Trans flush problem again...
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New User
Joined: Aug 2008
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Trans flush problem again...
I have been looking back on old threads and it seems to me that everyone is split 50/50 on trans flush or drop the pan... I wanted to service my trans on a '05 Excursion with 6.0 because most of my driving is either around town or if it touches the freeway it has a 12k+ lbs toy hauler behind it. I went to my regular service tech and told him I wanted a flush. He tells me it needs to be done at the dealer only because it needs to be dyno'd. Is it safe to drop the pan and fill or am I better off not doing anything at all, the truck has 60K miles on it and fluid is not bright red anymore, slightly brownish... Thx
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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I personally am against trans flushes, as I've had a bad experience. Other than that, I would say that its kind of up to you. The guy I have work on my car told me not to do anything to the trans, and just leave it alone, like you said, but thats just one tech... Hope that helps :-)
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Sweet Home Alabama
I had mine done at 40K and I was told that it is not bad enough to warrant anything other than draining and refilling. No flush and not dropping pan. Replaced 3/4 of fluid and will wait another 40K and see. If fluid is bad, flush is reco'd I was informed.
But again, as said before, you should do what you want. 50/50
Dropping pan is most invasive while 3/4 fluid replacement is easiest.
But again, as said before, you should do what you want. 50/50
Dropping pan is most invasive while 3/4 fluid replacement is easiest.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,634
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From: Lost in Pa.
You can't change the filter if you don't drop the pan and replacing the filter is just as important as changing the fluid and there is a magnet that also should be cleaned, but it's your truck do what you think is right
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
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My opinion is leave it alone, or if you ust cant help yourself do a pan drop. DOing any kind of flush in my opinion is asking for problems. I kinda see saw on this idea, but over all I lean more towards leave it alone, or at most do a pan drop. That being said my truck was T-Tech'd by a previous owner at around 40K miles and the trans feels great.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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I thought ford considered the filters good for life, and never needed changing?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Sweet Home Alabama
Filter should not be replaced, from both Ford and all Ford Techs.
There is a retired Ford Tech on this board and he even says not to change filter until at least 100k and even then, it is not required. He has cut them open at that point and found nothing.
Drain or flush, I would not drop the pan unless I was changing valving for line pressure or after 100K. At my rate, I may look into it at 120K or so. I will drain again at 80K.
There is a retired Ford Tech on this board and he even says not to change filter until at least 100k and even then, it is not required. He has cut them open at that point and found nothing.
Drain or flush, I would not drop the pan unless I was changing valving for line pressure or after 100K. At my rate, I may look into it at 120K or so. I will drain again at 80K.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
I say to change the fluid. There is no way to drain all of the fluid on a trans newer than 2001 without doing a flush. After the first few trans in 2002 Ford deleted the torque converter drain plug. Without the drain plug you can't even get half of the fluid without doing a flush.
When you change your engine oil do you only change half? Why do that on the trans? And not changing the fluid at all, that's about as good as never changing your engine oil.
The external filter near the radiator needs to be changed. The filter in the pan does not. It is a rather crude filter, if it has enough junk in it that it needs changing that trans is already toast.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: WARRINGTON, PA
HUH, it has an external filter??? my x has the v10 and only ever did a trans flush. anything ese i may need to do on the trans?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,725
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From: SE Florida
Yes, I was. The original post was about an '05 Excursion with a 6.0L and a TorqShift. That trans comes with an external filter that needs to be changed, the 4R100 did not. The internal filter in both the TorqShift and the 4R100 does not need to be changed unless the trans fails. That's the only time there is enough junk in the filter to require a change.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
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I wonder how hard it would be to add an external screw on can type filter to the 4R100's? Looked liek basic rubber lines going to t he trans cooler behind the front bumper. How far back does it stay rubber? If you could splice into there somehow it shouldnt be hard to add with some kinda aftermarket filter kit.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Cottageville, WV
I am not a fan of flushing. I would not change the fluid until it is no longer red. In your case I would drop the pan and drain. Yes you only get about half the fluid out and yes it takes a couple of drains before you get it nice and red again. In my 96 F250 the fluid was brown and stunk terribly. I had it drained and refilled and now it is due again to get it back in shape.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,725
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From: SE Florida
Why don't you like flushing? I can't understand why some people think changing half of the fluid several times is better than changing all of it once.
Do you do half changes on the engine oil, too?
Do you do half changes on the engine oil, too?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
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Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and years of experience with us. We're sure lucky to have you as a resource!
Thanks to you, I just called my dealer and scheduled a transmission service for my 2000 Ex. It's working great, but we're getting ready to go on a long trip towing a 9500# enclosed trailer. We're lucky to have a large Ford dealership here that has a separate truck service center and they've always done a great job the few times I've had to have them work on my PSD trucks.