Heyall, 1st off lemme say that this forum has a lot of great useful information here, the search function is great. Almost too good, there is a lot of info on all sorts of issues. I'm a musician who runs a very small sound company, my fords are a 2003 e250 and a 1993 E350 12' box van with a tommy lift (kicks ***, I hate ramps).

The issue is with the 93, when I bought it reverse was going out. And eventually with the help of my father-in-law and brother in law we swapped out the E4od and torque converter for another 93. I bought the 93 from a reputable junk yard and on recommendation locally from other backyard mechanics they seemed to be very knowledgable and fair. Let me now say how little i look forward to working on this beast again, it was my first ever tranny swap and I really don't mind if it never happens again...

Engine is a 5.8L V8, 2wd, average MPG a whopping 8 or 9 mpg. It has duallies on the back where before it was a single rear tire per side. um, that's about it.

We put the new tranny in august, it had worked well for a few months, maybe I drove it 2-300 miles. I was told when servicing the tranny that it takes 8.5quarts of detxron/mercon. 8.5. Somewhere on this site I read 18-19. I put in 12 (9, needed more so added a few quarts).

Problems: shifts smooth when cold, as it warms up it shifts harder betwen all gears, engages them like normal when shifting between all the gears manually. When the engine is at operating temp for 5min+ it will start to disengage in 2nd now when accelerating and going from 1st, like it doesn't catch or something. I have to wait for it (not rev it up) then it will engage. It will do this on 3rd or 4th too, that's fun.

I did service (change filter/oil) on it and did put in 12qts. It "feels" like the torque converter is sucking up all the fluid and there just isn't enough to engage the gears. "feels" because I'm not a mechanic, I'm an audio guy and this is beyond my expertease (go easy on me!).

The fluid up til the last quick trip I did has been red, then when it was slipping the fluid on the dip stick has been a little brown with the burn smell. Any help is appreciated.
thanx
pete

 

FWIW, all the "servicing" I did was me, ratches and some rags, not jiffy lube etc. Getting people to work on this is expensive too (it's 11' tall)

 

if it's burned it's toasted clutches

 

The first thing to do is make sure the fluid level is right. Check it after it's been driven long enough to be warmed up. Park it on a level surface and leave the engine idling in park. Now check the level. It needs to be in the hash marks, both too high and too low are bad.

 

when you say serviced, does that mean you drained convertor and cleaned cooler lines and all. draining just the pan is defeating the purpose of a trans service.

 

By servicing I let all the fuild out by unbolting the bolt at the bottom of the pan. After if finished draining I opened it up, replaced the filter ad gasket and bolted those in place. Then filled it with 12q of dex/merc.

Since it's cornfusing, the timeline is this:
swapped e40d's and torque converters in august (me + inlaws)
added 13q of dex/merc that day it was dont
drove about 500mi,
Did another filter/oil change again
added 13q at this change.

I haven't gotten fluid out of the send/return lines from the e4od to the radiator, it's something I don't know how to do. The truck itself runs a little cool (on the O of Normal) and when climbing hills etc it does move to between the O and M. Sorry about the lack of tech terminology, like I said, I'm a soundperson not a mechanic)

Searching this site on how to service an E4od it seems that a dry/not a drop in it trans will take 18q, another search on this site said 15.5-15.75q. Since IU don't drive this thing much I'll take it for a spin and see how the fluid is...

 

If you only drained the pan and not the torque converter you are WAY overfilled. It should take about 6-8 quarts to replace what's in the pan.

Here's how you can change all of the fluid:Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles

Since this was written MERCON V has replaced MERCON.