I have a 03 F150 4.6 2WD ... a little over 29K on it. Which route should I go .. a Trans Flush and don't touch the pan at this time or just go "old school" and drop the pan / change filter / refill 5 qts or so ??

The truck has not done any hard towing / racing /etc. The fluid seems ok, but I guess Ford recommends a 30K service. I called the dealer where I bought the truck .... said they don't have the flush machine yet, but still will do the pan option. Although, he was not against doing a flush. They just don't have a machine to do it. Plus, on a 03 the torque converter does not have a drain plug any longer.

I went to another Ford dealer today and they push the flush for $139. That is the only thing they do. Told me Ford recommends this and the pan should not be removed. They warranty it ( I guess the flush process from any damage incurred by this process) ... plus they said (who knows if this is true) that it will benefit my extended warranty by having this done. I have the 6yr/75000 mile extended warranty and by following this type of trans service, if I ever have trans issues the extended warranty should never be questioned because I followed the Ford recommended service.

Just for the heck of it ... I called two trans shops in town and they both said just drop pan/filter/refill. One for $85 & one for $110.

Now if that doesn't make things more confusing. I agree with the drop pan method because that is what I have always done in the past and have always had good trans life with doing that at regular intervals.

I am really confused .... seems you can find a different opinion at every turn!! I guess I'm not "sold" on this flush process, but then again I am not that familiar with it. I would greatly appreciate your advice!! Thank You.

 

I don't know if they should call it a flush...its more of a fluid exchange

most machines hook up to the trans coolant lines at the radiator...

then you start the vehicle and the old fluid is pushed out and at the same time the new fluid is drawn back into the transmission.

the hoses are clear so you can shut everything down once the fluid looks clear.

is it better? its a matter of opinion...some guys just like to see whats in the bottom of the pan...

 

Good point. The other thing is the dealer said they run some sort of package though it ... cleaners and additives. Not sure I want cleaners ran though a trans with only 30K on it. Wouldn't mind if it was just straight Mercon V. Maybe the additives aren't bad either ....

 

exactly what azbluewolf said.

with the flush do you really get everything? yes you get the fluid, but perhaps there is still junk in the filter....

but if you only change the filter and the 4-6 qts that come with it, maybe the existing fluid is not good anymore? (but you can do this yourself)

at the chevy dealership i work at we do probably 4 to 1 flushes to filters. One thing i know for sure... doing something is better than doing nothing!!!!!

 

Here is more on what they were talking about "warranty" !!


http://www.bgfindashop.com/bgprotectionplan.htm

 

The flush ends up replacing all of the fluid, but I would recommend dropping the pan and replacing the filter instead. It may not replace all of the fluid, but allows you truely inspect the fluid condition, change the filter and clean the magnet in the pan. If you do that every 30k, the transmission will stay relatively contaminant free. Beware of BG transmission services. They use a can of "flush" and a can of "conditioner" I've been told by a dealership tech with 30+ years experience that the conditioner is fine, but that he will not use the can of "flush" while doing a flush because he has seen it damage multiple transmissions to the point of needing a rebuild.

 

I do both, although it is much easier with a TC with a drain. Without trying to explain it all here is a link on how to do it to a 4R70/AODE in a panther, it is all pretty much the same. It is more or less the same for a 4R100/E4OD as well.

http://www.crownvic.net/tech/transservice.htm