2003 F150 w 4R70w

[jrudicel]

My truck now has 19,000 miles and am going to be pulling a trailer soon. Is it a good idea to change the tranny fluid regularly in these? I am anal about oil changes and such, and thats why I ask. Anything I need to look for in particular and what about mods to make these last longer? Seems they may not be super heavy duty anyways...lol and the shifts are pretty soft when stabbing into it. I am pretty sure mine has a tranny cooler on it with the tow package it has. How much fluid for a filter change and what brands of fluid are best if any? I know its Mercon V, but didnt know if brands matter. Lastly, anyone have a "whine" type noise in their truck? A guy told me once it sounded like a low gear noise, but kinda sounds almost like a low poer steering pump whine. Can hear it when going through a parking lot slow. Kinda weird. Anyway, thanks for any info!

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[dirtyd0g]

I would suggest you check that converter for a drain plug and install one if it doesn't already have it. Draining all of the fluid is the best service you can do. That and it would be easy to do yourself if it had a drain plug. I don't know where you are located in indiana,but I am near cincinnati if you want someone to drill it for you. Lockup may be your worst problem when the time comes I can show you how to cure that as well.
Alan

[farmerD44]

yeah, I have a low whine type noise in mine as well sometimes at low speeds through the parking lot- happens in first and second gear i think. it doesnt always make the noise so dont really know what it is. But it seems to work great. I only have 7000 miles on mine tho.

Dan.

[jrudicel]

Originally posted by dirtyd0g
I would suggest you check that converter for a drain plug and install one if it doesn't already have it. Draining all of the fluid is the best service you can do. That and it would be easy to do yourself if it had a drain plug. I don't know where you are located in indiana,but I am near cincinnati if you want someone to drill it for you. Lockup may be your worst problem when the time comes I can show you how to cure that as well.
Alan

Thanks. I will check that out. If it doesnt have one, do you just drill and tap it for a pipe plug like a 1/8 NPT or ? I live in North Vernon, which is due west of Cincinnati about 60 miles on highway 50 past lawrenceburg and versailles. I appreciate the offer, I will keep that in mind. I know how these Fords are sometimes, thats why I posted. I just got rid of my 95 Thunderbird with a V8 and I had done the Trans Go kit in it, B/M cooler, and the new accumulator pistons deal, and a bad MLS(?) switch. It was still goin at over 100,000 , but probably wouldnt have without those "fixes". Figured the trucks may have some qirks as well. Thanks for the help!

[jrudicel]

Originally posted by farmerD44
yeah, I have a low whine type noise in mine as well sometimes at low speeds through the parking lot- happens in first and second gear i think. it doesnt always make the noise so dont really know what it is. But it seems to work great. I only have 7000 miles on mine tho.

Dan.

Glad to know it wasnt just me hearing thing! Kinda annoying when going slow through lots etc.

[dirtyd0g]

Yes it is an 1/8 inch pipe tap.
Alan

[jrudicel]

Thanks Dirty. I'll have to grab a tap at work(I am a machinist) and check it out and tap it if it isnt. Thanks a bunch.

[fordninja]

All 4r70w's have drain plugs on the torque converter. Don't make the mistake of drilling another one. Just remove the small round dust cover on the bell housing and turn the torque converter with a pry bar until the plug appears.

[justy3099]

not to flame, but my 2002 4r70w DOES NOT have a drain on the tc. . .

[dirtyd0g]

Many do not have drain plugs but you always need to check. It seems to be a hit and miss thing for some odd reason.
Alan

[casey_1]

Originally posted by fordninja
All 4r70w's have drain plugs on the torque converter.

Ford stopped installing them near the start of the 2002 model year. A few early 2002s had them, everything since then does not.

[dirtyd0g]

Even that doesn't apply as some converters may have been built while drain plugs were being installed and then wound up in a later transmission. On the same note I have found 2001's without drain plugs. Again the only sure way to know is to look.
Alan

[VaGuy]

I have an engineer relative who worked for a company that designed, stress tested and made internal parts for the 4R70W, and other Ford and GM trannies, including the Corvette and sizable truck transmissions. He reports that the 4R70W is a strong transmission. The new types of clutch materials apparently helped cause chatter in some 4R70Ws and other Ford autos until Ford switched from standard Mercron to Mercron V.

I am on my third vehicle with the 4R70W and have had no problems except curing chatter in one by changing to Mercron V. Two of them went over 100,000 miles and one is still going at 108,000 - sold the other vehicle. My F150 has 46,000 miles on it and was a work truck up to 28,000 miles. All I have done is to have the fluid and filter changed at about 30,000.

I use a very good transmission shop that does a lot of commercial and fleet work as well as consumers. He suggests draining and changing all the fluid and filter every 20,000 to 25,000 in any severe use vehicle - such as towing, police, taxi or just stop-go-idle in a hot climate. He rates the 4R70W as a good transmission. He recommends not doing a power flush unless the converter does not have a drain plug. He found that flushing can circulate old filter material throughout the transmission and cause problems - so he tries not to use flushing.

All mechanics I have ever known suggest maximizing the fluid cooling capacity as much as feasible when you routinely tow with a vehicle.