synthetic or plain fluid
 

I need to get the trans fluid and filter changed in my 03 expy xlt 4x4 with 82,000 miles. should i go to synthetic or just stick with regular ? i would like to go with synthetic, but it is pricey !

If you think synthetic is expensive, try a tranny rebuild. ;)

Isn't mercon V synthetic

Drain, flush, change filter, and refill with the recommended fluid only. It should be on the trans dip stick.

My Expy is at 297,000 miles. I still use the mfg recommended fluid.
I change out my tranny fluid every 50k although the mfg recommends every 35k.
Since I only empty the pan and change out the filter, I don't get the converter emptied. I know that means I only change about 50-60% of the total fluid per change but feel it does the job and decided to not go synthetic.
So far, so good.
Knock on wood.

My '06 F-150 just turned 50K and I changed the filter and gave it a full flush yesterday. $90 for 16 qts of Valvoline Mercon V and $20 for a Motorcraft filter. Flushing is very easy if you have the right stuff (large 20 qt pan, 3/8 " ID clear tubing, and a few extra rags) and I always get 2-3 extra quarts for a clean flush. It takes about a half hour, so it's a 2 beer job :-drink

LV2race,
Is there a drain plug on the converter that I'm not seeing?

I don't touch the converter, I let the pump do the work. Mark a 14 qt line on the side of a 20+ qt pan. I remove the rear (inlet) line on the passenger side of the trans, connect the clear tubing and put the other end in the 20 qt pan on the floor weighing down the hose in the pan, start the car and let it run till the hose spits, maybe a minute or two. Then I drop the pan and remove whats left, clean the pan, trans gasket surface, magnet, reusable gasket, and change the filter. Replace and torque the bolts, I think 10-11 ft lbs but I would confirm in the manual. Add 4 qts of fluid thru the dip stick, start and let run for 20 seconds, shut off, add and repeat. If your fluid is real dirty, you will see a noticeable difference in color as it's pumping out. When it gets close to the 14 qt line on the pan, you are almost done. I pump out extra and have 3 extra qts just for that reason. Attach the line to the trans, start and let it idle while you clean up. Go thru the gears at idle then check the fluid. Take it for a drive manually going thru the gears then check fluid level again. If you overfill, you just remove the rear line and pump some out. I've read where people drop the pan to remove fluid, but that is messy and you have to remove and re-torque bolts. Removing the line is a 5/8" wrench. Sorry for the long winded post. I could have done another flush in the time spent typing this :-X04

LV,
Sounds like you have quite a system.
If it's the return line removed, are you empting the tranny cooler or the converter in that minute or two?
Do you feel like you have completely replaced all the tranny fluid?

The first flush I'm guessing pumps out 6-8 qts, add 3-4 qts ONLY then pump out 3-4 qts and repeat. When I get to the 14 qt line in the pan on the floor, I know it's almost completely flushed. I pump out a couple more qts and I consider it complete. The rear line is the last point before fluid returns to the trans, so almost everything gets flushed out. That's why I have a few extra quarts to get it to run clean. In the past on other cars, I just dropped the pan, changed the filter and fluid that drained out. That to me is like changing 2 of the 6 qts of engine oil, it's not a complete fluid change.

I just use what is recommended by the manufacturer. But then I service the transmission more often than most people do. Clean fluid is better than expensive, burnt, and dirty fluid.