Old wives tale???
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Old wives tale???
I had a 90 f350 with a 7.3 deisel and an auto trans, a4od I think. I bought this truck with about 90,000 miles on it At about 100,000 miles I changed the trans filter and fluid, Shortly after that the trans started overheating and puking out fluid at stop lights it would quit when I got going again I put a temp guage on it and the temp go way up when not moving.
I was told at the time that the fluid probably had never been changed in the truck before that and when I did it the detergents in the new fluid broke loose all the gunk in the trans and plugged everything up.
Could this be true? I didn't mess with it, I got rid of the truck instead. The reason I ask is I'm kind of in the same situation with a 2000 expedition with 135,000 miles on it. It seems to run and shift ok and I hate to fix it if it isn't broken. Thanks alot for any thoughts or advice, Mike
I was told at the time that the fluid probably had never been changed in the truck before that and when I did it the detergents in the new fluid broke loose all the gunk in the trans and plugged everything up.
Could this be true? I didn't mess with it, I got rid of the truck instead. The reason I ask is I'm kind of in the same situation with a 2000 expedition with 135,000 miles on it. It seems to run and shift ok and I hate to fix it if it isn't broken. Thanks alot for any thoughts or advice, Mike
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
No, I do not believe it is true.
Super Moderator
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Several stories like this--death of trans after flushing.
Best way: Flush earlier.
On the current one, a filter change and replace some of the fluid as long as it's working OK.
ymmv
Best way: Flush earlier.
On the current one, a filter change and replace some of the fluid as long as it's working OK.
ymmv
Last edited by 85e150; Mar 3, 2009 at 10:18 PM. Reason: never mind....
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: chicago burbs
my 2000 f150 didnt have a trans flush till 94,000 it required a rebuild at 102000, by required i mean my girlfriends dad towed it to there house after it parked itself. but in retrospect id rather do a rebuild than sell it being afraid all the time,
run the trans till it starts slipping, have it rebuilt, start fresh on 30,000mi changes
run the trans till it starts slipping, have it rebuilt, start fresh on 30,000mi changes
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
The bottom line is that no one knows for certain whether the old wives tale is true or not, because there's no way to tell if the trans would have failed anyway if the fluid wasn't changed.
What is definitely true is that broken down fluid doesn't lubricate or protect the trans like new fluid will. Whether you want to chance it or not is up to you. There are an awful lot of posts in this forum where someone changed the fluid and the tranny died a short while later though. There is probably something to it, but I don't think anyone know what it is.
What is definitely true is that broken down fluid doesn't lubricate or protect the trans like new fluid will. Whether you want to chance it or not is up to you. There are an awful lot of posts in this forum where someone changed the fluid and the tranny died a short while later though. There is probably something to it, but I don't think anyone know what it is.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Lynnwood, WA
I got my Bronco with 120k on it, and shortly after. the Ford dealer refused to change the ATF, claiming that a new fluid could lead to a tranny failure. I had it changed elsewhere a little later, and it's now passed 227k, though I have a feeling that the tranny is now close to its final destiny.
In your case, probably what happened is that the clutches were almost completely worn out, but they still worked, though only because of the dirty fluid. Once the fluid was changed, the tranny started slippingl, and quickly destroyed itself. However, that tranny would've failed in a short amount of time, no matter what.
In your case, probably what happened is that the clutches were almost completely worn out, but they still worked, though only because of the dirty fluid. Once the fluid was changed, the tranny started slippingl, and quickly destroyed itself. However, that tranny would've failed in a short amount of time, no matter what.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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I got my Bronco with 120k on it, and shortly after. the Ford dealer refused to change the ATF, claiming that a new fluid could lead to a tranny failure. I had it changed elsewhere a little later, and it's now passed 227k, though I have a feeling that the tranny is now close to its final destiny.
In your case, probably what happened is that the clutches were almost completely worn out, but they still worked, though only because of the dirty fluid. Once the fluid was changed, the tranny started slippingl, and quickly destroyed itself. However, that tranny would've failed in a short amount of time, no matter what.
In your case, probably what happened is that the clutches were almost completely worn out, but they still worked, though only because of the dirty fluid. Once the fluid was changed, the tranny started slippingl, and quickly destroyed itself. However, that tranny would've failed in a short amount of time, no matter what.
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