Can anyone provide me with the step by step details to change out the external tranny filter on the Torqshift... just the external filter only....
does the fluid continue to pour out on removal? and how much fluid to replace what is lost on this procedure... I have the new filter and O-ring and two quarts of Motorcraft SP.. thanks for any assistance !!

 

put a drain pan under the external filter just to catch the drips. It won't keep running and you'll lose less than a quart of fluid when you change it. You may or may not get a new o-ring in your filter kit, but the one that's on there will be O.K. unless it gets damaged for whatever reason. Just wipe it clean and relube it and you'll be fine.

 

Definitely have something ready to catch the oil that will come out! As I remember, it was about a quart that came out with the filter. I had a measuring container so that I knew exactly how much to add. My O-ring was okay, but I changed it anyways because what else was I going to do with it?? When you go to unscrew and screw the canister back on, I would suggest holding the feeding lines so that you don't by chance hurt them (just in case).

 

how often are you guys replacing that external tranny filter? i'm not concerned with what ford recommends but really what guys are doing who like to maintain their vehicles above and beyond what ford says should be done.

i only have 9k miles on my 6.0 so far, so i know i'm a ways away from tranny filters.

how many of you have followed that flush procedure found in the tech folder? isn't it ok to just drain all the fluid from the tranny, and change both filters, maybe do the flush like once every 60-80k miles?

i had my tranny in the 97 flushed once in 125k miles but have changed the fluid about once a year since I bought the truck in 2000. I also was able to drain the torque converter on that e40d but is is possible to drain the TC on the torqueshift trannys?

 

There are 2 sides on this issue. I myself am still skepticle about the power flush machines, they also need to be heated to actually get all the fluid out. I flushed using bearhunters method and got most of the old fluid out. I was very impressed with its condition, could not really tell the visual difference or aromatic difference between what came out and what I poured in. After several calls to different dealerships in my area most here only change the fluid in the pan. Not the external filter. I figured chaning the external filter and 7-8 qts you get out of the pan every 15k, is better than what most Ford delaerships do at 30k. It is also very easy and takes less than 30 minutes once you have had the external fitler off for the first time. (use a backup wrench, ore get someone to hold backup for you, as they can be extermely tight from the factory) It has been rumored (by me) AAP (advance auto parts) is to start carring Mercon SP this year. THey are carring alomst the full motorcraft linup as far as oils go, which makes this do-it-yourself even cheaper. You can get mercon sp online for under $4 per qt if you look hard enough.

 

I use an air wrench to loosen my external filter. It makes it eaiser, less chance of bending the mounting bracket and/or transmission lines.

Daryl
2004 F250 4x4 SWB CC KR

 

and you can only get the limited slip additive from ford? is the bearhunters method like the one described in the tech folder?
using plastic tubing?
i'll do mine once a year and i'll drain the pan and the external filter and i'll be fine. that's twice as often as they recommend. i'll be fine. i have always run full synthetic in my 97 psd since i bought it used.

 

on my 2006 i did my first trans fluind change at 38k, i had the dealer do it and i watched the ford texh do the whole procedure, i beleive he got out nearly 18 quarts and thats exactly what was put back in,as the flush machine takes the old fluid out it pushes new fluid in, i could not tell difference between the old fluid and the new fluid thats how clean the old fluid was, when i got home from the dealer i changed the external in line filter my self and it apperared to be very dirty.........i have pics of the external trans. filter with 38k on it in my gallery.

 

Does anyone ever change the internal filter? If the internal filter is, in fact, effective then what sense does it make to flush and change the fluid every 30K and run the new fluid thru a dirty filter? Even the maintenance schedule in the shop manual doesn't address changing the internal filter except on transmission overhaul.

 

i think read in my manual it supposed to be changed every 60k

 

i'd rather change that internal filter every time the fluid is changed. it's just peace of mind insurance. i don't go by what ford recommends because it's always too many miles.
i plan to change my tranny fluid and both filters at 20k miles. basically just over once a year .

 

The in pan filter is more of a screen than a filter. The external filter is the one that really cleans the fluid and removes the extremely fine particles from the fluid. You can change the in pan filter every time if you want, but it's just a waste of time and money IMHO. Flushing the tranny helps get fluid out you could not get out by any other means (torque convertor and solenoids). Personally I'd change the external before and after flush because it's cheap and easy and automatic tranny's are a pain to work on, but that's just me.

 

I had debated whether or not to start a new thread to report my findings, but I'll intsead relay them here. I also disagree with the flush machine way of doing things. At 30,000 miles i drained the pan and replaced the fluid, 7 quarts came out and 7 went back in. I ran the truck about 300 miles and did the same thing, as well as the external filter. Then at 60,000 miles I went a step further. I did the same pan change of 7 quarts, approxiamtely 300 miles running, then drained the pan. While drained I went ahead and dropped it (pan) to inspect the inside and magnet. I was plesently suprised to say the least. The pan was imaculate, barely a tinge of darkness more than the fluid itself. And the magnet had very little accumulation either, I couldn't even attempt to quantify the amount of wear product on the magnet. I pull a 16,000# Fifth Wheel quite a bit, and utilize four wheel drive occassionaly, several times this winter I had to run 90 miles continuous. I live in NM (read mountains), and run at least the speed limit, maybe five over running empty, 5 under when pulling a load. I am very impressed by the lack of wear provided by the Mercon SP. I maintain the auto tranny on my wifes Expedition, it always has a significant amount of wear on the magnet and there is a distinct difference in both color and smell of the old fluid as opposed to new. As Ryan stated above, I have yet to see any difference in color, smell or feel of the fluid, old to new. The external filter on both changes was a consistant dark grey, with no visible debris. As stated above, the internal filter is a mesh screen, so I didn't bother replacing it or removing it for that matter.

Fred

 

When I did my change at 30k miles, I dropped the pan (only because I was putting a deeper pan on) and replaced the internal filter. It was nice seeing that there was absolutely nothing in there to ease my mind. There was also very little on the magnet and the oil that I took out looked as clean as the oil that I put in! From here on out, I'll probably just change the oil and the external filter unless something significant happens to my tranny (since it is more of a screen for larger pieces). I'm very impressed with how well the Torqshift tranny runs and doesn't eat up the Mercon SP.

 

I changed mine tonight, same thing, 7 qts came out, 7 qts went back in. The external filter was dirty, but the fluid was once again as Fred said, just as red, clean and aromatic as what came out of the new containers. I also went over my intended drain interval of 15k to 19k due to work ect. I did it this evening when I came home (got off early) and forgot how easy it is to do. After seeing Jeffs blackstone report of his Mercon SP (here on the board somewhere) there is no way the add pack is anywhere near used up at 30k let alone at 15k. I know you are only changing half the fluid, but I did change all of the fluid at 30k. The add pack in this FULL SYNTHETIC FLUID would probably go 70-80k, so by adding roughly close to half new fluid every 15k should be more than sufficient. The majority of the Ford dealerships (at least in my area) are just draining/refilling the pan at 30K. No external filter or flush. They also get $80 for the external filter and o-ring. Needless to say I don't get mine there.


The internal filter or "porch screen" in a plastic housing is a waste of time til at least 60k. I ordered one for the initial 30k flush and upon opening the box and looking at it, said to myself I'll wait til the 60k service.