Transmission Filter and Fluid Change

[MrSkunks]

So I’m nearing 114,000 miles now and a still a bit torn on wether or not to do a fluid/filter change on the transmission. Not a whole flush. I called my local Ford dealership recently and asked what the cost was, they basically told me it wasn’t possible to change the filter and that it’s a lifetime fill.

Mines a 2014 and had some sort of warranty work on the transmission at like 60,000 miles, maybe something with the valve. So at a minimum it seems some fluid was replaced. If I don’t change the fluid, when am I realistically going to start having problems? Soon or at 200,000 miles, 300,000 or never? Full flush or partial?

At low speed, placed in park on an incline, or if placed in park when the wheels touch the curb/parking stop, I get a clunk when shifting into gear. Slip yoke I’m assuming. What’s the cost to grease it up? Am I going to call the Ford dealer and be told they don’t know what that is.

 

[Sozzy12]

I had my dealer do a flush at 75,000 miles. Cheaper than a new trans.

 

[MrSkunks]

Here’s the service carfax showed me

 

[EmbDriver]

drop the pan, change the filter, and replace what fluid you lost with new.....

 

[John813]

Your dealership has a lazy advisor.

Try another one. Had my S.A. do the filter and pan on my first raptor with no questions asked cause they got paid to do it lol.

 

[B E N]

It's a slightly messy job but easy enough, you need sockets, extensions ratchet, fluid pump (cheap one works fine), fluid and drain pan, don't even need to jack the truck up. Knock it out!

If your not handy just about any place that does automotive service will be glad to take your money to do this. Gasket is reusable steel core rubber so leaks shouldn't be an issue.

 

[MrSkunks]

Called my local dealer again and they said they don’t drop the pan and change the filter.

the only they do is a “reverse flush” which apparently replaces all the fluid and somehow cleans the filter in the process. They want $220 for the job.

Does a “reverse flush” sound legit without changing the filter? Is it worth doing or just find another shop that will just drop the pan and change the filter.

 

[EmbDriver]

Called my local dealer again and they said they don’t drop the pan and change the filter.

the only they do is a “reverse flush” which apparently replaces all the fluid and somehow cleans the filter in the process. They want $220 for the job.

Does a “reverse flush” sound legit without changing the filter? Is it worth doing or just find another shop that will just drop the pan and change the filter.

I'd find another shop, but that is me

 

[MrSkunks]

Called a couple others for the just the drop, filter and about 4qts, quoting me in the low $300s. Seems very high. I guess I’ll keep looking

 

[Ruger]

Go to O'Reilly's with your VIN and have them give you the filter according to the VIN. If you go to other auto parts stores with just the standard make/model/year information they may offer you several different filters. I experienced that first-hand.

It's a messy job as @B E N indicated. I used three drain pans and still made a mess. It takes way, WAY more replacement fluid than 4 quarts. Whoever told you that has never done it. As to the shop who told you that the trans has a lifetime filter, he lied to you. They just don't want to get their hands burned.

There is a real technique to it, too. First off, you need a glove that you don't mind sacrificing. The "dipstick" if you can call it that is so close to the exhaust system that you will absolutely suffer third degree burns if you don't wear a glove, and you will get burned anyway - just not as severely - if you do wear a glove. The last time I was down there I used a glove with five layers of duct tape wrapped around the knuckles and I still got burned.

There is a cold fluid level test and a hot fluid level test. Both require you to be under the truck while it's running. You fill the transmission with a certain amount of fluid, start it, run it through the gears, and then with it running you check the fluid - the cold test. Then you add more fluid and drive it until the transmission comes to full operating temperature and check it again - the hot test. If you don't get burned doing the cold test you will get burned doing the hot test.

At the mileage you posted your truck's transmission is way overdue for service. I did mine at 45,000 miles and I was very glad that I did. The fluid smelled burned and was quite dark, and there was particulate matter coating the inside of the pan and the outside of the filter.