The new tranny temp deal puzzles me. I have read the new goal is hotter is better and don't worry about anything for 150,000 miles.That hurts my head.

After watching my tranny temp. My twisted mind bugs me and keeps me up at night on stuff like this. There must be a perfect tranny temp, would there be a way to ever find what is the optimal tranny temp is?

I will be self maintaining my tranny. I am thinking the first time DIY pan drop/filter change at around 5000 miles. Then do a full flush at dealer at 10K. After that a once a year or so hand pump fluid extractor from the pan to pull out what it can then put exact amount back in. There is all this heat shield stuff to contend that is a bit intimidating so I will just bust that seal once.

Beside useless overkill and expense is there any bad thinking on this for modern Ford tranny care? My GM 4L80E has 6 filter changes, 5 full flushes and a gallon drain and add every year or so since 02. I am used to getting dumb looks, I am not used to equipment failure.

 

The fleet trucks I maintain by majority follow Fords recommendation. Very few transmission issues have arise within the 150k period they have had for a while now. I also dont see those trucks much past 150k so have no idea the rest of their life and how long the transmission lasts. Any customer who is keeping their truck past 150k has me changing fluids much more often.

My personal fleet I dropped the pan every 30k miles and drained what was in the pan every 3k. Never had a transmission failure doing things my way and ive taken the majority of my trucks past 350k. Whos right and whos wrong, I have no clue. My 2022 I am actually going to go for the 150k transmission interval as its my personal truck now and not relied upon for business. It primarily stays hooked to a 13k trailer so if the transmission is going to fail from not changing the fluid ill find out.

As far as temperature the most mine has ever been is 208*, nothing absurd.

 

Way overthinking this, currently have over 4 million miles on fleet, some with over 300,000.

This is a mix of 6 & 10 speeds hauling trailers or large boxes trucks, it's not uncommon for us to see temperatures of 240 or more for hundreds of miles a day. Have yet to lose a transmission.

 

Thanks Overhead
My truck sees little miles but I expect decades of reliability from it.

"As far as temperature the most mine has ever been is 208*, nothing absurd." --at 200 miles had a 220 range reading sitting in a fatal traffic jam in park with motor running. Was on way to dealer and they said it was fine take. Odd story but non the less I had a high temp event.

My rig is 8700# on a CAT scale. CAT reports 4000# on my Chevy rear. My math shows there is plenty of overhead on the DRW Ford for my camper. It really works so easy with my camper.

My thought is as long as there is no harm done with my PM Plan thinking I will roll with it.

 

Thanks. that is much higher temp than I am used to. Big mental adjustment and thanks for the info. It will help me relax.
It's not as much as puking a component, it is about taking the upmost care and PM to it to make it last for 20 years.

 

Just off the top of my head the normal temp range reaches up in the 240* range. Ive never seen anywhere close on any of my trucks but im also always moving and never pushing the truck to keep up with traffic or just driving aggressively. Slow and steady has always netted the best longevity from the mechanical components on my trucks.

 

I run cruise at 63-67 pulling and 69-72 empty on the Big Road. 100k and 21 years on factory brake pads on my 02 GM. My 2014 beater car has 200k on its factory brake pads. I have lubed brake slides, sanded pads and turned rotors of course. I piddle and look ahead.

 

My '22 has seen 246* foot to the floor, 10% grade, 16k load in 90*+ heat A/C blasting... Never had a warning, never went into the hot range on the gauge. I changed it around 80k miles with a new filter. 11 new qts is over half the capacity. I wasn't going 150k. I use the truck to plow snow in the mountains in the winter and it tows heavy when I need it to.

I think your plan is WAY overkill and will net you nothing but additional expense. If I towed heavy all the time, maybe a 30k pan fluid and filter change interval but even that strikes me as serious overkill. I was shooting for half the interval, just missed it but close enough. Transmission is arguably working the same as it always has. Fluid was dark but they say that is normal now. Did not smell burnt. There was a fair amount in the filter, almost nothing on the magnet. I am happy that I changed it before this snow season but again, I do not see any benefit to changing as often as suggested in the OP. You could spend more than the cost of replacement on the services. Just fluid filter and gasket are close to $200 and a flush is going to cost at least double that. How many times before you pay the going rate for a new trans?

Good Luck, Seems you have correlated your plan with success even though it might not have anything to do with it.

 

If you really wanted the truck to last 20+ years, why didn't you spring for the heavier duty engine and transmission combo available? Seems like that up front would net better results as well. Again, best of luck keeping that rig one the road as long as you see fit.

 

Not that I think you'll run into issues but depending on the terrain the up and down shifting that will happen with cruise control attributes to a considerable amount of heat. Every shift is more heat as the clutches slip and the torque converter unlocks. I doubt You'll ever overheat leaving it on cruise in auto but you will notice a lower temp by operating in one gear with the torque converter locked through rolling terrain vs letting it shift up and down a gear.

Just something to think about. I really enjoy driving my trucks and getting the feel for the powertrain. Not everyone wants to pay that much attention while they are driving.

 

I wanted a gas 4.10s or better geared RWD DWR with in a stripped down basic package. That is what I wanted. I didn't want a Ford, I wanted a list and it led me to a Ford so here I am.

Why shouldn't my set up last 20 yr? Garage kept, 3-5000 mile a year pulling 9000# camper and highly maintained?

 

Thanks for pic of the pan. Did you have the heat shield material around it?

 

Yes, I'm still learning the 10 sp feel. I always pay close attention to RPM, tranny and rear end temps(I need diff temp bunghole).

 

Locking gears out can make life easier at times, just need to remember to unlock when back to normal diving. Having 3 OD is a little much in the rolling hills/ mountains.

 

It is something I have tinkered with a bit. 4.30s help on the OD, In 10th letting off gas the speed drops. With DRW the 17 inch wheels also helps with keeping it short.