transmission fluid
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Messy, but not hard at all.
Since most of the later model tranny pans have no drain plugs you basically slowly start loosening the bolts until the pan starts to tilt and drain. After a few minutes of letting it drip all over the place (unless you have a true tranny drip pan, which is huge) you remove all the bolts and carefully lower the pan, which still have some fluid in it.
After that, you just pull off the tranny filter and press on a new one. It's just a friction fit so getting the filter on and off is very easy.
Most newer tranny's also have a "reuseable gasket". If yurs has this there will be stampings on the pan that indicate this.
Re-assemble and fill her up. Once you start filling the tranny with fluid you'll need to put in in gear from Park to D, Park to R, and repeat a few times to work the fluid through the whoel sytem. You'll have to repeat this several times while adding more fluid to the proper level.
What I do not know is how you get the fluid out of the Torque Converter.
The "hardest" part about the fluid change is the mess. Other than that, it's pretty much a snap.
CMOS
Since most of the later model tranny pans have no drain plugs you basically slowly start loosening the bolts until the pan starts to tilt and drain. After a few minutes of letting it drip all over the place (unless you have a true tranny drip pan, which is huge) you remove all the bolts and carefully lower the pan, which still have some fluid in it.
After that, you just pull off the tranny filter and press on a new one. It's just a friction fit so getting the filter on and off is very easy.
Most newer tranny's also have a "reuseable gasket". If yurs has this there will be stampings on the pan that indicate this.
Re-assemble and fill her up. Once you start filling the tranny with fluid you'll need to put in in gear from Park to D, Park to R, and repeat a few times to work the fluid through the whoel sytem. You'll have to repeat this several times while adding more fluid to the proper level.
What I do not know is how you get the fluid out of the Torque Converter.
The "hardest" part about the fluid change is the mess. Other than that, it's pretty much a snap.
CMOS
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by KevinM
I was led to believe that the 5.4 coupled to the HD trans requires synthetic trans fluid, since the change interval is 100K mile. This may be the reason for the high cost
My 5.4 tranny (4R75e) specifies Mercon V.
CMOS
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
I questioned this also, was told and cannot be verified that the shipped fluid is synththetic.
"Another improvement in the drivetrain is the use of the new 4R75E 4-speed automatic. The 4R75E is an evolution of the 4R70E that is used in the current F-150. The biggest changes are a faster computer, redesigned toque converter, addition of a turbine-speed sensor, “smart” shift control unit, and a fully sealed case filled with lifetime transmission fluid. "
Actually after researching it looks like that Mercon V being a spec is a part synthetic or synthetic blend. ATF! Not a full synthetic!
"Another improvement in the drivetrain is the use of the new 4R75E 4-speed automatic. The 4R75E is an evolution of the 4R70E that is used in the current F-150. The biggest changes are a faster computer, redesigned toque converter, addition of a turbine-speed sensor, “smart” shift control unit, and a fully sealed case filled with lifetime transmission fluid. "
Actually after researching it looks like that Mercon V being a spec is a part synthetic or synthetic blend. ATF! Not a full synthetic!
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I have the same questions as you. My tranny (2004 F150 4X4) is not sealed. Manual says to change at 30K if it is a 4R100; mine is the 4R75E. I plan on changing at 40K regardless; I'm not waiting until 100K.
My 2001 F150 had a drain plug on the torque converter, making draining fairly easy. I don't know if the 2004 has this (haven't checked yet).
There is information on this site about flusing system by disconnecting return lines and using pump to discharge fluid through a hose into a bucket...I think I'm going to try this.
My 2001 F150 had a drain plug on the torque converter, making draining fairly easy. I don't know if the 2004 has this (haven't checked yet).
There is information on this site about flusing system by disconnecting return lines and using pump to discharge fluid through a hose into a bucket...I think I'm going to try this.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
Likes: 19
From: South Dakota
Here's one of two ways to flush the whole tranny. I usually do this method.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...nsmission.html
The other method is to have a tranny shop do the flush for you with their machine.
If you do decide to do it your self, make sure that you use a Mercon V rated fluid. Any thing less than that is asking for shudder problems.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...nsmission.html
The other method is to have a tranny shop do the flush for you with their machine.
If you do decide to do it your self, make sure that you use a Mercon V rated fluid. Any thing less than that is asking for shudder problems.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Chappell hill
If the truck is used just for light duty use, no heavy trailer pulling, no
off roading or used in extreme agricultural environments. Could the
no change rule be acceptable for long life
off roading or used in extreme agricultural environments. Could the
no change rule be acceptable for long life
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by centexKR
If the truck is used just for light duty use, no heavy trailer pulling, no off roading or used in extreme agricultural environments. Could the
no change rule be acceptable for long life?
no change rule be acceptable for long life?
I would not recommend that route. My OPINION is to change all fluids before the Ford manual interval.
On my FX4 I'll be changing the tranny fluid every 35K miles regardless of its usage. (I rarely tow, and I'm no lead-foot).
For a $30K truck, spending a couple hundred bucks (or less if you do it yourself) is cheap maintenance when you compare it to a possible $2000 tranny rebuild (and they may not even rebuild it right!).
CMOS
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StrangeRanger
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Nov 14, 2001 03:32 PM