Change Driveline Fluids Early!

[N8do]

Seeing how the Ford diff covers are on perpetual backorder....save a few bucks and went with a Ten Factory. Oil was not bad at 20K, but had a nice bit on the magnets. Like the looks and with the hardware suggestions from CarbonSteel, the armor was able to be used and stock brake line brackets.

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[N8do]

i was quoted $360 to change transmission fluid at my local dealer

Didn’t do it though. Was just asking

I received a similar yet larger estimate....thus a PPE pan and fluid sitting in my shop. Waiting for weather and and a few more miles to make it happen.

 

[JL724]

Coming up on 30k miles and after reading this thread booked an appointment to have the front axle, rear axle and transfer case fluids changed (in addition to normal 30k mile oil change and air filter). Did not opt to do the automatic transmission at this point.

Dealer ended up charging me $650 for the front differential, rear differential, transfer case and engine air filter. Not awful, but not great either. They seemed to be against doing the transmission fluid, which I found a bit odd.

Due for a new set of tires next year, so will probably do pads and brake fluid at the same time.

 

[N8do]

Dealer ended up charging me $650 for the front differential, rear differential, transfer case and engine air filter. Not awful, but not great either. They seemed to be against doing the transmission fluid, which I found a bit odd.

Due for a new set of tires next year, so will probably do pads and brake fluid at the same time.

The transmission and filter is on a scheduled 30K, in some forums. It is a good idea to do it then, due to initial break in and if being used off pavement. My dealership said every 30K was suggested at about $350 to $400 for them to service. I decided to do it at 22K, so I could ensure fluid condition and install a PPE pan with drain plug. The pan is aluminum and my hopes are to flush regularly and keep it cooler with the additional capacity and heat sinking of the pan.
I also did my rear dif in the same manner with the cover having magnetic plugs and drain. Im planning on keeping this thing running as long as I can keep driving. The electronics are going to be the issue then.
The front dif and transfer case are cake! It's easy and quick. The transmission takes a whole afternoon.

 

[murphtron]

Late to the party. Did the front & rear diffs and xfer case at 65k. The magnets on front & rear (especially rear) has a lot of metal paste. Fluid was dark. Xfer case was easy but made a mess as I couldn’t remove the xfer skid ( asfir trans skid was so deformed I couldn’t remove. Another day)

I used redline 75-140. I could not use the pump attachment to move the fluid due to the narrow neck on red line bottles. Using a syringe was extremely difficult due to the fluid weight. I gotta find a better way as it was painful to suck up each 200cc. Any ideas? I’ll use Amsoil or something where I can connect a pump. But the fluid weight still makes me wonder if a pump will work. It’s thick!!

Mercon LV was easy for xfer case. Despite the mess.

also did my oil but neglected to take a sample to test. Next time?!

front diff only took 0.8 liters before it started draining from fill hole. Maybe the angle didn’t allow all fluid to drain? It was level on a lift. Is that odd?

Also added a Ronin oil drain plug. Not sure if that’s good or bad. I’m sort of annoyed that I need to keep track of a drain plug threaded thingy. Didn’t know that when I bought it. My mistake.

I had a Ford service contract that ended. So I’m on my own. My dealer was great. But when they quoted me $250 for an oil change I already knew I’d be doing it myself.

Fortunately a DIY garage space with lift rental opened near me. My personal time is cheap these days. So 4+ hours didn’t matter much. The oem skids are easy to remove. The Asfir skids with recessed bolts… not so much. They had been bashed and shifted and some wouldn’t take a socket. So I had to Dremel around them. Note to self: @Snacktime is correct. Recessed skid bolts suck. Exposed are easier to remove even when mangled. A little Dremel shaving on the bolt head works better than trying to create space in a recessed cup. My Dremel was burning my hands.

 

[Thatguylegit69]

Also added a Ronin oil drain plug. I’m sort of annoyed that I need to keep track of a drain plug threaded thingy. Didn’t know that when I bought it. My mistake.

Its a good drain plug. A very odd thing to complain about, but you do you.

Just keep the Plug Threaded Thingy™️ in the back, where the jack is stored. Solved that problem.

 

[murphtron]

Its a good drain plug. A very odd thing to complain about, but you do you.

Just keep the Plug Threaded Thingy™️ in the back, where the jack is stored. Solved that problem.

Like I said, I’m not sold on Ronin convenience (yet). Having to keep track of yet another “thing” to thread in to drain the oil makes me anxious. That’s just me. It’s a very well built plug. I don’t regret it (yet). I didn’t expect I’d need to carry another part that is easily lost.

I equate it to a wheel lock. Sounds good in principal. Yet YouTube demonstrates it’s a false security. And it’s a pain anytime you need to replace/rotate/fix a tire. So I’ve removed wheel locks. Unfortunately my new Method wheels require a tool to remove the lug nuts… so I’ve gained nothing. Oh well such is life.

