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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Explorer / December 20042003 Mountaineer V8 Tranny Fluid Change
It's just not clear to me when the tranny needs to be flushed and how it's done and who can do it. Apparently it's now a sealed unit without a dipstick. The owner's manual is worthless...it says if you have THIS tranny (gives a code number), then change this often, if THAT tranny, than that often. How the hell do I know which tranny my vehicle has. There has to be someone reading this with some common sense on this issue. Can the tranny be flushed, SHOULD it be done, WHEN should it be done and WHERE can/should it be done? My vehicle now have 30,000 miles. Too soon? Your transmission is supposedly filled for life (unless, of course, we subject it to "severe" service... towing, temperature extremes- that sort of thing). In light of the many choices of ATF available and their incompatability with each other, this may not be that much nonsense. I'm no longer a big fan of chemical flushing though chemical flushing machines can be used for fluid exchanges withot the use of chemicals. I have come to believe that it is near impossible to rid the transmission of the flushing chemical and that many shops selling the service are trying to substitute Dexron/Mercon treated with some "miracle" ingredient as Mercon V substitutes. The process can be done manually but, unfortunately, filling your transmission takes either specialized equipment or a certain amount of mechanical creativity. Bear in mind that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and making a cock-up of a manual fluid exchange may ruin someones Xmas plans (read "get expensive"). If you haven't subjected the trans to any conditions that could be construed as 'abuse', you may be further ahead to leave well enough alone. A popular misconception is that "since one cooler line pumps fluid out, the other one must suck fluid in....". Rest assured that this is not the case and anyone trying that idea will be left with an empty transmission pan. Disclaimer... I work on a LOT more SuperDuties than Exs and our weather oscillates between temperate and freeze the balls off a brass monkey. > It's just not clear to me when the tranny needs to be flushed and how it's > done and who can do it. Apparently it's now a sealed unit without a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Can the tranny be flushed, SHOULD it be done, WHEN should it be done and > WHERE can/should it be done? My vehicle now have 30,000 miles. Too soon? So in plain english, are you saying to NEVER change the tranny fluid? > Your transmission is supposedly filled for life (unless, of course, we > subject it to "severe" service... towing, temperature extremes- that sort [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >> done and WHERE can/should it be done? My vehicle now have 30,000 miles. >> Too soon? Heavens, no.... I said FORD has stated your trans is lubed for life if used in "normal" service. I said DON'T use chemical flushing agents if using a flushing machine to exchange the fluid.. I said it is very difficult as a DIY project. Towing, temperature extremes, short trips that don't allow the transmission to come to operating temperature and extended periods of idling in gear (as in heavy traffic) would all move your usage into the realm of "severe service". For the 2003 Mountaineer, the WSM lists only the 5R55S transmission.... Jim, I do appreciate your advice here and I am not trying to be a smartarse. But I never mentioned doing it myself. Even if it could be done myself, I have no inclination to do so. I am merely asking WHEN to take it to the dealer (or a reputable shop) to have it done. The vehicle is now 27 months old/30,500 miles. > Heavens, no.... > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > For the 2003 Mountaineer, the WSM lists only the 5R55S transmission.... Sorry, D.D., I wasn't trying to come across quite the way you think.... there's lots of other people reading these questions and answers... some of them may need the extra advice or opinion.... Besides, you didn't say you WEREN'T going to do it yourself either - I have no way of knowing. If I hadn't spoken of it's difficulty level.... someone, somewhere would surely try and then return to give me "what for" for not mentioning it... > Jim, I do appreciate your advice here and I am not trying to be a > smartarse. But I never mentioned doing it myself. Even if it could be done > myself, I have no inclination to do so. I am merely asking WHEN to take it > to the dealer (or a reputable shop) to have it done. The vehicle is now 27 > months old/30,500 miles. Hi Jim, I took your advice and got my tranny fluid changed/serviced on my 01 Exp-Sport. While I was there I did ask the Ford dealer what the story was with the 50k/250KKm on the "Service Guide". He said that this particular 5sp tranny had many extreamly small passages which are susseptable to clogging with normal debree buildup within the transmission. He said that once the filter screen is full, the bypass valve opens and thereby accelerates the possibility of internal abraisions causing addittional debree and eventually shifting issues. He indicated this is the reason why he even gets work from when the quick flush lube shops do there thing. Reasoning is the flushing action stirs up the debree without replaceing the filter, which may already be in bypass mode. As for the service at 30KMiles or 50KKm, I found it quite usefull getting a quick report on an inspection of the innards and the condition of the oil coming out of the tranny. The cost,$190cdn taxes in may sound expensive, but the way I see it, changing the fuid every two years is no more than I spend on motor oil changes, but may prevent a really expensive tranny service. > It's just not clear to me when the tranny needs to be flushed and how it's > done and who can do it. Apparently it's now a sealed unit without a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Can the tranny be flushed, SHOULD it be done, WHEN should it be done and > WHERE can/should it be done? My vehicle now have 30,000 miles. Too soon? More and more I see this a lot in new cars, where the tranny is sealed and no dipstick. But I still think a tranny fluid change at 30K is the way to go and it can't hurt, especially if you do a lot of stop and go and towing. I remember I used to change the tranny on all my cars at 30K. Never had a problem. I also remember when I used to change oil and filter every 1000 miles and used non-detergent oil. I agree that frequent changes are not likely to hurt so long as done using the proper fluid, but why take a chance on fouling something up if a fluid change is not necessary? >> It's just not clear to me when the tranny needs to be flushed and how it's >> done and who can do it. Apparently it's now a sealed unit without a [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >and towing. I remember I used to change the tranny on all my cars at >30K. Never had a problem. |
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