Transmission Flush, or simple drain and fill?

[slides]

Dealer told me $650 for a 30k service which includes “cleaning the brakes” – never heard or done that in my life, tranny flush, and checking the air filters, obviously I told him F%&# NO I’m not paying/doing that, especially when ford says the tranny fluid is good for 150k. I can wrench on my own cars and have been for years, but one thing I can’t do is a tranny flush.

 

Of you that have done the tranny flush how much did you pay and where? And is it possible to do it at home? This is my first automatic, I have always had manuals, so when I have done tranny fluid in the past it’s a drain and fill.

[akirby]

Last time I checked the dealer was charging about $175 to exchange the fluid via the cooler lines.  This gets 95% of the old fluid out including the torque converter and doesn't use chemicals or high pressure.   30K is a little soon, most people do 60K.   The factory 150K recommendation is ridiculous.

[slides]

RIght I agree that 150k is too high, for $175-200 ill just pay to have it done, easier then messing with it at home and buying supplies. 

[erikrichard]

I would just dump and fill rather than pay for a flush, it's stupid easy since there isn't a filter to replace. I watched this video and did mine in a few minutes.

 

[akirby]

The downside is that only gets part of the fluid.  You have to do it multiple times to even get 80% of the old fluid out.  But it is simple.

 

Where do you guys dispose of the used fluid?

[1004ron]

11 minutes ago, akirby said:

The downside is that only gets part of the fluid.  You have to do it multiple times to even get 80% of the old fluid out.  But it is simple.

 

Where do you guys dispose of the used fluid?

I  take  all oils to AutoZone.

 

I plan on doing the dump and fill method at around 60K mi.

On the Sport 2.7L Its damn awkward to get to the fill/level cap - most likely have to run it with the air intake hoses removed.

Edited February 18, 2019 by 1004ron

[akirby]

I knew they took used motor oil but wasn't sure about other fluids.  Thanks.

[slides]

I just mix all of mine together brake fluid, diff, tranny, motor oil, its all petroleum based and most of it get burned here in Minnesota for heat. 

 

I have done the drain on fill on previous cars.

[evh]

I have to second the drain and fill approach. ?

 

I was real happy to see that Ford put a drain plug on my 2009 and also still left a dipstick/fill tube.  Mine takes Mercon V.  I purchased it used in 2010 with 64,000 miles on it.  Every year since I have drained it and filled it.  It takes 5.5 quarts every time.  I look for the fluid I like to use on sale and buy 6 quarts for $30 - $35 each year.  A small price to pay.  The drain and fill is actually easier then an oil change since the drain plug is so close to the front.  No jacking up the vehicle.  Simply drain, and fill.  I have a fluid extraction vacuum pump and suck out the power steering fluid and put the remaining 1/2 quart in the power steering pump (it also specify's Mercon V).  Roll forward to today (Feb/2019) and my Edge has 225,000 miles on it and the transmission and power steering unit have never had a repair and still work like new.

 

Oddly, when I bought the vehicle new in September of 2010 it already had the transmission fluid replaced.  The owner (corporate vehicle -  Salesman) had all his work done at a Valvoline quickie lube shop.  Not the first place I would have chosen.  My bet is they used Valvoline Max-Life transmission fluid (the paper work didn't say what they use).  Even more oddly was they also replaced all the antifreeze.  The paper work on both did not indicate how they did the service.  In 2010 I would guess it would have been some type of fluid extraction device rather then a straight drain and fill. 

 

I have also take the drain and fill approach on my antifreeze every other year using a premixed global lifetime fluid.  I use that type of fluid vs the Motorcraft specific fluid because I am sure that the quickie lube place did not go get Motorcraft specific fluid.  I am sure they used some type of "fits all" fluid.

 

We all know I have jinxed myself.  Today I will be driving and my transmission will lockup at the same type my steering goes out and my car overheats. ?

 

Finally, I take my fluids (the tranny fluid is mixed in with the regular oil) to an Advanced Auto Parts retailer.  We actually have a local business that will take the antifreeze for free.  

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Drain and Fill 3x is an official, factory approved procedure, in case anyone is having second thoughts.  Still difficult on the 6F35, but not bad at all on the 6F50/55.

[akirby]

Just to clarify - the fluid exchange method at the dealership is not necessarily a flush and clean - it doesn't use chemicals and doesn't use force - it uses the internal transmission pump to exchange old fluid for new fluid so there should be no side effects other than lightening your wallet.

[evh]

Anyone know what a dealership charges to do the official 3X drain and fill procedure?  Or to use the "fluid exchange" method that akirby just mentioned?  Curious what the bill would be.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

have not heard of a dealership doing the 3x procedure.  A fluid exchange is typically between $150-200, depending on area.  Including fluid.

