The tow/haul light means something is wrong and a code is stored to help diagnose what's wrong. Without the code it's all guesswork.

 

Yes. The one in the pan is basically a screen and the external is like tissue paper.

 

Until mid year 2008 the TorqShift had an internal and inline filter. The inline was eliminated when the internal was improved to be better than the inline.

 

I agree with you and should have mentioned that a lubricant must meet their specifications in my original post. That's my bad for typing fast so I could leave for my meeting and not finishing my thought.

 

Ok so when I change my ATF I should change both filters?
Thanks for the info guys ~Gage~

 

You only have to change the external filter, but if you are pulling the pan for any reason I'd also change the internal. Changing the internal filter is not necessary though since it is just a screen.

 

Ok, my trans tow/haul light is still flashing. No code. I'm starting my own new thread.

Thanks Bobby

 

You can meet the Mercon SP specs without having the fluid tested. As long as you know what the specs are and manufacture the oil/fluid to meet those. Amsoil meets a lot of specs but doesnt submit their oil for certification. Most of their crankcase oils will vastly exceed the relevant API specs but few of them are actually API certified.

Certification simply means that the standards body (API) has tested and agrees that the oil meets the specification tested against. Not having that certification does not mean the oil doesn't meet the specs...Just that it hasn't been tested by the standards body.

To void the warranty Ford would have to test the Amsoil and have it be shown that it did not meet their specs.

In reality they would just tell you your warranty is voided and you would have to spend thousands fighting it in court at which point Ford MIGHT be bothered to test the lubricant to try to prove you wrong.

Most people just use Mercon SP to be safe (including myself and I am a big fan of Amsoil). It is a synthetic and is price comparable to the Amsoil. Why not use it?

Now crankcase oils...$5/qt for semi synthetic Motorcraft down at my dealer? I don't think so.



As for the filter question: Yes, there is an inline filter (up near the radiator & tranny cooler) as well as one inside the gearbox that can be changed when you drop the pan. I believe starting in MY08 they got rid of the inline one and improved the internal filter....but I only have an 05 so I cannot verify.


---Aaron

 

Mark,

What month of 08 did this start?

 

i swaped all my fluids to amsoil im my 2001 F350 7.3psd. after i did that i replaced the trans. and the replaced the rear. the trans was 2700 for rebuild and ther rear was 1500 for a new posi unit in rear. all caused by amsoil so i would not use it. i went back to reg fluids after that. the shop that did the rear said that amsoil does not have an additive needed for the clutch disc in rear. and that was the reason for the break down. the trans shop said that the ford trans are not very good so that was a toss up.

 

Not disagreeing with you Aaron, but I prefer to use fluids that have been certified by an independent source as meeting the required specs vice relying on the word of the manufacturer. The mfg has many reasons to fudge the data while an independent source does not.

 

I don't know. I left Ford in 2007, so I'm not that up on what happened in 2008.

 

Did you use the Amsoil limited slip additive? If so I would have gone after Amsoil for repairs. If you didn't use the additive then that may have been the problem.

Even when you buy the motorcraft gear oil I am pretty sure it comes w/o the limited slip additive and it has to be purchased separately and added.

As for your ford transmission comment...I am not sure what transmission you are referring to...Every manufacturer has its lemons. My torqshift has been absolutely bulletproof.

---Aaron

 

For some people independent certification provides valuable piece of mind and shows that the oil has meet a set of minimum standards. Could be the Amsoil is better, could be worse without that independent certification.

I will say that "certification" from anyone regarding anything means extremely little...Remember that peanut plant in Georgia was "USDA inspected". All that it tells you is that the batch that was submitted for testing/the day the inspectors showed up things were good.

---Aaron

 

Amsoil will never cover that rear axle as they cannot prove it to be caused by the fluid on thier end. Thier argument would be that they didn't know if the axle was overloaded or not.

There is no Limited Slip additive in Motorcraft 75w140. You have to add XL-3 to the fluid. Not adding this wouldn't cause ANY DAMAGE. It would just cause the limited slip differential to loose its effectiveness.

He stated he had a 2001. It would have to be a 4R100 if it were an automatic.