Both of my SUV's have E4OD's, and I plan on changing the fluid, installing a B&M Shift Improver kit, and draining the torque converter in the next couple of weeks.

Is draining the converter enough, or would I be better off to drain the pan, change the filter and install the kit, refill the pan, then flush the system out the return line? Both sound like a lot of work, but draining the torque converter sounds like it would make less of a mess.

Also, I plan on running synthetic, as I have been told it makes a noticeable improvement in the shifting in the E4ODs, by many different people. I am looking at the B&M Synthetic Trick Shift, and the Mobil 1, and would like to know if anyone has had any experience with either. They are the same price per quart at the local auto parts store, so price really isn't a matter.

 

Drain both for the maximum benefit and to reduce the amount of mixed dino/synthetic.

The way to drain a pan without a huge mess, at least most of the time is to get lots of kitty litter just in case, then unbolt the pan bolts with one side or corner almost or completely out and the other side just loosened a bit. Use a large drain pan and some newspaper. What you want is for the pan to tilt one way when you pop it loose, and then hang from the remaining bolts so the fluid drains from one corner or side. Note, you might need a rubber mallet and maybe a pry bar to loosen the pan.

If all goes well, the fluid will drian out nice and neat. In all the years I have done this, only twice have I made a mess and that was before I learned to let one corner hang low.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Another way to neatly drain the pan is to disconnect the cooler line at the rear of the transmission. Use a hose to aim the line into a bucket. Start the engine and run it until the solid flow gets some bubbles. Your pan is now almost empty. You can easily drop it.

I like Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. It is MERCON rated, which is what your E4ODs need.

Mark

 

Do either of your E4ODs have drain plugs on the pan? I believe some of the newer ones do, and I know there is a drain plug on the 4R100 in my F150 (which is basically an updated E4OD). Either way, I'd definitely drain both the TC and the pan, put on the kit and then install a new filter. From what I've been told, they originally didn't put in drain plugs because they wanted to make sure people changed the filter when they changed the fluid - so if they forced you to take the pan off, you'd be more likely to change the filter because it wasn't much extra work. I guess the new Allison trannys use a spin-on transmission filter (like an oil filter), and I'm guessing/hoping that the new Ford auto tranny will have one too. It'd be nice if changing the tranny fluid was as simple as changing the oil.

Personally, I'd be reluctant to disconnect the hose and run the engine to drain the pan or flush the TC - that has the potential to cause transmission damage. Even in park or neutral, some parts of the tranny still need the lubrication and heat dissipation provided by the circulation of the fluid...so even without a load on the tranny I wouldn't suggest interrupting the flow. Many places now offer a "flush" service where they plumb into the cooling lines, but I don't recommend those. First off, you need to get a new filter on there - so you end up doing the 'normal' change anyway. Second, most of the older machines just filtered the fluid and put it back into your transmission - they didn't actually put in new fluid. Maybe the new machines do use new fluid, which would make the process somewhat better - but I'd be wary of any that filtered it, because the filters they use aren't going to make the fluid as good as new. Thirdly, because of the way the system works you aren't really going to get all the old fluid out - you might get *most* of it out, but you can't get *all* of it out - so it isn't really any better than draining the pan and the TC.

Okay, enough rambling. To make a long story short, I'd drain both the pan and the torque converter, install the kit, put on a new filter, and be done with it all at once. I've used Mobil 1 with good luck in the past (and it's currently in both my diesel and my Lincoln), so that's the one I'd probably go with - though I'm sure the B&M is fine too.

Oh, and when you put on the new filter I'd be careful to put it on properly - if the filter doesn't seal properly onto the bottom of the valve body it can have problems pulling in fluid (especially under hard braking). I've heard of this happening more often with AOD trannys, and off the top of my head I can't remember if the EOD uses the same setup or not.

LK

 

Thanks for the responses. My Bronco does have a drain plug on the tranny because I put it there the last time I changed the filter. I'm not sure if the Expedition has one or not. I guess I'll have to check that.

I think I will just go the draining route, but not sure about the fluid. I have used Mobil 1 for some time, and have had no trouble with it. I wonder which oil company make the B&M Trick Shift? Maybe I'll see if I can find out, just for the sake of curiosity.

 

My 2002 V10 Exc does have a drain plug in the tranny pan. I was a little surprised to see it!

 

But it moght not have a drain plug on the torque converter. Ford stopped installing torque converter drain plugs in August, 2001.

Mark

 

Dang it, they finally got a drain plug in the pan and then took out the one in the torque converter? Aaaaargh! Why is it that when Ford makes an improvement they always seem to muck something up somewhere else? Hmph...probably ended up saving 10 cents.

Now I'm going to be forced to yell at the Ford reps the next time I see them...but since they're technically our customer, I can't yell at them too much. Personally, I just wish they could launch a product without 304,890,673 engineering changes...

LK

 

Use the Mobil One. If you read the label on the B&M Trick Shift, you will find that it is type F, not Mercon. There are no friction modifiers in it, supposedly to give firmer shifts. This may be fine for an old C6, but the E4OD is supposedly too sensitive even to use Mercon/Mercon V fluid.

Jim

 

True, B&M Trick Shift meets the Type F specs. I am looking at the B&M Synthetic Trick Shift, as there are differences. The Synthetic Trick Shift meets Dexron III and Mercon specs, which is fine for the E4OD. B&M does not recommend the regular Trick Shift for electronic trannies, but does recommend the Synthetic Trick Shift for all trannies.

Also, B&M states that there are additional friction modifiers to enhance cluth performance.

The Synthetic Trick Shift is also blue in color, which I find to be strange, but different.

I know Mobil 1 makes good products, as I run their oil in most all my vehicles. I also know B&M makes reputable transmission kits and performance mods, so I believe they know what they are doing when designing transmission fluid too.