Well it's time to drive to see my gf again. Last year I only got 3 weeks with her and the day after I got home I went to get groceries and had a spinout that did about 2,500$ of damage to the truck, hoping this year has no repeats .

I'll be leaving May 23/24, trying to cover the 950 miles in one day. Bainbridge, GA to Plymouth, IN. Mostly all I-65 driving and I have a heavy foot (I do 85 where I can get away with it).

The truck is my 04 Expedition, 73,600 miles on her. It had it's oilchange 1,000 miles ago with Motocraft synthetic 10w-20. It's going in this week for a brake check and tire rotation. They haven't been rotated in about 9,000 miles so I figure it's time. It got new wipers a year ago and they are still working well.

I guess the only red point is when I bought it with 48,000 miles there was no service record other than it had brand new Contitrac SUV tires on it. I hear the tranny is supposed to be flushed anywhere from 40,000 up to 100,000 miles, with some people (like my grandfather) telling me there's no need for that until something starts acting up shift wise. The truck doesn't work hard, mostly crusing with 3 people in it, though in the summers it's routine to at least 5 times a week carry 5 minimum, and maybe 8-10 passengers crammed in for 30-50 mile rides every 2 weeks. For the last 4 weeks I've been towing a 3,800lb trailer, which pulled beautifully, for about 1,500 miles total. That's done now. Though this summer I may have to pull a 5,000lb trailer a few times, up to 30 miles distance.

She's given me no problems other than the blasted drivers power seat being stuck.

Any recommendations?

Thanks alot Ford crew!

 

Definitley do the tranny flush. I lost my tranny at 110k miles last year and I was going to flush it before my trip from Ohio to Wyoming and didnt. Lost the tranny on the way!

For the money, it is good insurance. You are getting close to the 100k milestone, so start thinking new plugs and all the list of 100k items.

 

If you do the plugs, be aware the 3V motors have the problem with the plugs breaking off in the head (they get carboned up from what my local mechanic says). If it was me, unless I had lots of time to be without the vehicle, I'd leave them be till a later time OR pay someone else to do it. Just my opinion.

However, I would do the tranny fluid. That's relatively simple enough and good insurance.

 

It's a 2v motor.

I see a tranny service costs 110$ from the dealer, I don't know if I can get it cheaper anywhere else and I'm not sure I have that much $$$ to put into that, the dad is still being super hesitant over it. The spark plugs aren't showing any signs of loss, so I'll keep running them awhile longer, though I know it'll be soon.

Right now it's scheduled for a front end alignment, brake inspection and possible pad replacement (from what we know it's running original pads), especially the front pads, and tire rotation.

 

You know, if I took the time to read everything I would have seen that its a 2V motor as it says in your signature area. Even still, I think I'd put off a plug change till after returning home. I'm in college and I consider myself pretty confident in working on cars, but plugs on this is not a job to start at the last min - as you probably already know. I did mine over spring break and it took me a week doing a little every night. I took my time as I wanted to get everything right and plus the headaches of doing it took time as well.

If you decide to do it yourself to save $$$, you might have a drain plug which will make the job cleaner/easier for the tranny flush and the filter can't be bad to do either. Mine apparently was changed around 100k (109k now) and I'm contemplating doing mine for peace of mine. With a 2000k mile trip ahead of you, I'd do it. I know I would.

 

I'd love to do things myself, but I have no way to get the truck up, and being in a college dorm, nowhere to store the tools if I'd buy them to do it.

 

I understand dorm limitations. A good friend of mine shared a place with his cousin and I don't know how he did it. Way too cramped. Anyway, if $$$ is tight (I understand that all too well; not to mention the gas for your trip and other expenses), I'd simply pull the dipstick and check the color of the fluid. If it's pink/reddish/etc, you are probably doing OK with the mileage on the truck. As long as the vehicle hasn't been abused (lots of hard acceleration, etc), I'd say take the chance. If the car has been shifting smooth and easily, change it when you get back. If the fluid is dark red/brownish - try to come up with the cash and get it done because you know as well as anyone else, it is going to be far more expensive to get the car towed off the highway to an unknown mechanic/dealership to get a tranny rebuild. Good luck though! I wish you a safe trip.

 

Thanks alot . I'll check the fluid when I get a moment back out with it. I have saved up about 1,300$ for this trip over the last 5 months, and alot of that is going to fuel. While we're up there we're going to have a 5 day mini vacation in Stoughton, Wisconsin to enjoy the fair. That's 40$ a day for just the tickets, then still food and all that. It's gonna be tight this year, but in this economy the money just didn't come through. But I still want to show my baby girl a nice time so I admit I'm skimping a bit on what should be the maintenance year for the truck.

The truck shifts fine, even in hot weather idling at 95 degrees with the 3,500lb trailer, it had no issues staying cool and pulling it even at 82 miles per hour, and this was a flying brick double axle van body trailer. I think the truck will run fine, but I'm definitely taking care of the brakes and rotation, her safety is my number one priority.

 

have fun on the trip. i love taking my expedition on long trips. 117k and still runs like new!

 

"Any recommendations?"

New gf?

 

I think that you will be just fine!! In the last year, I have put a little over 30k on my 03 Navi.. Now I mostly drive it easy, but it has been asked to perform.. And that it did remarkably well.. It has never left the state of WI until last year.. It now has been to the LA aera of California,(2100 miles 1 way pulled a car trailer both ways) To Colorado, twice.. Once for some trail/off roading with a friend.. Once pulling a trailer with 3 motorcycles.. It has been to Kentucky towing my SVO to the SVO Reunion.. Just last month I pulled my Company van 50 miles back from a sales show because it didn't start.. Also have plans in just 6 weeks to be going to Las Vagas, NV (another 4000 mile round trip)..

I have done the Trans fluid change once at 44k and am thinking about doing it again(now at 71K).. Cheap insurance..

P.S. Slow your speed down to about 70-72 & you will get much better mileage, which will save you $$!! Just a thought.. The cops here in WI are not very forgiving..

Dave

 

Um no thx. I've got 2 years in with this woman and I love her to death.


Sadly I had trouble today. On my way to get groceries something started grabbing on the front, vibrating the steering wheel, and making a loud metallic groaning side. I went a bit slower for about another 5 miles and it got worse and worse. Then it suddenly stopped about 1mile from the stealership, and thus they couldn't reproduce it. I'm going to really let the truck sit until my appointment for the front end work. Hopefully no surprise bills.