4R100 maintenance
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Joined: Dec 2003
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4R100 maintenance
This is the first truck that I have owned that has had a drain pug in the transmission pan. WoooooHoooo!!!!! I just changed the filter and it was a breeze compared to taking the bolts out of a pan and getting an atf bath while laying on the ground.
I chose not to refill with synthetic and I think instead I will make dropping this drain bolt a normal maintenance item when I change my oil. Not only will the truck get a crankcase full of fresh oil, but it will get good dose of fresh tranny fluid also. I figure that doing this regularly will insure that the tranny fluid remains fresh. Do any of you do this regularly??
I chose not to refill with synthetic and I think instead I will make dropping this drain bolt a normal maintenance item when I change my oil. Not only will the truck get a crankcase full of fresh oil, but it will get good dose of fresh tranny fluid also. I figure that doing this regularly will insure that the tranny fluid remains fresh. Do any of you do this regularly??
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 534
Likes: 168
From: Park County, CO
That's the exact way I did it my last Toyota Tundra. Draining the tranny pan removed 3 of the 13 total quarts in the system. I was changing the oil every 3k miles so in 30k, I did my 3/13 quart mini flush ~10 times. It takes at least 10 times to be almost the same as a complete flush. Wasteful (30+ quarts) but it works.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
Hmm, you know, thats not a bad idea at all!! It would get expensive for me though, I'm using Mobil 1 ATF.
Oh wait, I'm already paying top dollar for Mobil 1 oil, so why not on the ATF too right!?!
Oh wait, I'm already paying top dollar for Mobil 1 oil, so why not on the ATF too right!?!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
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From: Ventura County, CA
Re: 4R100 maintenance
Do any of you do this regularly?? [/B][/QUOTE]
I do it twice as often as is recommended in the maintenance schedule. I don't see myself changing tranny fluid (partial or full change) every 3K with the oil changes, but I'm happy with changing it every 30K vs. every 60K.
Just my $.02
I do it twice as often as is recommended in the maintenance schedule. I don't see myself changing tranny fluid (partial or full change) every 3K with the oil changes, but I'm happy with changing it every 30K vs. every 60K.
Just my $.02
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 374
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From: Sandy Springs, GA
I was reading the owners manual on my F350 and it did not mention changing the 4R100 filter. It just mentions changing the fluid.
I always understood on my old EAOD that they didn't have a drain plug because they wanted you to drop the pan and change the filter.when you changed fluids.
I am a fair Ford mechanic but know nothing about automatics. Any Ford certified 4R100 mechanics around here?? What do you think?
I always understood on my old EAOD that they didn't have a drain plug because they wanted you to drop the pan and change the filter.when you changed fluids.
I am a fair Ford mechanic but know nothing about automatics. Any Ford certified 4R100 mechanics around here?? What do you think?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 4
From: Jefferson, Iowa
I was talking to the local shop mechanic the other day, he told me that he never changess the filter, just hooks it up to his transmission flush machine and pushes all of the stuff backwards and out of the transmission, now that scares me. I would rather pull the return line and flush the tranny with new fluid that way, plus a new filter. The flush is great but he uses the old filter when he is done, wouldn't they get weak after 30k? Plus he want 60 dollars plus fluid cost for it. I would rather have someone up top, me under neath, holding the return line in the bucket and tell him to add more fluid, than push all of the garbage back into the tranny.
That just my $.02
That just my $.02
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Joe Kucinski
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: CA
78',
I think what your mechanic actually meant was more like what you're talking about doing. I don't think the machine will literally push the fluid backwards. I have this machine at work.
Basically, you un-plug one cooler line from the trans cooler and hook it to the machine. The dirty fluid goes in one side of the machine and as it's going in, the machine is pumping fresh fluid out of the other side of the machine into where you un-plugged the cooler line from. Even though $60. sounds kind of high, it is the best way to completely flush a tranny. It gets all the fluid out including the torque converter and it's not messy. The cost of the fluid you'd have to pay for one way or the other.
Pete
I think what your mechanic actually meant was more like what you're talking about doing. I don't think the machine will literally push the fluid backwards. I have this machine at work.
Basically, you un-plug one cooler line from the trans cooler and hook it to the machine. The dirty fluid goes in one side of the machine and as it's going in, the machine is pumping fresh fluid out of the other side of the machine into where you un-plugged the cooler line from. Even though $60. sounds kind of high, it is the best way to completely flush a tranny. It gets all the fluid out including the torque converter and it's not messy. The cost of the fluid you'd have to pay for one way or the other.
Pete
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Mesa
MX429,
Next time drain the TQ converter too. Remove rubber plug and look for a 1/4" pipe plug in the converter. (you will have to trun the converter to line up the plug/hole) You will get out all but 1 or 2 qts of fluid. 30K is the recomended change level. I changed my fliter at 30K but haven't changed it since. Did a drain and refill at 60k, a flush at 90k and will propbably do a drain, filter change at 120K. You may want to think about adding a few mods to your tranny while you have the pan off. Very easy. The tricumulator springs, sonnax valve or Diablo valve really firm up the shifts. For abut $50 really worth it.
Next time drain the TQ converter too. Remove rubber plug and look for a 1/4" pipe plug in the converter. (you will have to trun the converter to line up the plug/hole) You will get out all but 1 or 2 qts of fluid. 30K is the recomended change level. I changed my fliter at 30K but haven't changed it since. Did a drain and refill at 60k, a flush at 90k and will propbably do a drain, filter change at 120K. You may want to think about adding a few mods to your tranny while you have the pan off. Very easy. The tricumulator springs, sonnax valve or Diablo valve really firm up the shifts. For abut $50 really worth it.
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The filter is in the tranny to clooect particles. If it collects enough particles, it gets dirty and possibly clogged. Just flushing doesn't address this. I would rather just change the filter rather than just flush it.
I tried some B&M springs in my last truck with an E4OD. It really firmed up the shifts, but they were too firm for me. It snatched into gear too hard and I didn't think it was worth the stress on the driveline while towing.
I tried some B&M springs in my last truck with an E4OD. It really firmed up the shifts, but they were too firm for me. It snatched into gear too hard and I didn't think it was worth the stress on the driveline while towing.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 4
From: Jefferson, Iowa
Diablo valve will help the overall line pressure, not raise it, but help the flow. My 4 speed 4r100 shifts 5 times, because the line pressure drop, due to too small of line pressure regulator, not enough oil can get through it, so a diablo line regulator is larger, and will help with a firmer shift.