changing transmission fluid
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
changing transmission fluid
ipicked up a 2008 f250 standard cab xl rwd and it has extensive service records. it shows that the transmission fluid has been changed every 30k miles since new. its at 139k right now and it was last changed at 94k so its obviously overdo. should I keep up with this or was the prior owner being overzealous? are these 5 speed automatics temperamental? fluid recommendations? do I have to drop the pan? basic stuff, I knw! thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
Take it to the dealer. They have a machine that will remove all the fluid and replace it with new. They can get rid of the old fluid to so you dont have to. Also have them do a filter change if yours has one.It's not part of the fluid change. DON'T do a flush. You dont need that just a change. Its cheap insurance because transmissions aren't and labor isn't ether. Keep up with the maintenance and this truck may just out live you LOL
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 134
A lot of guys on here recommend doing a simple transmission pan drop and filter change. Will get out about 9 qts of old fluid. If it makes you feel better do a fluid drop a few weeks later. Most of the old oil will be gone after this second drop.
I just did mine at 63k Pan drop and change filter. Never did the second fluid drop. May do it before the winter.
Matt
I just did mine at 63k Pan drop and change filter. Never did the second fluid drop. May do it before the winter.
Matt
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 20
From: prince george, bc canada
We do an oil change every 50,000km on our company trucks. Do the filter every second oil change. We get over 300,000km out of a ford 5 spd auto. Multiple drivers. They are a good tranny.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
The previous owner wasn't being over zealous, you must not have looked in your maintenance guide.
Early-build 2008s with the external filter require a fluid and filter change ever 30,000 miles. Later build models with the internal filters require changing every 60,000 miles.
ON edit: See attached!
Early-build 2008s with the external filter require a fluid and filter change ever 30,000 miles. Later build models with the internal filters require changing every 60,000 miles.
ON edit: See attached!
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
thanks for the info. I talked to my local tranny shop who I have dealt with for years, and they said the flushing/heated fluid machines aren't necessary and that a conventional oil/filter change still falls into ford's recommendations. I want my tranny to last but I don't want to make unnecessary 500 dollar trips to the ford dealer. its definitely a debatable topic.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 4
From: Nowthen, MN
Your tranny shop is wrong. The 5R110 requires the heated flush machine. It also requires Mercon SP or LV fluid, not just any old conventional ATF. Doesn't matter how many years you've been going to them, they're still wrong.
Alternatively, your 2008 should have a drain plug and an external filter. You can change the fluid yourself just as easily as changing your engine oil. However, you'll only be changing out about half the fluid so you'll want to do it more frequently than if you did a full flush. This is what I do.
Alternatively, your 2008 should have a drain plug and an external filter. You can change the fluid yourself just as easily as changing your engine oil. However, you'll only be changing out about half the fluid so you'll want to do it more frequently than if you did a full flush. This is what I do.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 16,239
Likes: 400
From: Odessa, Delaware
Your local tranny shop does not know what they are talking about when it comes to Ford transmissions. Put in the wrong fluid and you will be rebuilding your transmission in no time. Do searches on this site and you will find everything you need to know about your transmission.
Maybe Mark will chime in since he is the expert.
Maybe Mark will chime in since he is the expert.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I think we're misunderstanding what Octaneforce is saying. I read "conventional" oil and filter change to mean dropping the pan, changing the filter, and refilling the transmission instead of using a flush machine. Which is a completely acceptable way to service the transmission as long as they're using the correct fluid.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 539
Likes: 25
From: Atlanta
My dealership has insisted all along that they flush them but the filter is lifetime. Had it flushed at around 40k now at around 100k need to do it again. He says internal filter is lifetime and it does not have exterior filter.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
I think we're misunderstanding what Octaneforce is saying. I read "conventional" oil and filter change to mean dropping the pan, changing the filter, and refilling the transmission instead of using a flush machine. Which is a completely acceptable way to service the transmission as long as they're using the correct fluid.
I was also told that the flush machines tend to waste a lot of fluid. not that I care lol.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 346
From: Breckenridge, TX
This is a common update for 03-07 diesels and 05-08 gassers to add the deeper pan and pleated internal filter, but the added capacity is only a approximately an extra quart, that doesn't seem like enough to double the interval from the maintenance guide. Can the filtering be that much better?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
Yep, the internal filter does a way better job, than the external toilet paper like filter does.
The external only filters 10% of the fluid going thru the cooler. If your trans fluid is cold, internal trans tstat prevents fluid from using cooler, hence no filtering happening.
Point of clatification...
The older pan, HAD an internal 'filter' that was lifetime, no need to replace, BECAUSE it was a screen to catch broken pieces...
Mark K. Is our resident Ford Trans expert, he did much of the Ford internal 5r110 testing, I hope I restated the info he has provided before..
The external only filters 10% of the fluid going thru the cooler. If your trans fluid is cold, internal trans tstat prevents fluid from using cooler, hence no filtering happening.
Point of clatification...
The older pan, HAD an internal 'filter' that was lifetime, no need to replace, BECAUSE it was a screen to catch broken pieces...
Mark K. Is our resident Ford Trans expert, he did much of the Ford internal 5r110 testing, I hope I restated the info he has provided before..
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by 2008 Owner's Guide 30,000 mile interval
Vehicles equipped with the TorqShift transmission
and the externally-mounted remote filter element,
replace the automatic transmission fluid and
the externally-mounted remote filter element (if
equipped). Inspect automatic
transmission/transaxle fluid level on all other
vehicles if equipped with dipstick. Consult your
dealer for particular requirements
and the externally-mounted remote filter element,
replace the automatic transmission fluid and
the externally-mounted remote filter element (if
equipped). Inspect automatic
transmission/transaxle fluid level on all other
vehicles if equipped with dipstick. Consult your
dealer for particular requirements
Originally Posted by 2008 Maintenance Guide 60,000 mile interval
Change automatic transmission fluid on all
vehicles equipped with the TorqShift
transmission. Replace the externally-mounted
remote filter element for all TorqShift transmissions
(if equipped). Replace the internal TorqShift
transmission fluid filter located inside
the transmission bottom pan (vehicles without
externally-mounted remote filter only). Inspect
automatic transmission/transaxle fluid level
on all other vehicles if equipped with dipstick.
Consult your dealer for particular requirements.
vehicles equipped with the TorqShift
transmission. Replace the externally-mounted
remote filter element for all TorqShift transmissions
(if equipped). Replace the internal TorqShift
transmission fluid filter located inside
the transmission bottom pan (vehicles without
externally-mounted remote filter only). Inspect
automatic transmission/transaxle fluid level
on all other vehicles if equipped with dipstick.
Consult your dealer for particular requirements.
As I understand it, the filtering really is that much better.
