Changing transmission filter....do or don't?
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Changing transmission filter....do or don't?
I have an 02 350. I purchased it with 50,000 miles on it.
It now has 100,000 on it. I tow a small 12' trailer about every day.
I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. It does look pretty good, nice and pink, not brown at all.
The owners manual says to change the fluid and filter at 100,000 miles.
Should I change just the fluid or should I drop the filter as well?
This is my first diesel. Whenever I have done this on past cars and trucks the trannys have always gone out.
It now has 100,000 on it. I tow a small 12' trailer about every day.
I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. It does look pretty good, nice and pink, not brown at all.
The owners manual says to change the fluid and filter at 100,000 miles.
Should I change just the fluid or should I drop the filter as well?
This is my first diesel. Whenever I have done this on past cars and trucks the trannys have always gone out.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 555
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Change it! It's hydraulic fluid for goodness sakes. The tranny needs a good supply of it to continue to operate correctly. I've lived this sort of thing back in the 70's when the Chevy had 119,000 miles and the fluid got changed the tranny died, but fluids have come a long way with their built in conditioners, detergents and buffers. I've had mine changed twice already and only have 46,000 miles on it. Now understand that I pull a fully loaded fifth wheel @ just under 100% of my trucks towing capacity and I'm NOT shy with it! MHO
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Before anyone thinks I'm nuts I have to tell you the pull I made to Mid-Coast Maine was tuff, 2 13hour days and over the Adirondacks and 2 13hour days home again. I was tired I'm sure my tranny fluid was too. IMO the transmission fluid properties were taxed some, had some high temps a few times. I guess what bothered me was my brothers F-250 was caught in a head wind pulling home from Florida and he boiled his tranny fluid and his transmission forgot to down shift at traffic lights once changed it was fine again.
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Tranny fluid + filter = under $150 & some of your time
New tranny 'cuz ya cooked it = $3000+
simple math for me!
I rarely haul or tow anything but what is the recommended tranny fluid change interval?
New tranny 'cuz ya cooked it = $3000+
simple math for me!
I rarely haul or tow anything but what is the recommended tranny fluid change interval?
Last edited by papadelogan; Jun 21, 2007 at 12:46 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 600
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque, NM
you don't even need a new pan gasket, its a re-usable rubber gasket. Just make sure when you pull the filter you make sure and get the old O-ring out of the tube before you put the new filter in. You'll know what I'm talking about.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Vancouver, Washington
Question on tranny fluid change. Is it true that you won't get all of the old fluid out when you change it? Is there much to the hype of a "power-flush" similar to coolant changes? I change all my oil and would gladly change my tranny in 10k if that's myth. Any tips? Also, planning on going to synthetic for the Tranny, any recommendations?
Thanks
Thanks
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okay so my f250 has about 97.000 on it and we changed the inline filter but we were trying to stay away from the in-pan filter is it a neccessary change or what? also how hard is it to change it and the cost? thanks
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Originally Posted by Joey455
okay so my f250 has about 97.000 on it and we changed the inline filter but we were trying to stay away from the in-pan filter is it a neccessary change or what? also how hard is it to change it and the cost? thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hartford, WI
Originally Posted by Joey455
okay so my f250 has about 97.000 on it and we changed the inline filter but we were trying to stay away from the in-pan filter is it a neccessary change or what? also how hard is it to change it and the cost? thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: round rock, tx
Originally Posted by rocknrone
Thanks for the advice fellas.
Saturday it's getting changed.
Saturday it's getting changed.
you can use Mobile 1 ATF, or Amsoil synthetic, if you so desire.
make sure to flush out as much as you can and consider cleaning out the cooler lines to really get all new fluid through it.
the filter in the pan is a very easy install.
consider upgrading the stock pan with an aluminum finned high capacity(3-6 extra quarts of fluid for extra cooling. www.mag-hytec.com
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: N. Georgia
Originally Posted by rocknrone
I have an 02 350. I purchased it with 50,000 miles on it.
It now has 100,000 on it. I tow a small 12' trailer about every day.
I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. It does look pretty good, nice and pink, not brown at all.
The owners manual says to change the fluid and filter at 100,000 miles.
Should I change just the fluid or should I drop the filter as well?
This is my first diesel. Whenever I have done this on past cars and trucks the trannys have always gone out.
It now has 100,000 on it. I tow a small 12' trailer about every day.
I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. It does look pretty good, nice and pink, not brown at all.
The owners manual says to change the fluid and filter at 100,000 miles.
Should I change just the fluid or should I drop the filter as well?
This is my first diesel. Whenever I have done this on past cars and trucks the trannys have always gone out.
I would change the fluid and filter. You might want to check your service manual again. I believe you'll find the fluid needs changing every 30k and the filter every 100k. I don't have any recommendations for synthetic, I use regular Dextron III/Mercon. I don't have a torque converter drain plug on my '02.
Joe
p.s. I don't like power flushes.
Last edited by JOE-M; Jun 23, 2007 at 06:56 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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Originally Posted by Joey455
has anybody changed theirs? and is it hard? its the four-speed auto
I bought a new pan gasket for about $25 but didn't use it. The factory gasket was in great shape and reusable.
I did drain the torque converter. You will have to remove the dust shield and rotate the engine to have the drain plug align with the opening. If I remember correctly the transmission holds 18 qts and after draining the pan and torque converter I put back 17qts. So most of it came out. I would not flush. Let the new fluid do the cleaning vs forcing "stuff" around in the tranny. I went with the Mercon III fluid but from what I understand the Mercon V is now the correct replacement. Many use synthetic,, but I stayed with factory recommended lube.