[Vortechtral]

Hey, so I never really thought about it till it was "too late"  Has 180k KMs (around 111k miles) but nearly all highway driving.  Shifts like a dream still at all speeds, and in reverse.  Would it be safe to still change the fluid, or would this cause slipping to occur?  I know its WAY past what I should have done it by, and I would like to fix my problems of being dumb and doing nothing.  I assume the answers will be "change at your own risk" as there probably is no clear answer, id think anyway.  However who knows, maybe I will get lucky and someone will tell me it will be okay!  But yeah, over 95% of driving is all highway, with only a small bit in a small city/large town?  No real stop and go traffic ever, go prairies!

 

Any help would be of great help, thanks.

Michael

[fishx65]

I wouldn't have a fluid exchange done but wouldn't hesitate to do a quick drain and refill once or twice.  I'f I remember correctly,  a drain gets about 5 quarts out.

[1004ron]

8 hours ago, fishx65 said:

I wouldn't have a fluid exchange done but wouldn't hesitate to do a quick drain and refill once or twice.  I'f I remember correctly,  a drain gets about 5 quarts out.

I'd recommend the same.

 

I did multiple drain and fill just last week at 46K miles, and each drain was a fraction over 4 quarts.

 

I used almost 12 - 13 quarts - last quart was used to top off and get level exact.

[Vortechtral]

No I was never going to do an exchange, just a drain and fill.  I wish I started long time go, and wasn't such a blind doofus to it.  

[akirby]

13 hours ago, Vortechtral said:

No I was never going to do an exchange, just a drain and fill.  I wish I started long time go, and wasn't such a blind doofus to it.  

 

Just remember a drain and fill only gets about 1/3 of the fluid at a time.

[mike dexter]

On 9/18/2019 at 10:53 PM, fishx65 said:

I wouldn't have a fluid exchange done but wouldn't hesitate to do a quick drain and refill once or twice.  I'f I remember correctly,  a drain gets about 5 quarts out.

 

Agreed.  You will get the benefit of some new fluid, and hopefully avoid the sudden shock of 100% new fluid.  If your transmission has no problems, then drain and refill again.

 

When I drain, I get about 5 quarts.  

[erikrichard]

Ford's maintenance schedule says to replace fluid for the first time at 150k miles. Not sure if it's a good idea to wait so long, but there it is. I'd drain/refill without any hesitation whatsoever if I were you.

[Vortechtral]

Well, its nice that my transmission is of the year they still have dipsticks.  It also pleases me that the fluid on the dipstick is a nice red color, with no smell.  I heard things that if your fluid stinks then you don't change it.  I'd have thought that the fluid would have been all black after this long.  But for it to be a nice clean red color still makes me happy.  Fingers crossed the fluid coming out of the drain hole will also be a nice red color!  Ill be picking up some fluid on Wednesday, and do a drain on Thursday.  Let it go for maybe a month, then do another if no slipping occurs.  Thanks for the help.

[TNEdgeOwner]

On 9/23/2019 at 12:37 PM, Vortechtral said:

Well, its nice that my transmission is of the year they still have dipsticks.  It also pleases me that the fluid on the dipstick is a nice red color, with no smell.  I heard things that if your fluid stinks then you don't change it.  I'd have thought that the fluid would have been all black after this long.  But for it to be a nice clean red color still makes me happy.  Fingers crossed the fluid coming out of the drain hole will also be a nice red color!  Ill be picking up some fluid on Wednesday, and do a drain on Thursday.  Let it go for maybe a month, then do another if no slipping occurs.  Thanks for the help.

You are buying correct Motorcraft fluid, correct??

[1004ron]

On 9/23/2019 at 12:37 PM, Vortechtral said:

Well, its nice that my transmission is of the year they still have dipsticks.  It also pleases me that the fluid on the dipstick is a nice red color, with no smell.  I heard things that if your fluid stinks then you don't change it.  I'd have thought that the fluid would have been all black after this long.  But for it to be a nice clean red color still makes me happy.  Fingers crossed the fluid coming out of the drain hole will also be a nice red color!  Ill be picking up some fluid on Wednesday, and do a drain on Thursday.  Let it go for maybe a month, then do another if no slipping occurs.  Thanks for the help.

The bold part - isn't it the opposite?

 

Would have been great if you could replace the filter on this model.

 

Edited September 25, 2019 by 1004ron

[akirby]

1 hour ago, 1004ron said:

Would have been great if you could replace the filter on this model.

 

 

Any transmission engineer will tell you that if your filter needs to be changed that your tranny is already toast.

[Vortechtral]

On 9/25/2019 at 3:54 PM, TNEdgeOwner said:

You are buying correct Motorcraft fluid, correct??

Yessir, went to the dealership and got 10 liters of Mercon LV.  Now I have plenty for next time as well, and a bit extra in case some kind of accident happens!  I also have an idea to why my fluid was still so very cherry red and clean.  My PTU was defunked and they had to put a new one in when the vehicle was still under warranty, so they changed the fluid around i think it was about 70k kilometers, so without me actually doing anything and being dumb, it still got changed and I had nothing to worry about.  I'm just happy that the fluid coming out was a rich red and not brown/black!