Going to service my 2013 6.7l with the 6r140 transmission. Stopped by the dealer and picked up 10 qts of the Mercon LV and the pan filter. I had looked and did not see an inline filter on this truck and I asked the parts guy to ask their diesel tech if there was one and he said not from the factory. I thought it would have one. Any feedback on if one is necessary or if proper maintenance will suffice on this transmission. I know the earlier F350 w/6.4 had an inline and was wondering why this did not. If you have installed one, which one and where was it installed. Thanks in advance.

 

From what Iv'e read here, there are all kinds of check valves that only open or operate at certain temps. The dealer has a machine that heats the fluid in order to get all the fluid out. I guess if you do it in your driveway you are basically doing a partial change. I like doing most of my own maintenance, but systems like this I think I'll leave up to the dealer.

 

6.4 jobs 1 was the last for the inline filters.


Since then a larger pan filter is used.


In order to get all the fluid out a heated flush would be the way to go.


Just doing what you are a home would get a good portion out though. Check and see how much a heated flush would cost.


Why change the filter so soon?

 

I just had a drive line service done on the truck. Front diff. Rear Diff. Trans, T-Case and even had the plugs and wires done while it was there since my ride has 94K on it. My thoughts were to have the dealer handle all services from the point of purchase to the end of the extended warranty in another 25K. This way if there is a warranty issue, I can say the truck had these service performed.

However, I think the trans service was around $250 to perform the fluid exchange and another $90 for the R&R of the filter. Parts included. Money well spent since I was not the one getting the fluid on me and a place to handle the fluid to be disposed of. Somethings on the back in a gravel driveway don't feel good either.


Good luck with whatever choice you make.

 

Thanks for the feedback & info. I was not aware of the heated flush. Will do that next time as I already got the filter and LV fluid. The prev owner had great service records all done at dealer but no trans fluid change and he towed a 7k trailer so it is more for piece of mind and I should be able to get at least 8quarts of new oil in there. Will do the hot flush at next change.

 

Just an update. I changed the fluid and filter today. Pan and Magnet looked real good not much of anything. Glad I changed it though, the fluid was not burnt smelling but had a brownish red tint. I got just under 10 quarts out of it and put 10 quarts back in and is at 2/3 mark on the hash marks. Going to drive it more tomorrow to get it fully warmed up and recheck but as I said, glad I changed it.

 

Newer fluid turns brown. Considered normal

 

Put another case of LV through it, even two if the fluid was brown. Are you sure it looked brown and not deep red? Deep red is normal looking, viewing into a drop pan with 10 quarts in it. Pink coming off the dipstick.
You didn't mention miles on the oil before you changed it???
If you do the fluid/filter change at or before the recommended service intervals for your driving habits you should be fine.
I will purchase 20 qts of oil. Drop the pan and filter every 25K. Fill the first 9-10 qts. Take 'er down the road until the trans temp comes up to op temp. Take 'er back home and drop the pan contents and refill with the remaining 8, 9, 10 qts. This will get most of it.

 

Dipstick was fairly dark in color, but fluid in pan did have a deep red tint but not the color I was expecting for 40k miles. I like your idea and think I will go get another 10 qts of LV and drain the pan this weekend. When you did yours did you change the filter again or just the fluid after the initial warmup? I would think the filter would be fine.

 

I think you are wasting your money with all these changes.


The fluid is going to turn the bit of brown with the new fluids. Has to do with the formula now.

 

Watch this...

 

Just did the fluid the second time....Warm it up to op temp which can be 10 miles on the road. Came home, pulled plug, drain, refill. Simple as that. My fluid only had 36K on it and was like new. Now if you have trash in the pan or brown fluid you may want to do the filter again and maybe even a couple of cases of fluid. Of course at this point its getting close to the same cost of having a heated oil change at the dealer or whoever has the heated oil exchanger service.

Right or wrong I disagree with the LV video. Mine was nice and transparent pink/red after 36K (same for the 08 with the 5R110W at 50K). I've had a wrench in my hands for 40 years and when fluid looks like this at 13K there's something wrong IMO. Maybe that trans doesn't have a filter? Keep in mind these little disposable turd boxes with their small transmissions (under sized IMO) beat up the fluid pretty hard. This vid could be comparing apples to oranges from a transmission design standpoint. And the little ones may induce more contaminate without filtration??? To me that fluid looks like 100K fluid, smell or no smell. Of course I'm old school so nowadays maybe this is the norm for passenger vehicles? Hell Volvo doesnt even have a dip stick on their passenger car transmissions and they don't recommend service until 120K! Has fluid technology really got to this point. Somewhat Yes. But it still shouldn't look like engine oil at 13 IMO...Thats built in obsolescence for sure.

 

I think your heart's in the right place, however I wouldn't want others to waste hard earned money on a fluid change that isn't really needed.
Motorcraft Mercon LV- Turning brown after 16K? | ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S | Bob Is The Oil Guy

 

They are not getting it. Let them change it needlessly. Good for the economy.

 

Bad for the environment!