Saw this video on youtube and now I'm wondering if I should go with the Ford prescribed 150k mile oil change interval or change the fluid and filter earlier?


Any thought's or experience with running your transmission fluid the full 150k mile interval or changing the fluid earlier. Also any recommendation from our Ford techs is also welcomed.

 

Mine got changed at 35,500 because I had a couple hard shifts and I wanted Ford to look at those before my warranty expired. I had them do a full flush and filter as long as they had the tranny open to replace those couple of solenoids.

I just had it flushed again at 140,000 miles.

My tranny has run great ( other than those couple hard shifts back in the 30,000-35,000 mile range) My truck has 10,000 to 13,000 lbs of trailer hooked up about half of it mileage. And all of it's miles have been in the Mountains of Utah and Wyoming. So it's had it share of 7-8% grades under load in 90°+ summer heat.

Maybe I've been lucky, Maybe Fords 150,000 rating is accurate. If I bought a new truck, I'd probably do a flush at 36,000 miles again. Just not sure I'd be spending the money to do a flush every 36,000.

 

Haha, my 2011 went 242,000 miles and I never once had the tranny serviced.

Every time I went to a dealer the tech would pull the stick, check the color and smell of the fluid and say "looks brand new, I wouldn't touch it". So I didn't....

Your results may vary so I'm not condoning poor maintenance, it's just the way my experience went.

 

I plan on every 50000 miles but I do not tow and very little off road... I drive about 10000 a year... whats it gonna hurt? kinda plan on not letting coolant go 150000miles either.. why pay to have it tested? just clean it out and give me fresh... can't hurt anything either... very cheap maint compared to a new engine or trans... and I have..... lifetime unlimited miles powertrain.... but don't want any problems

 

I've only got 75k on mine, but I'd consider it some pretty tough miles plus I'm on the dark side. Every time I take my truck in they check the transmission fluid and tell me it looks like new. The shop and I decided we'd change it at 100k, just because, but I don't think we will if it still looks good and shifts like it should.

 

My plan is 60K do the flush of the trans, transfer case and rear diff.


Then again at 100K but also include the front differential.

 

Thanks everyone who responded. My truck now has 60k miles so I thought this is the time to ask.

 

I'm worried about the flush horror stories you hear now in then. I'm thinking a simple filter and fluid change in my own driveway. Would anyone else agree or should it be flushed?

 

I just rolled over 100k.

 

I'd say, check the fluid by comparing the color and smell with new fluid. If it's nearly identical then don't do anything to it.

If it's not shifting the way you think it should then I would take it to the dealer and tell them what's going on and see what they say.

Any dealer that is honest will be likely to tell you to have it serviced or do like my dealer did and tell me that it would be a waste of time and money to service it.

I don't know any horror stories about flushing this transmission. Are you worried that a "hot flush" system will damage it?

 

Why not do like I used to do on the 6.0 five speed. Drain the pan at 30,000 miles, change the filter and put 8 to 9 qts. new in. The fluid should never get worn out doing it like that.

 

This is exactly what I did to my 05 6.0 PSD because that was the recommended service interval on those transmissions. These new 6 speeds with the LV tranny fluid have recommended service intervals of 150k miles which is hard to believe.

 

Same here I made that 5R100 last a long time under heavy abuse with that program. I still do it on my 6.7s even though I don't plan on keeping them more than 100,000 miles. It only costs about $45 and it's cheap insurance. If you do mostly highway driving with the T/C locked up it definitely adds life to the oil. It never gets hot. But if your doing a lot of stop and go especially while towing I'd spend the money and keep it red.

 

Hey guys, whats the capacity of the transmission? I seem to have misplaced my owners manual. Anybody have the part number for the filter kit too?

 

I looked at my receipt and I was charged for 13 qts but they did not change the filter. The manual states 18.5 and 16.7 qts depending on dipstick type which I don't have a clue. You can probably call your local Ford parts department for a filter p/n if no one chimes in. Also it's very important that you use Mercon LV transmission oil.


I'm currently at 134k miles so I'm thinking I'll have it changed again.