Most of us here have heard or read of this process, how its so highly recommended but relatively seldom done especially at the DIY level. I'll be the living proof it IS 100% an easy DIY single person project if one is inclined.

Here's about all that's needed to be known, the author being our own Mr Mark Kovolsky: https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...-transmission/

There are a few minor differences when performed on an E-Series chassis but if you're capable of doing your own oil/filter or coolant changes this is very similar. I spent about $110 for 15 quarts of Motorcraft Mercon V and Motorcraft filter. all from the dealership as they had the best price. Talk about a surprise!

FWIW my E250 with original 4R70W currently has 211K miles, trans was serviced with the typical 5 quarts + filter at 80K and 172K miles previously.

I'm slightly and pleasantly shocked how much more quickly the trans shifts into gear as well as shifts up and down during driving. Count me in now as fully recommending this for anyone with any sort of automatic transmission.

If anyone completely new to this would like specifics I'm glad to share my experience however please also know this: if info related to any transmission other than a 4R70W in an E-series chassis is needed I'm NOT the guy to ask. I can and will speak only to the 4R70W's in van chassis!

 

Completely agree J W!

Just a few weeks ago I confirmed that the 4R70W in my '97 Lincoln has never had the pan dropped. The fluid looked good when I bought it at 143,000 miles, but I flushed it as soon as I got it. The car has seen more miles towing than not recently, and at 175,600 miles the transmission is doing great. Still on the factory transmission filter!

 

That second bit is just freaky ain't it? I mean along with reusing a gasket AND the original filter just blows me away. Who'd thunk?

I'm about to do this to another E250, many more miles over all but still OEM transmission. I did the 5qts & filter thing some 25K miles ago but knowing how simple this is I have no hesitation to try this on a 4R70W just now hitting 275K miles.

I'll make it a point to more carefully and thoroughly document that for the tech folder. I'll detail the finer points of this in the E-Series.

 

Yep, mine still has the factory transmission filter.

Mark K has done a fantastic job over the years of dispelling automatic transmission folklore. I caught hell on another board for reusing the factory transmission filter, but I'm not worried. I'm certain mine has been flushed on a regular basis by the previous owners judging by the fact that it's still working!

Looking forward to your howto thread.

 

Not DIY friendly but we run the 4R70Ws and we've been flushing ours with a machine that plugs into the radiator cooling lines - T-Tech exchanger machine. Every 100,000 miles. Cam2 multi vehicle synthetic most recently at around $60 for 20 quarts, although I'm not sure that's what we've always used since we farmed out the work for a while. Anyhow we tend to get around 800,000 miles out of a transmission before it either starts slipping, looses reverse or looses 3rd and 4th gear. Then we know it's time for a new transmission. Early on we changed a filter or two but that was a hassle and not sure it helped any so we stopped.

 

Just out of curiosity Del does that machine work with the engine running or off?

 

I can't get that link to work.
I wonder if it works the same on the 4R75?

 

Try the link now.

I believe it will, but I'm not certain if the 4R75 has a thermostat or not.

 

I don't know if this works on Fords yet but on my vettes I just use (2) 5 gallon pails.
One has a fitting to use for filling and is connected to the trans line at the radiator. The other is just used as a drain with a simple rubber hose.
I start the car and watch until the fill pail is almost empty.
I don't need a fancy machine.
Now , before I make a mess trying this on my van, will this work on a Ford?
2004 E250

 

<p>Now that's an interesting question Vettex. &nbsp;I'd love to know if the pump can suck fluid in from the cooler line. &nbsp;</p><p>Perhaps @Mark Kovalsky can chime in. &nbsp;</p>

 

No, it cannot. There is no suction in the cooler line.

 

Never even thought about that.
I use gravity. I didn't plan that, it was just convenient. The fill pail is up on a shelf next to my rack when I do my car.
It just happened to be an open spot to put the bucket.
They empty and fill at the same rate. Again, that's on vettes. (Hence vettex2 = vette times two . I guess here it should be vanx1....LOL)
Of course my van is too tall to rack in my garage.
Perhaps I could hang it from my awning?
Just how much pressure is in a Ford auto trans?

 

I don't think this is what you mean, but there is up to about 330 PSI in a Ford auto trans.

If you mean how much pressure is in the cooling circuit, at idle it may be as high as about 15 PSI.

 

Exactly. Thanks.

 

Naturally this ^^ is minimally 1,000,000% correct!

I should have mentioned when testing which physical line would have positive flow both lines into and out of the radiator cooler were removed, placed in separate containers.

One line has flow the second does nothing but drip a short time then stop altogether.

But this does lead to yet another question for Mark. I'm about to do this again on another '99 4R70W with the torque converter drain plug provision. Does your flush method allow me to skip draining the TC and avoiding the mess that creates?