You can keep the mess to a minimum if you hook up the hose first and run the engine until you start to see some air bubbles in the hose. When the bubbles appear turn the engine off. When you drop the pan there is only be a very small amount of fluid in the bottom of the pan. Drop the pan, change the filter, add about 5 qts of ATF and complete the flush.

 

I just picked up my 04-FX4-SC from the trans.shop.Total rebuild.74,000 miles.2600.00 bucks.Very reputable shop.Guy tells me Ford should be ashamed for using that small trans in a 4x4 with off road and towing package.I say"What do you mean?"He tells me that trans is what they use in the Crown Vic.How the heck did they think this would hold up? I never towed anything nor hauled more than fishing gear with it.
Keep a close eye on everything to do with the trans on the 04`s.I don`t know about any other years,but watch the 04`s.

Ford should have to pay for an up-grade on these F-150 Crown Vic`s...........

 

Probably designed in future repair by Ford. Just enough to get you out of warranty. Also, for those looking for a different pan with a drain pan there are two that I found: #40291 B&M (2 quart aluminum); and #438000 TCI which is a 3 quart pan. They are $171.95 and $157.95 @ Summit. And Wix #58955 filter kit is about $15.00 at most auto parts stores. You can use the factory gasket w/ original pan . Not sure if it works with the replacement pans.

 

what are some of the issues of overfilling the tranny with tranny oil??

 

Overfilling will cause the fluid to foam if planetary gears pick up oil. Simular to too much oil in the crankcase.

 

The tranny filter is a "real" filter. Ford stopped using screens when they stopped making the c6. Dan.

 

If you drop the pan & change the filter, you have little or nothing to extend the life of the trans. Modern trans. with lockup torque converters require a flush of the converter- it's far more important to flush the converter, than to change the filter- which is a screen on most trans. The flush is what Ford recommends, though not for the 4r75w @ 30k- i think the only trans. they recommend that for are the 4r100 & some front wheel drive trans/axles.

 

Like Y2KFORDPARTS said, the filter is a real filter not a screen. Motorcraft FT-105.

If you look at your recommended maintenance schedule in your glove box Ford recommends an ATF change at 100K or it might even be 150k miles. But most all ford dealerships recommend 30k. With the Mercon V fluid (which is a synthetic fluid), I think the 30k interval is overkill.....but I still flush mine every 30k for peace of mind. Which is another reason why I do this flush procedure myself to save some money.

 

Just wanted to say thanks on the DIY flush write up, very helpful, followed it to a T. I had my truck flushed at the dealership at about 28,000mi for about $150, total cost doing myself was bout $75, totally worth it if you have a few hours to spare. I changed the trans filter at 30,000mi, cleaned the magnet and pan thourolly. Now with 48,000mi(18k later) the pan was fairly clean but mag. was covered with fines, i'll be droping pan and changing every 10k or so for a filter change and mag. cleansing. Ole 05 4.6 running good

 

Which line is the suction, which is the supply?

 

I here what your saying but, I had 2 seperate drain hoses coming off of the cooler (behind bumper). Passenger side discharged more fluid than driver side ,but both lines discharged....?

 

so you can't pull clean fluid out of a container

 

the filter is not a screen it is a filter
pastic thing in pan is the dust plug for the dip stick tube, that gets pushed into the pan get a 3/8" threaded coupling & plug, drill & welded to the back side (low) of the pan when you have it off, get most fluid out next time YOU have to take it off.