Transmission fluid change questions

[Meynard]

I would recommend to pick up a pair of kevlar arm protection sleeves, they cover your arms and the back of your hands, but leave your fingers uncovered for use of dexterity. For someone who installed miles of 3 and 4 inch copper piping 40 feet in the air, they kept me from looking like The English Patient.

Sponsored

 

[TLO]

I'm looking at all the information on transmission fluid changes and it seems very involved and not as easy as the differentials or transfer case fluid changes. How many of you are actually draining the trans fluid and filling at the break in point and how many of you are waiting until the recommended mileage in the service manual, 30k 150k?
If doing it early, are you taking it somewhere or doing it yourself?

Is there even a service recommendation? I thought Ford made these so fluid changes were a thing of the past, if you can believe that.

 

[Crashingken]

Is there even a service recommendation? I thought Ford made these so fluid changes were a thing of the past, if you can believe that.

I'm sure Ford wants people to belive the trans fluid lasting the lifetime of the trans and I guess they would be correct. They just dont publish how long that lifetime will be. Im sure keeping the same oil forever will make the lifetime much shorter than changing it and giving it fresh fluid.

 

[Spiniker]

I'm looking at all the information on transmission fluid changes and it seems very involved and not as easy as the differentials or transfer case fluid changes. How many of you are actually draining the trans fluid and filling at the break in point and how many of you are waiting until the recommended mileage in the service manual, 30k 150k?
If doing it early, are you taking it somewhere or doing it yourself?

I took it to the dealer and got a complete service which includes dropping the pan and changing the filter plus flushing lines and cooler. Also cleaning around the solenoid and the magnet in the pan and the one near the solenoid. Done at 35k

 

[TPadden72]

Im sure keeping the same oil forever will make the lifetime much shorter than changing it and giving it fresh fluid.

Unless the objective is: it's perfectly good as is, so might as well "change it until it''s broke".

Tom

 

[Crashingken]

Unless the objective is: it's perfectly good as is, so might as well "change it until it''s broke".

Tom

You're right. I do remember hearing that Ford found the secret to permanent oil that never breaks down or needs changing. I think they found it on the Rosetta stone where they also found out how the pyramids were built. Unfortunately they destroyed the secret so they are actually the only people in the world that knows how to make permanent lifetime oil.
Machines are machines and maintaining fresh oil will always be the better option.

 

[23OBX2.7]

You're right. I do remember hearing that Ford found the secret to permanent oil that never breaks down or needs changing. I think they found it on the Rosetta stone where they also found out how the pyramids were built. Unfortunately they destroyed the secret so they are actually the only people in the world that knows how to make permanent lifetime oil.
Machines are machines and maintaining fresh oil will always be the better option.

It is possible to have permanent lifetime oil with five stage filtration, exceptional cooling, and lubes that cost $10,000 gal, beleive it or not haha.

 

[TPadden72]

Machines are machines and maintaining fresh oil will always be the better option.

That depends completely on which pyramid slave is doing the wrenching. Most pyramids have done fine while left alone.

Tom

 

[Bronco Don]

Ok guys, I have read everything I could on this transmission fluid change. I am not a mechanic and can not afford one either, so, my question is, can’t I just suck out the 5-6 quarts of fluid measure it and just put the same back in? And maybe do this a few weeks in a row to get as much changed as possible? I do not want to burn my arm off to check it at temp if I do not have to. So if I take 5 out and put 5 in I’m good.?

 

[Langwilliams]

Ok guys, I have read everything I could on this transmission fluid change. I am not a mechanic and can not afford one either, so, my question is, can’t I just suck out the 5-6 quarts of fluid measure it and just put the same back in? And maybe do this a few weeks in a row to get as much changed as possible? I do not want to burn my arm off to check it at temp if I do not have to. So if I take 5 out and put 5 in I’m good.?

I plan on doing that at 30K then dropping the pan and changing the filter at 60K. I'll try to not spill the fluid that's left in the pan to measure it.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

So if I take 5 out and put 5 in I’m good.?

As long as the 5 out and 5 in are the same temperature, that makes sense to me. I don’t know exactly how long a Bronco has to sit parked for the fluid to get to room temperature.

 

[Bronco Don]

Yes this makes sense to also , I can easily pump out 5 quarts and pump 5 quarts back in in a matter of 30 minutes or so if I do that, let’s say on a Sunday morning when the bronco has been sitting all weekend and I do that for three Sundays in a row, I should have quite a bit of the old fluid out I’ll not have to worry about burning myself, trying to check a hot transmission. I’m an old guy and I don’t wanna worry about burning my arm.

 

[Meynard]

Yes this makes sense to also , I can easily pump out 5 quarts and pump 5 quarts back in in a matter of 30 minutes or so if I do that, let’s say on a Sunday morning when the bronco has been sitting all weekend and I do that for three Sundays in a row, I should have quite a bit of the old fluid out I’ll not have to worry about burning myself, trying to check a hot transmission. I’m an old guy and I don’t wanna worry about burning my arm.

My only concern with this is if the fluid was underfilled or overfilled at the factory. I would at least have it checked by someone. I am 63 years old, and my skin is not as tough as it used to be, and kevlar arm sleeves is good protection for cuts and burns.

 

[Nc211]

My only concern with this is if the fluid was underfilled or overfilled at the factory. I would at least have it checked by someone. I am 63 years old, and my skin is not as tough as it used to be, and kevlar arm sleeves is good protection for cuts and burns.

If you're going to be pulling out the fluid (vs dropping the pan), then you're going to have the dipstick out anyways and the car is going to be cooled down. I'm not entirely sure how you're going to get that angle to work for an extraction method, I presume feed a tube up and over into the fill plug?

I've replaced several transmission fluids the way you're describing...replace what I removed. Only one I didn't get to do that with was on this Bronco, as I replaced the pan entirely with a different one that has a drain plug. When I do drain it next time (first time), I"ll be doing as you are....replace what I removed.

The fluid should be around the "6" mark when cold. But, before you start pulling out the old, just check it first to verify and then match it. You should be fine.

If you're pulling the pan to replace the filter (which, I do recommend if it's still the original filter, as it's still holding the initial wear-in materials from when brand new), then you're going to be around the 6 quarts needed mark for it. That's what mine was (I did it at 4k miles), had the level verified by the dealer to confirm ok, and have been fine ever since (now at 22k miles). That filter though....at 4k...was surprising dirty. Given these are NOT blowing up all over the place, I'm sure just purely cosmetic and nothing to worry about, but was glad to get that initial wear-in material out of there in general. If you're still on the original filter, it might be worth the consideration to go that route instead. It's not terribly hard, just takes some time and paying attention to the torque settings on the pan bolts when you reattach (that's really the only hard part about it). CarbonSteele has a great write-up about it on here.

 

[MC1313]

At the age of 60 I did my own trans service. I did change the pan with a PPE so next time all I have to do is remove the drain plug.
tips: use a transfer pump to suck out old fluid. Vevor sells them cheap
You can then measure the amount that came out.
note: if 6 qts came out don’t think to yourself that it’s a simple as adding 6 back in. I did this and when adding the last qt it started spilling out. Put 4 in and start it place trans in every gear.
only warm it a little bit. Then add the last 2 slowly.
also it’s not as bad to check fluid if your Bronco is lifted on 35’s
If not you can get up on jack stands for easier access.

Sponsored