I'm gettin' ready to change my automatic transmission fluid for the first time and was breezin through a Haynes manual and it said to drain the torque converter through the torque converter drain bolt. Here are my questions...

Does the EO4D have a drain plug for the torque converter?

If it does, do you have to replace it each time you open it like the Haynes manual says?

Do you guys usually drain the fluid out of the torque converter?

If so, how do you go about lining up the drain bolt so you have access to it?

How much tranny fluid am I lookin' at if I'm able to drain the torque converter and how much if I can't?

Thanks in advance,

Pat

99 F250 crew cab, 5.4, auto...

 

Never mind, I found a good link for all my questions,

Thanks....

 

QBall,

Try THIS link for info on changing the trans. fluid, I'm going to change mine tomorrow. You're in the same town as me, lets get together and have a transmission fluid changing party!!

BTW, our transmissions are 4R100's, not EO4D's.

 

Pfft, I was 2 minutes too late on answering your question!

 

Let me know how it goes. I read that article on changing the fluid. We have the 4R100? No kiddin'... Don't know if that is good or bad. Where do you live at? I live on Padre Island. I think I'm gonna attack mine tomorrow also, I guess I'll see ya at the parts store . I just bought this truck used and I have a whole bunch of stuff I'm gonna do to it. New belt, rear end fluid, fuel filter,etc... The truck runs great and is at 90,000 miles...

Gimme a buzz if you want me to confuse ya...

949-4625
Pat

 

I was thinking of having the fluid "flushed"... Does it get the stuff out of the torque converter also? The local Ford boys don't drain it the old fashion way anymore.

Edmo

 

QBall . .how did it go?? This was my first time, and it was easy, it's just the quantity of fluid we're working with makes it tedious.

I ended up only putting in 14 quarts of new fluid. I was letting the old fluid drain through the cooler line, and I kept getting air followed by bright red 'robitussin'. I did this three times, and the last two the new ATF fluid started pouring out almost immediatley. I've checked, double checked, triple checked, and quadruple checked the dipstick, and it's reading 2/3's up in the hash marks. I guess there's still 5 quarts of old fluid hiding somewhere in the system, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

I've got some pics in my gallery of the job, nothing too exciting though.

 

My experience wasn't bad either, although I had a good sized burb of fluid come out of the hole the tranny line went in to when I went to flush it out. I got 15 quarts in the tranny before I said that's enough. I'm on the low end of the stick right now but I'm gonna drive it a little bit before I finish topping it off as the fluid has a tendency to expand when it gets hot. I'll tell ya one thing, having a drain plug in the tranny pan was so nice, this is the first automatic I have had in quite a while so I was pleasantly surprised to see that.
I quite a few things today to the truck. I changed the rear differential fluid and put in some synthetic 85-140, engine oil and filter, PCV valve, serpentine belt and was gonna do the anti freeze but I got the wrong top hose. I also have a fuel filter but I couldn't figure out the supposed "quick" disconnect connections on the fuel filter lines. What a pain that was. All in all, I was glad I had done everything. The PCV valve was stuck open, the serpentine belt had a few chunks out of it, the engine oil was dirty, the tranny fluid looked clean but the magnet inside the pan looked like a hamburger because it had some much crud hanging off of it. Now I can start with a clean sheet as far as maintenance goes. The previous owner told me what he had done to the truck, so off I go... Have you ever changed the fuel filter?

Pat

 

I had trouble finding Mobil 1 ATF today, I had to call all over town, picking up 3 quarts here, 9 over there, etc etc. The drain in the pan helped out a bunch for me too. Did you replace your tranny filter as well?

I changed the fuel filter back during the summer. If I remember correctly. . .the rear fitting just screws off, and the front fitting needs a 'quick disconnect tool'. Not so quick considering you need a dang tool to remove it. I picked up the tool at AutoZone, it was labeled under "A/C Disconnect Tool". They look like little plastic top hats with slits cut in them. You open up the tool along the slit (acts like a hinge), and clamp it over the fuel line. Press in with the tool against the connection of the two fuel lines, and pull out on the line. It should pop out, just make sure you use the right size, I broke 3 tools before i figured out I was using a size too big.

 

I did change my filter while I was at it. I didn't put synthetic tranny fluid in though. I can imagine you spent a good chunk of change on just the tranny fluid.
I'll be ya I spent an hour underneath the truck tryin to get that fuel filter off. I almost went "Incredible Hulk" on it but I restrained myself luckily. I'll tackle it Monday.
Those burnout photos you have are incredible. Did you break lugnuts burning out? I guess if you have a V-10, you may as well put it to good use...

Pat

 

The synthetic ATF cost was in the triple digit range, but to me, it's worth it. After I did the burnouts, I developed a vibration, and I was trying to isolate the vibration by taking off the rear wheels, and spnning the driveline while it's on jackstands. I somehow broke the stud with the stock tire iron when I was putting the wheels back on. Really freaked me out when it happened, I guess I was Incredible Hulk to break a dang stud!