so few maintenance questions..
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New User
Joined: May 2009
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so few maintenance questions..
I Just bought a 96 f150 5.0 at the auction for 1300 bux and I lucked out big time. Everything works cruise control, air conditioning everything im pretty sure it was owned by an old man so im real happy about it. The only thing i've had to replace is the u-joints and I just did an oil change. The truck has a 158k miles and the motor runs smooth and the trans shifts real smooth as well. The problem is the tranny fluid is overfull and its brownish. Would it be better to take it to a shop an do a flush or drop the pan so I can at least change the filter? Also its leaking I'm assuming at the rear main seal (where the transmission is bolted to the engine) anyone know if this is problem I need to address asap and what kind of work im looking at here. One more thing all the guages work accept the temp gauge could this be a thermostat or just the gauge itself?? Thanks for the help everyone
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Joined: Feb 2007
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For the tranny fluid change, drop the pan, drain the torque converter, and change the filter.
As far as the leaking rear main seal, how much is it leaking? Check the oil frequently and keep it full between now and your next oil change. My rear main seal leaks in my 351 and it has for some time. It loses around quart between oil changes. I just check the oil frequently and keep it full. I have not fixed it because replacing a rear main seal is a huge pain. If it is losing more than a quart between changes (3 months or 3,000 miles), then you should probably fix it.
Also, make sure the rear main is what is leaking (esspecially if you plan on fixing it), a valve cover leak can run back and look like a rear main leak.
Congratulations on your purchase and good luck.
As far as the leaking rear main seal, how much is it leaking? Check the oil frequently and keep it full between now and your next oil change. My rear main seal leaks in my 351 and it has for some time. It loses around quart between oil changes. I just check the oil frequently and keep it full. I have not fixed it because replacing a rear main seal is a huge pain. If it is losing more than a quart between changes (3 months or 3,000 miles), then you should probably fix it.
Also, make sure the rear main is what is leaking (esspecially if you plan on fixing it), a valve cover leak can run back and look like a rear main leak.
Congratulations on your purchase and good luck.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: South Florida
You're kind of rolling dice with the transmission, but if you're dead-set on doing something, I'd drop the pan and change the filter if it was my truck. If the fluid is brownish, that probably means the fluid is old and burnt up. And I've heard that people overfill the transmissions to try and hide problems. Either way, sounds like the trans has been neglected, which would indicate that the filter is probably old and clogged. How is it shifting?
I dug up an older thread about the temp gauge because mine isn't working either. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ure-gauge.html
I dug up an older thread about the temp gauge because mine isn't working either. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ure-gauge.html
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
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DO NOT do a flush. That is a complete crock!
Those trans flushes do more damage than they do good from what I have seen.
Just drop the pan and pull the rubber plug in the bellhousing and drain the convertor. To access the plug in the torque convertor, you will probably have to bump the starter a couple times to rotate it.
After you do this and install a new filter and refill it with DEX-MERC fluid, just drop the pan and change the filter every year or 15-20K miles.
I agree about what was said about oil leaks. Mine leaks a little and I'm not worried about it. If it leaks alot then it does need to be fixed.
Those trans flushes do more damage than they do good from what I have seen.
Just drop the pan and pull the rubber plug in the bellhousing and drain the convertor. To access the plug in the torque convertor, you will probably have to bump the starter a couple times to rotate it.
After you do this and install a new filter and refill it with DEX-MERC fluid, just drop the pan and change the filter every year or 15-20K miles.
I agree about what was said about oil leaks. Mine leaks a little and I'm not worried about it. If it leaks alot then it does need to be fixed.
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Thanks for the reply fella's. I heard the same thing about tranny flushes thats why im checking this forum 1st. The main seal isnt that bad, it was a quart low when I bought it so and it looked like it hadnt been changed in awhile. The tranny shifts fine no problems at all its just overfull and its brownish but doesnt smell burnt so idk what the deal is.
