I have a 2006 S/C 4X4 5.4L. I am coming on my transmissions 1st service interval and was wanting some input on whether to have the system flushed or change the filter. The cost is $160 for the flush or I can change the filter myself for about $50. Are there any relative pro's and con's? Does Ford recommend either one? I looked under the truck and it the pan is very accessible so it should not be a problem hover are there any particular tricks to changing the filter or is it typical filter change?

 

Both, I would recommend having the Fluid flushed and then after its flushed have the filter changed. Reason being is that your pushing all the gunk through the old filter. Thats how i have always done it. As far as changing filter go have your fluid flushed then come home and change your filter your self. I'm pretty sure its drop the pan pull filter install new filter etc. That gives you a chance to see whats in the bottom of your pan. just my .02

 

Is the tranny fluid flush a bunch of hogwash dreamed up by the dealers and tranny shops to make more $$? I understand the concept behind it, but why is this a relatively new practice? Why didn't I hear about tranny flushes 30, 20, 10 years ago?

 

had mine done flushed in the fall was recommended by ford dealer they said they no longer do drain & filter
said with the flush it back flushes the filter and the converter getting all the old oil out
they now state if filter is plugged its to late for tranny
running fine since flush

 

You can 'flush' it yourself. I've heard horror stories from guys who had theirs chemically flushed though.

- Disconnect your tranny cooler lines next to the tranny and direct it into a container.
- Idle engine long enough until no more tranny oil comes out. I comes out pretty quick and should take around 15 seconds. You'll see about 9qts. Turn off engine
- Drop tranny pan, clean it out, throw out the plastic plug that's in there
- Replace filter making sure the little orange rubber gasket comes out with it. Just pull it straight down and off.
- No need for new tranny pan gasket. It's a polymer gasket and is reusable.

- Reassemble tranny pan
- Fill 'er up with new juice
- If you're **** like me, idle the engine a few seconds again until you see clean fluid come out. Turn off engine immediately. Your tranny is now 'flushed'
- Reconnect tranny cooler lines
- Top off with new juice to the correct level
- Done

you can do this in about 30min or less. If you don't drain any fluid out before dropping the pan, you'll get a huge mess of oil raining down as you start removing it.

I did mine at 30K. Now have 40K on the clock and no issues. Old oil filter looked pretty clean, but the magnet at the bottom of the pan was covered with a fine slick of crud which is expected.

 

A good flush is more than just getting all the fluid out. If you've ever seen the grey clutch material which coats the bottom of the pan its also all over the insides of the lines leading to coolant pan in the radiator, in the pan as well and in the aux cooler if your truck is equiped with one. The magnet doesn't catch this stuff and it coats everything with a thin flim. I've seen the "good" flush machines which use a pulsating power flush - most dealerships don't have this unfortunately. It does a great job of cleaning out everything and doesn't use anything other than tranny fluid to flush the system.

 

at what mileage should the first filter change & flush be done? I am at 65000km, or 36000 miles & tranny & shifting seems fine. Too early?

 

Ford's scheduled maintainance manual shows 150,000 miles for all trucks, every 30K for automatic transmission diesels. Personally, I wouldn't wait that long. I'd cut it at least in half given the history of these trannies. With very heavy duty use in my case, I'm going for every 30K miles.

 

I've read if you wait too long, like 100K miles before your first change, you're better off NOT changing anything anymore.

By that time, the original fluid has already 'worn out,' and the supposedly aggressive detergents and cleaners in fresh new tranny oil will likely dislodge chunks of build-up that plug up stuff before they come back around to the filter

Kinda like what happens with high cholesterol and strokes :-(

 

Thank you for your input but I am pretty sure I will do both the first time and probably just the filter after that, Thank again.

 

My close friend owns an STS TIRE CENTER where they do tranny flushes. I had mine done allready and had it refilled with AMSOIL 100% synthetic fluid which has a life of 100,000 miles. He said, not as a salesman, but as my friend that tranny flushing, if done properly is worth it. Not only do you get the pan, but you get all the lines and torque converter which you used to be able to drain through a pipe plug on the converter; Most trucks no longer have that. In addition to that, he said there are no longer an actual filter on our trucks, but rather just a suction screen. So there is no real reason to drop the pan, except for cleaning the magnet. If you supply your own fluid, or synthetic fluid; Most places only charge around $30-40.00 for the actual flushing service. Just make sure you watch them clean out the machine thouroughly before putting your fluid in.
As far as doing it yourself, it can be easily done. I have the tranny flush kit for all my Volvos, and it goes quit smoothly by tapping into the tranny lines. I am not familiar with the Ford setup, but I am sure its similar. The only reason I took mine to have it done is because its a friends shop and he uses all the state of the art equipment.

 

Our trucks use a real filter-filter. There's a drain plug at the bottom of the TC too--just peel open the rubber cap at the bottom of the tranny housing and turn the TC until you see it.

I don't know about other trucks, but some cars like my wife's former 1999 Honda Accord have no filter like you mention. That's probably why the tranny started having problems at 75K and completely crapped out at 110K when we were lucky to make it to the new car dealer to trade it in while it was still worth something! I had trouble getting to and parking the car at the dealer that night because the tranny was acting so badly... No joke! It was a night my wife and I can laugh about now...

 

The filter on the 4R475E is a flat filter, I believe made with synthetic fiber. I added an external Ford filter to the truck (takes 10 minutes). FYI folks, make sure the filters are removed when flushing a tranny.

 

Think I'm Gonna Do It My Self Due To My Lack Of Confidence In Dealerships. Have Not Had Good Luck..to Say The Least. I've Heard Good Things About Mobile One, Don't Know If They Make A Filter But I Hope They Do. Will Probably Do The Transfer Case At The Same Time. Is There A Kit For An External Filter If So Where Did You Pick It Up At.

 

The filter is a few bucks, available from Ford. Its a small inline filter a little smaller than a fuel filter. You simply cut the rubber lines up front and install it in there with a couple of hose clamps.