Not dropping the pan to clean it off, and change the filter is just a scary idea to me.

I will always drop the pan, and change the filter.

Just a flush, and refill to me is just very wrong.

All the heavy stuff settles to the bottom, and how crazy is it to leave the old dirty filter in....IMO why bother changing the oil then.

Its like changing the motor oil, and just leaving the old filter on.
Sure you can do it that way, but its the extremely lazy way, of doing a crappy job if you ask me.

I have never had a failed transmission in any ford I have owned servicing them myself.

 

Was the accord a V6 by any chance? The Accords with V6's had tranny problems. I had a 98 Accord 4cyl and I bought it with 250K and the tranmission was in good shape. I did change the fluid and used the Honda Tranny fluid and it made a huge difference at that high mileage. I don't think it had a filter either.

 

Thanks for the info AQUAMAN... I was just going buy what I was told about the trucks not having true filters anymore. I just figured it was true because I know the dealerships offer the same flush using the same machine setup. I think I will be dropping my pan soon.

 

I heard they used to, but stopped putting a drain plug on the TC back in '01...have you actually seen one on an '04-07? Not saying you're wrong here, just wondering....

 

I have not opened up my 2007 tranny yet, as its still not due for an oil change.
But I did my own tranny service on my 2004 F150, and it for sure had a torque converter drain plug, as I drained it myself.
And yes it had a filter in it as well.
Which I of course replaced with a new one, before refilling.

 

Saleenguy: how do i turn tc to get to drain plug? what size is the plug? how do i change tc filter? and last ? how many QTS of trans. oil do i need ..Thanks 04 f150 5.4L

 

The plug was in it from the factory to keep any dirty particles out, the plug should be at the bottom of your pan when you drop it ( it will also tell you this if a cheap shop manual as well). 13.5 qts dry, but it probably won't take that much due to some fluid you can't get out. Best wat is to measure by hand it's drained. There is no drain plug either.

 

The filter Ken is referring to is a Magnefine filter, which is repackaged for Ford. The Magnefine is a 25 micron absolute filter, with a built-in magnet and a bypass valve in case it plugs up. I just bought a couple of those kits he described. Heck of a deal, really, with all the hardware you need to install it. Ford techs are supposed to install them after tranny overhauls or replacements but hey can be added very easily to a F150 as a maintenance item. One is going onto my Honda (which does not have a trans filter) and the other on the return line of the power steering on my F150. For the trans on the Ford, I bought a Racor trans filter kit, with a 6 micron absolute spin-on filter. Already installed a Mag-Hytec DD pan, which has a drain plug and temp sensor bung.

I believe the "home" flush as described above is good for a guy that does it regularly. A neglected truck may require a more heavy duty flush. I gave the Ford it's first home flush after installing the M-H pan and some new synthetic fluid and it was very easy to do. I did it at about 12K miles and was surprised at how much stuff the original magnet had collected. It wasn't a huge amount compared to some I've seen, but more than I expected. Shows what break-in is all about, I guess.

 

Almost Forgot: There haven't been drain plugs on the converters of 4R70/75E since 2002, and not all of that year. I have drilled and tapped converter housings for plugs in the past, and was intending to on my Ford (in the original factory position), but the flush was so easy, I didn't (the lines at the cooler are so easy to reach). Drilling and tapping the converter while it's in the vehicle is a measure-twice kinda job. It's not particularly hard but there's no room for error. Plus you'll have ATF all over your drill! Avoid it if there's an easier alternative, as there is with the cooler.

 

Here I am again. I just saw Saleen Guy' s post saying his '04 had a TC drain! Ford official pubs say it shouldn't. My 9/04 build 2005 F-150 definitely DOES NOT have one. Interesting! Another case of, "Never say never. Never say always!"

 

Hi Jim,

I bought my 2004 brand new in early 2004....I have since sold it, and no idea when its build date was.
It for sure had a drain.
I have heard that my current truck won't have one though, its a 2007.

I am saddened that they took it out, but oh well.

 

This really is pretty confusing. Some people say they dont have a tranny filter, some say they do. Some dont think you can change your own tranny fluid and filter and that you have to "let Ford do it with their machine".

What are the real answers to this question.

I have a 2004 F150 4.6L V8 new body style. Im at 70,000 miles and want to change my tranny filter and my tranny fluid. I figured I would drop the pan, drain out as much of the fluid as possible...change the filter wherever it was, and add new fluid. Done deal. That should be all of the fluid minus whatever is inside the torque converter which if the filter is new will be just fine for the next 70,000 miles.

