60K. They explain it in a funny way.


If you don't have any trans issues, slipping, shuddering, etc, the fluid exchange is probably ok (no flush). But, there is an old wives tale that flushing (or even exchanging fluid) on a trans can destroy it. Could be true in some cases. If your trans stops working 10 miles out, your dealer could be questioned.

$1200 is a crazy price, but it is a bit of work, not $1200 though. $300-350 professionally in today's prices would be fair. I would ask another dealer for an opinion.

 

That is a ridiculous price. Almost as ridiculous as the old wives' tale that flushing the transmission will cause it harm. A lot of people believe that and preach it as gospel, but I think it comes from misunderstanding the cause and effect. If your transmission sustains damage from old fluid, loading it with fresh fluid can't save it. So when someone has transmission trouble and has the fluid changed, then it dies anyway, they're quick to blame the new fluid. But that's never the case; fresh fluid can't harm a properly functioning transmission.

So don't worry about causing harm. I'd flush it as soon as you get the chance.

 

I agree withthe above poster - change your fluid and filter.

That dealer is full of sheeite. They want to scare you out of doing it yourself. It's an easy process.

CMOS

 

I agree too. If the trans is working well, a fluid change will likely prevent damage and extend life. If fluid kills it, it is done anyway. 150K again is FORDs suggestion to replace the fluid. Black fluid on this trans isn't such a big deal. The fluid on mine otherwise smelled great (e.g. not burned). Driving with old fluid past 150K is pretty much shortening its life.

I mean, a really neglected engine could get destroyed from an oil change if it cleans the sludge and gets chunks circulating.

 

You can't flush the 6r80. It has an internal thermostat that will block it. The only thing that can be flushed is the cooler.

 

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Fluid exchanging is NOT flushing.

 

New fluid goes in. Old fluid comes out.

exchange - Giving one thing and receiving another.
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That contradicts everything I've ever read about the subject, to include lots of posts from Mark K. Lots of people believe in the mythical "backflushing" of a transmission, which is a physical impossibility with a positive-displacement fluid pump.

 

Flushing typically involves using a chemical additive and is pressurized via the machine pump. Flush machines do not typically heat the fluid. Ford's exchanger allows the transmissions own pump do the work and the fluid is heated in the exch. machine to overcome the internal thermostat.

Notice that you also have to use a scan device to monitor trans temp? It may seem like splitting hairs but in fact it's a completely different process.

 

A little off topic, but when I did my pan drop/filter change, I went back with a Dorman pan with drain plug. While there have been some quality problems with the Dorman pan, including the first one I got, this makes it real easy in the future to do drain/fills at much lessor intervals.

 

Do you know the Dorman part #? I'm a 2010 Explorer 4.6L V8 with 6r80. Looking for a way to get a drain. Will the pan work for me? What were the quality issues?

 

i cant speak regarding compatibility between explorer 6R80 vs f150 6R80, but can do a search.

the quality issues, i and others have noted here, is the drain plug does not sit flush. The first pan I received had this issue, I notified Amazon and got another pan in just a couple of days, the second pan was perfect.

the pics below show the issue and the copper washers. You can see how even the impression on the second washer from the replacement pan is even