Hi. - new to the forum. I just got a well kept 2004 E-150 8 passenger van. I'm having trouble identifying the transmission code on the door jam sticker. my transmission code is a 5. I have searched thru lots of links for door jam sticker decoders and none of them list 5 as an option, but the ones I'm finding tend to reference the F-series truck but not the Econolines. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

 

Wow that is bizarre.. can't say I have ever seen that trans code. I ran a VIN decode and it was no help but other searches indicate it is likely a 4R70w or the slightly upgraded 4R75w, you can confirm that by having a look at the trans oilpan, if it looks like the pic below in shape then you know.

 

That appears to be the pan I have. What is the difference between the 4R70 and 4R75?

This van is equipped with towing features like the super duty style mirrors, transmission cooler, engine oil cooler, Class 5 hitch.

Thanks for looking / responding!

 

The difference between the 4R70 and 4R75 are internal and relatively minor. I never knew the specifics because I didn't work on these, but some parts are stronger in the 4R75.

The 75 part means the transmission is capable of handling 750 lb-ft of torque AFTER the torque converter. The 70 is capable of 700 lb-ft.

 

OK, next question: In doing some reading I've discovered there is a shallow and deep transmission pan for this transmission, but I'm not sure how to tell which I have. The one I have looks similar in shape to the one above. It has the bulge. Has a big "S" on it and the word METRIC. Follow-up question: Who has installed a aftermarket deep pan / is it needed?

 

An aftermarket deep pan is not needed. It has no benefit for the transmission, other than making the bottom of your van look pretty.

 

Really? Thanks for the info. I don't want to be spending money on cosmetics - at least, not a transmission pan that will rarely seen. I am curious though - why wouldn't a deeper pan work? Especially one with cooling fins on the bottom? It makes sense to me, but I'm just learning. I guess a follow up question would be, is an upgraded transmission cooler from the factory external cooler money better spent. I'm asking because I do tow a boat. I know that keeping the transmission fluid cool is key, and I just wanted to know what, if any would be a good upgrade to the cooling when I change the transmission fluid. Thanks.

 

It's hot under the van, how do you cool the transmission with hot air? And inside the pan there isn't a lot of flow, especially right at the pan surface. It's called the boundary layer. It acts like an insulator and keeps heat from escaping.

On the other hand a transmission cooler is up front where it gets cool air through the grill. This is how you cool a transmission.

 

Thanks for the replies. New Question: Is there a Transmission temperature I can read via OBDII? I can find info on the F-150, but I'm having trouble finding references for the E-150's. Is the transmission the same between an F-150 & a E-150 (given they each have the same engine). I'm just hate to spend the money on a Scan gauge II to get Transmission temps if an UltraGauge will do just a well for the the standard parameters ( and be much cheaper)