I need your opinion on something. I have a 2000 F250 with 125k miles. I have had it since 60k miles and have never changed the trans fluid. I saw the instructions on changing it I have heard that if you change it after a long period of time, it will mess up the trans. Is this true? The trans is working good, no shift problems, fluid is clean. Any suggestions?

 

I would change it, and the filter. Or have it flushed at a trans shop, if you trust them. If it goes out with fresh fluid, just think what is happening with old fluid.


Good luck.

 

chriz, you will be fine changing the Trans-Fluid and Filter. What you don't want a shop to do is flush the system. The way I understand it to be is that through the years of use, you will have parts within the tranny that are slowly wearing and deteriorating. The TC, Clutches, gears etc, well as these parts wear there are very fine particals as a result of the wear that are let loose with in the tranny. These will get caught in one of two places. One is within the Filter and the other is within the casting crevaases of the tranny. So when you change the T-Fluid, the Filter is also done. When the Tranny is flushed, it loosens all of these parlticals up, only to cycle them thru the system once agian causing premature wear.. Unless the tranny is removed and broken down as a full rebuild, it's impossible to remove all the of these particals..This is what I have come to understand about flushing a high mileage Tranny. I am not a Tranny tech by any means. But this is what I was taught years ago by number of different Trany Techs. I hope this Helps yah out. Country

 

Thanks, I'll let you know what i decide to do.

 

there is some more science behind the whole "flush" deal. a true transmission "flush" is a bad idea for any tranny. this requires a machince that has an internal pump that uses its own power to move the old fluid out of your trans and push the new fluid in. this has the potential for damage. most newer machines are considerd transmission "fluid exchange" machines. these use the transmission's pump to push the old fluid out and force the new fluid in. these are perfectly safe for your truck and can cause no damage. i would stayt away from the flush additives that they normally add and circulate before the procedure is performed. but the additive for post procedure is ok. nothing beats a full fluid change and you really cant do that without a machine, use only an exchange machine, not a flusher

 

Drain the pan, drop the pan and change the filter, drain the TC, close it up, disconnect lines to the cooler and blow them out, reconnect and refill.

 

I agree with this procedure.Easy and nothing to worry about.The only thing I would ad is.When you go to blow out the lines.Bring your air compressor pressure all the way down to about 10lbs. of pressure.Take both lines off put the air on one side and a catch bucket on the othe.Done

 

why is it unsafe

 

I was surprised to see my fluid dark brown when i changed my valve body because when i checked my fluid on the dip stick it looked clean.So i would change it to be safe and btw the magnet was full of black particals.