Not bashing anything. It’s the rambling of an old guy who creates calendar events for things, eg Property Taxes Due. So I don’t forget. Heh.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

I was going to do the transmission fluid and filter at 30k, but… surprise! I’m getting a new transmission and transfer case instead. Guess I’ll be doing that fluid change at about 59k. I’ll probably have the dealer do the diffs at 30k when I get back from my road trip. Assuming they get the Bronco back to me in time for the trip next week. They say they will…

 

[userdude]

It’s the rambling of an old guy who creates calendar events for things, eg Property Taxes Due. So I don’t forget. Heh.

It's a plot that my work email calendar sends reminders and my gmail account that I've had for 23 years does not. Imeen, how am I ever gonna leave for greener pastures? My entire life is setup on 9:30 and 9:45 reminders sprinkled throughout the year and I break out in a sweat just thinking about losing all those birthday and bill reminders... lol

 

[userdude]

Its a good drain plug. A very odd thing to complain about, but you do you.

Just keep the Plug Threaded Thingy™️ in the back, where the jack is stored. Solved that problem.

I find it odd that you're so put out by him complaining about that.

 

[Returntothefog]

Late to the party. Did the front & rear diffs and xfer case at 65k. The magnets on front & rear (especially rear) has a lot of metal paste. Fluid was dark. Xfer case was easy but made a mess as I couldn’t remove the xfer skid ( asfir trans skid was so deformed I couldn’t remove. Another day)

I used redline 75-140. I could not use the pump attachment to move the fluid due to the narrow neck on red line bottles. Using a syringe was extremely difficult due to the fluid weight. I gotta find a better way as it was painful to suck up each 200cc. Any ideas? I’ll use Amsoil or something where I can connect a pump. But the fluid weight still makes me wonder if a pump will work. It’s thick!!

Mercon LV was easy for xfer case. Despite the mess.

also did my oil but neglected to take a sample to test. Next time?!

front diff only took 0.8 liters before it started draining from fill hole. Maybe the angle didn’t allow all fluid to drain? It was level on a lift. Is that odd?

Also added a Ronin oil drain plug. Not sure if that’s good or bad. I’m sort of annoyed that I need to keep track of a drain plug threaded thingy. Didn’t know that when I bought it. My mistake.

I had a Ford service contract that ended. So I’m on my own. My dealer was great. But when they quoted me $250 for an oil change I already knew I’d be doing it myself.

Fortunately a DIY garage space with lift rental opened near me. My personal time is cheap these days. So 4+ hours didn’t matter much. The oem skids are easy to remove. The Asfir skids with recessed bolts… not so much. They had been bashed and shifted and some wouldn’t take a socket. So I had to Dremel around them. Note to self: @Snacktime is correct. Recessed skid bolts suck. Exposed are easier to remove even when mangled. A little Dremel shaving on the bolt head works better than trying to create space in a recessed cup. My Dremel was burning my hands.

Are you referring to the garage pass co thing in Oakland? How was the experience, did u just do day pass?

 

[murphtron]

Are you referring to the garage pass co thing in Oakland? How was the experience, did u just do day pass?

Great experience. My second visit. I bring my own tools. But I needed a couple things which they let me borrow.

I have a $70/mth membership. But I have two other cars that need some work. I’ll probably keep it for a couple more months and then may cancel for a few months. There’s no lockin. You can cancel and resubscribe later.

 

[crenca]

Note to self: @Snacktime is correct. Recessed skid bolts suck.

Yep, I had the allegedly 'protecting' sleeve thingy's that came with my transmission skid on for a bit but the first oil change one was already needing work before I could get a socket on it....

 

[Returntothefog]

Great experience. My second visit. I bring my own tools. But I needed a couple things which they let me borrow.

I have a $70/mth membership. But I have two other cars that need some work. I’ll probably keep it for a couple more months and then may cancel for a few months. There’s no lockin. You can cancel and resubscribe later.

Nice, been using my inlaws drive way on weekends (I rent in frisco, no personal space) to do all my maintenance (did axle fluid and regular oil change and rotation etc, will do trans and transfer case in coming weeks). Figure I will use this in the future for bigger tasks like coil overs etc.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

I was going to do the transmission fluid and filter at 30k, but… surprise! I’m getting a new transmission and transfer case instead. Guess I’ll be doing that fluid change at about 59k. I’ll probably have the dealer do the diffs at 30k when I get back from my road trip. Assuming they get the Bronco back to me in time for the trip next week. They say they will…

For context, this was because I failed the inspection for the recall below.

I don’t want to give the impression that I’m broken up about it. The bad part has been not having my Bronco for 4 weeks while the whole evaluation, parts ordering and repair process plays out. Assuming that the replacement is done properly and all is good, it’s hard to complain about resetting the clock on my transmission and transfer case back to zero at no cost to me.

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