Greetings.
I am about to change out my 2008 4x4 F-150 4.6L transmission fluid and filter. I have 127K on the truck, mostly highway. Any recommendatiions on the filter and fluid? It has never been drained, changed or added too. Also I am hearing horror stories about changing the fluids with so many miles on the transmission. Any truth to it being better to leave the fluids as they are? Thanks
Luke

 

Fluid: any Ford-approved Mercon V. I get mine at the dealer (Motorcraft) as I can now get it fer a decent price ( Canuckistan, lol). Avoid multi-use fluids, save Amsoil ATF.

Filter: Motorcraft, from dealer, Rockauto, etc.

Change the fluid - all of it, using one of several methods (DIY or a shop using an exchange machine). No chemicals. Drop the pan, clean the magnet.

Whatever you heard is hogwash - change the fluid - regularly - yer already way overdue. If it fails soon after it will be from neglect, not the fluid change.

If Darrin or Mark chime in listen to them - they are the Experts. I'd certainly defer to them.

good luck

MGD

 

Thanks. I appreciate the input. I figured it was BS but I wanted to hear it from those who know what they are talking about.

 

It's BS. Change the fluid.

 

Take it to a shop with an exchange machine and use any name brand Mercon V fluid. No real need to drop the pan, the filters don't clog, they are too coarse.

 

OP - drop the pan, clean it and the magnet - and replace that filter. It's fine enough.

Refer to: https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ml#post5054038

MGD

 

I second that and add that you should use a certified Mercon V fluid.

D

 

Thanks for all the input. I'll be dropping the pan, using the same gasket if I can, cleaning the magnet, changing the filter and I'm thinking about using AMSOIL synthetic fluid.

 

If you are going to use Amsoil, you need to use a flush machine. Don't mix 9 quarts of the old fluid with 5 quarts of new fluid.

Regardless of what the others say here, I still do not feel that a pan drop is necessary.

 

I say that you're right.

 

They say the filter is made to last the life of a transmission. I always change mine though. Ive changed mine 2 time since I've own this truck and every car I buy I change it within a couple of days after I buy it..

 

And this is a former Ford transmission engineer saying that.

 

I don't doubt him. A filter is less then $20 takes a half hour to drain the pan clean the magnet and pan and install the filter. I'm sure he would agree it does not hurt anything..

 

It makes it more difficult to use an exchange machine without wasting fluid, and adds considerably to the labor cost.

 

I guess I learned something today. Back in the day when the Ford transmissions used "type F" transmission fluid, there was always a nice coating of black crud in the bottom of the pan along with some brass colored fine filings. I would hate to use an exchange machine without dropping the pan first on one of those that hadn't had the fluid changed in say over 50,000 miles. I would think the detergent in the new fluid would tend to wash up that black crud and circulate it through the transmission.

Just to clarify these were transmissions that worked fine both before and after the fluid change. I drained the torque converter also of course.