In 1997 the 5.4L engine could be mated with either the 4R70W or the 4R100 automatic transmission. Check the Vehicle Cert. Label on the driver side door jam.
E=4R100
U=4R70W
Yes, you can have a quick lube shop flush the fluid. Personally, I would not trust anyone to perform this maintenance on my truck. It's very inexpensive to replace the fluid and filter yourself and also very easy.
Having a quick lube shop flush this fluid, you'll run the risk of having the wrong fluid and/or filter placed in the transmission. It's also expensive. Ford dealers charge around $129.00 to flush the fluid and around $149.00 to flush the fluid and change the filter. Even if you buy the 14 qts of fluid and the filter at a Ford dealer, the total would come out to around $60.00 for everything. Saves a lot of money and you'll know that everything was done correctly if you perform this maintenance yourself
Also: The type of fluid used is very important. If you have a 4R100 transmission, it
requires Mercon transmission fluid. The 4R70W on the other hand would have been filled with Mercon fluid at the factory, but should now be flushed and filled with
Mercon V transmission fluid. Ford began using Mercon V fluid in the 4R70W in 1998 to help cure/prevent transmission torque converter shudder.
4R100=Mercon fluid
4R70W=Mercon V fluid
The 4x4 models also have a deeper transmission pan and require a particular filter that has a longer neck. If you use a 4x2 filter in a 4x4 pan, the filter will not extend low enough into the pan to suck up the fluid.
I'd say do this yourself or make sure that whoever replaces the fluid is competent and knows which fluid and filter to use.
Trans Service..
Linear Mode
