Trans fluid change
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
Trans fluid change
well, i heard about this the other. A friend changes out his transmission fluid every 10k miles. he buys two gallons, drains it and fills it back up? For one i wouldnt do it this way. But nayway, when there is about 4-5 gallons of tranny fluid in there and u are only changing two gallons, if the rest of your fluid is contaminated, then u are contaminating the new stuff.
Anyway, whats everyones take on this process? If i had a built trans i would only Flush the fluid out every 30-40K miles. not change it out like this. And he is using "cheap" trans fluid.
Anyway, whats everyones take on this process? If i had a built trans i would only Flush the fluid out every 30-40K miles. not change it out like this. And he is using "cheap" trans fluid.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
Hey Ken, Eugene had a writeup or commented in a post, can't remember which but he said just draining the pan every 15,000 and replacing with fresh fluid, but don't quote me. I would just do a full flush and refill every 30,000. There's a way to do it that Mark Kovolesky does it but I just pay for a shop to do it, it can be a messy job and its just easier for me to have it done.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,093
Likes: 147
From: San Diego, CA
Here's the link (it's in the FTE Articles/Specs section in the header):
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles
This is what I used when I first bought my truck. It's been over 2 years (and 45K miles) now and everything's good. I haven't decided whether to do that again soon or to just do a drain/fill on the pan a few times (a lot less mess and I don't need a second person). I've heard several people say that they only do drain and fills and have had no problems. Hopefully somebody will chime in.
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles
This is what I used when I first bought my truck. It's been over 2 years (and 45K miles) now and everything's good. I haven't decided whether to do that again soon or to just do a drain/fill on the pan a few times (a lot less mess and I don't need a second person). I've heard several people say that they only do drain and fills and have had no problems. Hopefully somebody will chime in.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
From: Ponca City, OK
This is basically the process I perform for all my vehicles. Around 30,000 miles I drain the transmission fluid just after driving, while it is still hot. While hot the fluid it is containing some possible contaminents that will drain out with the oil. Then I refill with the Motorcraft fluid recommended in the manual. While this procedure does not replace all the fluid it still blends in fresh oil.
I will change out the transmission filter at 90,000 miles, which also only replaces about a third of the total fluid volume.
Never liked taking a vehicle to a shop for such a minor process. I have seen the type of folks the shops hire to perform these low technical services! And besides, never understood the benefit of having the transimission "flushed" if it already has good fluid.
I will change out the transmission filter at 90,000 miles, which also only replaces about a third of the total fluid volume.
Never liked taking a vehicle to a shop for such a minor process. I have seen the type of folks the shops hire to perform these low technical services! And besides, never understood the benefit of having the transimission "flushed" if it already has good fluid.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
Yea, im more of a trans flush kind of guy. I just dont see why someone would waste money on a cheap transmission fluid on a built transmission. but thats just me. Maybe his process doesnt hurt it, but i prefer putting clean fluid thru the whole system, not changing out two gallons at a time
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 6
From: BLT, MN
Here's the link (it's in the FTE Articles/Specs section in the header):
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles
This is what I used when I first bought my truck. It's been over 2 years (and 45K miles) now and everything's good. I haven't decided whether to do that again soon or to just do a drain/fill on the pan a few times (a lot less mess and I don't need a second person). I've heard several people say that they only do drain and fills and have had no problems. Hopefully somebody will chime in.
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles
This is what I used when I first bought my truck. It's been over 2 years (and 45K miles) now and everything's good. I haven't decided whether to do that again soon or to just do a drain/fill on the pan a few times (a lot less mess and I don't need a second person). I've heard several people say that they only do drain and fills and have had no problems. Hopefully somebody will chime in.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,093
Likes: 147
From: San Diego, CA
I didn't have enough tubing to see it from the driver's side so a second person turning the ignition key as I watched the line helped. Next time I'll rig it up so that I can do it all myself. You are right, though. It is very simple, especially if you're not pulling the pan off the bottom (and it's less messy too (even with the drain plug in the deep pan)!
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