Transmission fluid change
#1
Transmission fluid change
I've had the Motocraft filter and case of Motocraft LV for awhile so I decided to get it done. First I put the truck up on ramps in the shop, positioned my big catch pan and made sure the 5 gal pail I had would fit under the truck. Then I marked the pail at 8 and 12 quarts with water. I set the pail and 13mm wrench next to the truck and backed off the ramps and when for a ride until I could see that the thermostats were regulating the fluid temp, back to the shop and back on the ramps. I quickly slide the bucket and my old butt under the truck and pulled the plug and left it to drain over night.
This morning it looked like I had about 9 quarts in the pail so I did the normal pulling the pan and filter (be careful because there a two lengths of filter bolts), if you are on ramps like I was some fluid will come out the back of the pan and because of the drain plug location and pan shape there is also still a lot of fluid in the pan. After draining my catch pan into the bucket it looked like a little over 10 quarts so that's what I put back in. After taking the truck out and running the temp to where the thermostats were regulating the temp I checked the level and it took another quart for 11 total. It holds 17.5 quarts so I got way over half of it changed, the filter also needed changing by looking in the pickup hole but the fluid looked in good shape and very little stuff on the magnet.
I did this at 50K mostly because of how I use this truck and my plan to just pull the plug again at 100K had changed because of how much fluid is left after just draining with the plug and what the filter looked like.
Denny
This morning it looked like I had about 9 quarts in the pail so I did the normal pulling the pan and filter (be careful because there a two lengths of filter bolts), if you are on ramps like I was some fluid will come out the back of the pan and because of the drain plug location and pan shape there is also still a lot of fluid in the pan. After draining my catch pan into the bucket it looked like a little over 10 quarts so that's what I put back in. After taking the truck out and running the temp to where the thermostats were regulating the temp I checked the level and it took another quart for 11 total. It holds 17.5 quarts so I got way over half of it changed, the filter also needed changing by looking in the pickup hole but the fluid looked in good shape and very little stuff on the magnet.
I did this at 50K mostly because of how I use this truck and my plan to just pull the plug again at 100K had changed because of how much fluid is left after just draining with the plug and what the filter looked like.
Denny
#4
If I were to do this type of fluid change I would do it just like you did, except that I'd put it on the ramps the night before and do the change with the trans cold. It's much more pleasant to work on a cold trans, and after sitting overnight you'll have the maximum amount of fluid in the pan. Running it until the thermostat opens doesn't help anything in this case.
#5
#6
I recently did this also at 50k but I also have a ton of idle hours, about 2500. I can't remember how much I put back in.. but in cautionary note.. mercon LV will expand at temp, do not fill it all the way up cold, you will have to much.
You did really good by warming it up and then adding.
You did really good by warming it up and then adding.
#7
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#12
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ardenvoir, Washington
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If I were to do this type of fluid change I would do it just like you did, except that I'd put it on the ramps the night before and do the change with the trans cold. It's much more pleasant to work on a cold trans, and after sitting overnight you'll have the maximum amount of fluid in the pan. Running it until the thermostat opens doesn't help anything in this case.
#13
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Denny
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