Transmission fluid change?
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New User
Joined: Dec 2005
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Transmission fluid change?
I have a 1997 Ford F150 4.2 V6 with about 167,000 miles on it and have never changed the transmission fluid in it. Someone told me if you did not change before 100,000 miles then don't change because the new fluid would take some coating off and cause problems. Is this true? Shoud I change my fluid at this point. Please advise. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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This is one of those touchy subjects where everyone is going to have a different opinion but if it was mine and it wasn't giving me any problems I would leave it alone. There is a chance when you get over 100k and do a trans service - whether filter, flush etc it will either cause the trans to start having problems or go completely out. I would say the odds of this happening are about 20%.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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I'm one of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" crowd too. But I do beleive in changing filters. So if it were me, I'd drop the pan, put a new filter in it and replace that fluid (4-6 qts, somebody here knows) and add some Lucas conditioner to it.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Chicago Area
I vote to change it. If its going to fail soon, it may anyway, but if its not, changing the fluid may help keep it going.
I guess some people feel that the gunk is holding things together, but that seems unlikely. We know that necessary additives do wear out, so why not replace them?
I guess some people feel that the gunk is holding things together, but that seems unlikely. We know that necessary additives do wear out, so why not replace them?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Evansville IN
Tom and Ray (click and clack) talked about this subject a couple of weeks ago. They labled the idea of breaking the transmission by fluid change an old wive's tale. Go ahead and change it out. It won't hurt it and might do some good.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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i am in favor of pulliing the pan and changing the filter, then add 5 quarts of new oil. you will need to clean the bottom of the pan and the magnet. i dont believe in the power flulsh as this can break loose trapped crud in some passage and get stuck in the valves. new oil and filter in the pan can do nothing but help you long term. again, you are only cahnging 35% of the oil, but i do this every 30,000 miles.--- alos dont believe in addatives for the oil. FORD spent a lot of time getting the MERCON spec setup just right. What do you think the addative is doing that FORD dont know about?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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haha well i was one of those power flush people too.... well i will never do that again, because i had mine flushed...mine was serviced every 30k religiously and then the one time i flushed it... kabam say hello to 1505.20 plus tax for a new tranny.... i wouldnt flush it, but i would not flush it because that can break the old seals loose because they do tend to shrink over time.... and then they get in the solenoids and go everywhere through the tranny... not a cheap fix but now my truck drives like a new one lol... ne ways dont flush it bad idea.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Scottsdale
Flush/No Flush?
Originally Posted by 71100
i have worked in a lube shop 4 the last 8 years.how dark is the atf? r u haveing trouble?
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: DIXIE
I recently bought a 2001 Expy for my wife. The truck had 80k miles on it. I have a pella pump so I just sucked out the old fluid through the filler tube, dropped the pan to change the filter and pulled the plug out of the torque converter. It only took about 2 hours total. She didnt know what I had done and she drove it that afternoon. When she got home she said her truck felt totally different and drove much smoother than when we bought it. Mercon V is relatively cheap now so make sure you get 13 - 14 quarts and do it all, not just the pan.