COry

 

does anyone have a blow up of these tranny cooler lines and where they are located to drain out the old tranny fluid?

I'm guessing this is ONLY done with the vehicle in park and running correct?

Cory

 

BigNiner: They have a filter... more a screen... in the pan. The inline filter they talk about is a Ford authorized part but not installed at the factory. It's used when a trans has been rebuilt after a failure. It's designed to catch metal and clutch material that may still be present in the lines, as well as anything introduced at the rebuild. There's no reason you can't use that filter as an upgrade item too and it will extend the life of the trans. You can get it from Ford or direct from Magnefine (Google them).

You don't really "drain" the fluid from the cooler lines. You'll have to slowly loosen the pan, let the fluid drain out of one corner, then finally drop the pan and dump that fluid. You'll see the filter and how to remove it. Obvious. Since there was one '04 noted above with a converter drain (where most of the fluid is located) you might remove the rubber plug at the bottom of the bellhousing, spin the engine around clockwise (to not mess with the timing chain tensioners) by hand (a socket and breaker bar on the crankshaft pulley nut) and look for a drain plug. Make a mark on the converter when you start so you know when you've gone all the way round. If it has one, you don't really need to flush, just drain the converter.

The cooler lines feed into the radiator. Some F-150s have a trans cooler up front too. That's where you remove the out line and pump the fluid into the bucket, as noted in the previous post that details the procedure. The engine is running and you gotta be putting fluid in as it's pumping out, watching the fluid that pumping out. when if comes out fresh looking, you know you've pumped out all the old.

I honestly don't know if a flush machine does a hugely better job than you can do at home.

Sound like you need a manual for your truck, which has lots of pics. Get on e-bay and you'll find lots of the CD manuals for sale and you can buy one direct from Ford. The aftermarket manuals are so-so with detail and pretty generic but better than nuthin'. I really think that anyone who works n their own truck should have the manual. It answers so many questions, solves so many problems and prevents so many mistakes.

 

Personally I would not let just anyone work on my truck.

If your dealer has a really good tech, with a stellar rep and has been there years, request that only that person work on your truck.

I do all my own work.
If it is something way over my head, such as say the intricacies of a total diff rebuild, which I have done twice myself, but both times had a slight whine sound afterwards.
I would only let my Dad do it.
He was a Master tech for many years, and is now retired.

I have worked in dealers, and been around shops, and mechanical stuff most of my life.
I have seen the horrors that people have done to cars, trucks, motorbikes etc.

Your far better off doing it yourself IMHO.

If your worried you are leaving too much old oil in your tranny, with the money your saving on labor charges, shop fees, taxes etc. Why not buy more oil and change it at more frequent intervals, so each time your getting more oil out.

For example say you have a truck and they recommend changing the oil every 60,000 miles in the tranny.
Why not just change it every 30,000 miles instead.
I bet its still a lot cheaper than going to a shop.
You know even if you only got out say 60% of the oil, at least that was changed for sure.
And you know you really do have a fresh filter installed, or if its just a screen, it was at least cleaned.
Also gives you a chance to see with your own eyes if anything seems odd, like the oil is a little burned, or something was found in the pan that should not have been there.
Also while your under your truck you can see what ever else might be wrong.
Say a broken exhaust hanger, or it looks like maybe your motors rear main seal is leaking, or the diff input shaft seal is weeping a touch.
Since its your truck , you can take the time and you care about its condition.

I have people that bring me their cars and trucks to work on, despite not being an auto tech, because they at least know I care, and will do what I say I will do.

So while my shop is really in the service industry of powersports, and more some welding and fabricating.

I will work on cars and trucks of existing customers.

I recently had a guy bring in his KLR650 for a bunch of work, and while here he asked me to change the timing belt on his wifes car, and to do a tranny service, and tune up on it.

He knows that at least it was done, and done with care.

I am not a 22 year old kid thats hung over, and working flat rate, with no real experience, or at least proper supervision.

If you do take your truck in for work, at least mark say a couple bolt heads with chalk on the tranny pan, and then you will know if it was removed for sure.

Ask to have the old filter kept for your own eyes to see.

Most of all if you find a mechanic, and you build a trusting relationship over time. Be loyal, send them referalls, and treat them like gold.

If they know you and like you, its amazing how they will often go that extra mile to keep you happy to.