Did you ask the service department at the local Ford dealer?

Did you look on the ford web site?

Jeff

well, at 86K miles ... you are coming up to the 90K miles R & R to all
subsystems.

with the auto tranny ... do the repair and replace thingy as required, might
be a tranmission filter in there to swap out - dunno.

however, if the transmission is solid, dry, no leaks ... (an do consider
swapping out the driveshaft bearings while you are down there and chalk mark
for exact replacement fit as it was balanced at the factory) I would
recommend that you use Chevrolet Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid.

It really is worth the cost as to what you get performance wise, it is
almost as good as Red Line products, but way cheaper.  Ford synthetics are a
bit more expensive and not as good IMO and all that rot.

With my experience, it took 400 miles for the tranmission I am working (3
speed diesel) with to adjust to the new Chevy synthetic tranmission fluid
... now it is real sweet to run and use.

sumbuddie hopes this helps

at 86k miles, you are rite about 50k miles overdue for a trans service.
if the trans is slipping, it is most likely shot. but if the fluid is
contaminated, you have nothing to loose by getting it serviced. you may get
a few years more out of it, it may go out tomorrow, or it may last forever.
it is a crap shoot.

I vote no

A transmission fluid exchange - yes... a "flush" using a chemical? -
emphaticly NO....

FWIW, the cooler and lines can be reverse flushed - the transmission,
however, cannot...

I know of shops that use their transmission "flushing" machine for fluid
exchanges (sans chemicals) - it speeds the job up and makes a messy task
much neater.

The workshop manual for 01 doesn't indicate the presence of a converter
drain plug.

Now.... for the bad news... your transmission is already "complaining"... A
fluid exchange is a MAINTENANCE operation - sadly, it sounds like there is
going to be a REPAIR operation in your future.

Well...  I dunno what Ford recommends but fresh clean fluid is always
better than old burned nasty fluid.  That said, at 86K miles you're
already overdue for a fluid change.  I personally would go ahead and do
it, but keep in mind that while it may make it operate correctly again,
it may not - and there is a possibility that a flush or fluid change may
break loose some varnish or other gunk inside there and make it operate
worse than it already does.  The only 100% sure way to fix the issues
you're having with your trans is to have it rebuilt by a reputable shop.
 That said you might as well try a fluid exchange (I would not
recommend a flush with anything other than the recommended ATF) and a
filter change and see what happens.

If it helps any I did have a fluid exchange and filter change done on my
F-150 with E4OD at 130K plus miles with no apparent ill effects (knock
wood.)  I knew it was a crapshoot but I figured I'd rather err on the
side of maintenance.  (I also changed every other fluid in the vehicle
save for the power steering; the latter simply because I haven't gotten
motivated to do it yet.  I am a big believer in a "drive it until it
rusts away to nothing" philosophy of car ownership, although I tend to
"trade up" my old beaters eventually anyhow.  Hopefully the subsequent
owners appreciate my efforts!  I also am a big believer in synthetics,
if no leaks are present.)

From here on out (and with any new car you get) you should really be
changing the fluid every 50K miles, if you keep the car that long - no
matter what the book says.  Just MHO.

No idea.

good luck,

nate

Well... it slipped again today just 3 days after a fluid exchange (flush).
Of the 3 times it has slipped now, it always does it with the first 2
minutes after leaving the driveway.  Seems like the colder winter weather is
partly to blame?  Damn... I hoped the flush would do it

I had the new filter put on today.  I noticed an immediate difference in the
shifting.  It is so smooth now I can barely feel it shift up or down.  It
used to knock or step into gear.  Now its a smooth slide. I hope that on the
next few cold mornings it wont slip anymore.  The mechanic even took digital
photos since I couldn't be there to see the pan when it came down.  Not much
debris, just a small pile of sludgy metal powder accumulated on the magnet.