should i change my fluid?

Joe S. · #1 06-19-2009, 01:31 AM

I bought my Expedition (5.4, 2wd) about a month ago. It had 188k miles. The PO (who is also the original purchaser of truck) said he has NEVER changed the fluid in the truck. It doesn't smell burnt but when it shifts into OD it shudders about like when you run off the side of the highway on those grate things that are there to get your attention or wake you up. One place says don't think about it. One place says do it.

What should I do? Will a fluid change stop the shudder? I put stop slip in it at the advice of a ford tech I know. Nothing. A shadetree mechanic I know said a fluid change will stop the problem.

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glc · #2 06-19-2009, 01:49 AM

Change it. Drop the pan, change the filter, and also drain the torque converter. If it doesn't fix it or it gets worse, get a rebuild.

Are you sure the shudder isn't a low grade misfire? At 188k, it could probably use a new set of plugs and cops.

Joe S. · #3 06-19-2009, 09:12 AM

The tech I know told me it was definately in the tranny. He said it felt like the clutches in the torque convertor were slippin?

glc · #4 06-19-2009, 01:11 PM

If that is in fact what it is, a complete fluid change is your only chance to avoid a rebuild. It's not going to get any better by itself.

Joe S. · #5 06-19-2009, 01:39 PM

True. Just didn't want to do more harm than good

MitchF150 · #6 06-19-2009, 01:59 PM

The condition of your trans is what it is after 188,000 miles of churning around in the same fluid from day one... Hopefully, the level is still good? Wonder it the dipstick was ever checked?

The shudder comes from the fact that there is old fluid in the system and it does not have the same lubrication properties as newer fluid would have.. When the TC 'locks', this is when it's essentially like a manual trans and a clutch plate.. The old fluid has no lubrication properties (or not enough) to allow for the locked condition, so it's like when you bog down a manual shift trans... You get a shudder...

I'd drain the pan and replace the filter and hopefully, you have a model that has a drain plug on the TC and you can drain that. Fill with just your ordinary Ford spec trans fluid and hope for the best!

I've got 198,000 miles on my trans (E4OD). I did a full drain of it when I first got the truck with 63,000 miles on it and then I've been doing YEARLY service pan drops ever since. Sure, it's only 6 qts with a pan drop, but doing it yearly, keeps it fresh enough for me and I do tow a TT with it in the summer time and my fluid is nice and clear and red each time...

Buying a used vehicle is a 'crap shoot' no matter what the miles are on it, so just take what ever happens with a grain of salt and if you weren't prepared to do some major mechanical work when you bought it, then?????

Good luck!

Mitch

Joe S. · #7 06-19-2009, 02:02 PM

Thanks! I will go ahead aned do it and hope for the best!

Roadie · #8 06-19-2009, 07:32 PM

The torque converter shudder is fairly common with the 4R70W. Replacing the fluid usually stops the shudder.
I had a 95 MarkVIII with a 4R70W tranny and it was very common on those cars. A fluid change fixed mine.

Joe S. · #9 06-19-2009, 07:34 PM

So that's the tranny in mine?

glc · #10 06-20-2009, 02:08 PM

What is the trans code on the door sticker?

Joe S. · #11 06-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Here is what is on my sticker

Wb 119
Brk 4
Int tr f2
R 8
Axle 17
Tr E
Spr 39

glc · #12 06-21-2009, 08:20 AM

You have a 4R100.

Joe S. · #13 06-21-2009, 11:51 AM

Is that a good tranny?

glc · #14 06-21-2009, 05:12 PM

It's better than a 4R70W.

Joe Styles · #15 06-21-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchF150

The condition of your trans is what it is after 188,000 miles of churning around in the same fluid from day one... Hopefully, the level is still good? Wonder it the dipstick was ever checked?

The shudder comes from the fact that there is old fluid in the system and it does not have the same lubrication properties as newer fluid would have.. When the TC 'locks', this is when it's essentially like a manual trans and a clutch plate.. The old fluid has no lubrication properties (or not enough) to allow for the locked condition, so it's like when you bog down a manual shift trans... You get a shudder...

I'd drain the pan and replace the filter and hopefully, you have a model that has a drain plug on the TC and you can drain that. Fill with just your ordinary Ford spec trans fluid and hope for the best!

I've got 198,000 miles on my trans (E4OD). I did a full drain of it when I first got the truck with 63,000 miles on it and then I've been doing YEARLY service pan drops ever since. Sure, it's only 6 qts with a pan drop, but doing it yearly, keeps it fresh enough for me and I do tow a TT with it in the summer time and my fluid is nice and clear and red each time...

Buying a used vehicle is a 'crap shoot' no matter what the miles are on it, so just take what ever happens with a grain of salt and if you weren't prepared to do some major mechanical work when you bought it, then?????
Good luck!
Mitch

If your transmission was built after August 2001, you don't have a drain plug in the torque converter.