I have two passenger cars with over 500,000 miles combined and have been in the habit of introduccing new ttranny fluid at every oil change. This has been facilitated by drain plugs on both cars.
However, my 97 F150 4x4 Lariat has no plug in the pan. Obviously, if I want to introduce fresh fluid, the pan has to come off.
Question: Has anyone retrofitted their tranny fluid pan with a drain plug or are ther aftermarket pans with a plug built in?
GDBlake,
Did you change the filter also?, If you didn't, go back and get the filter and change it, the deep pan has a deeper sump and the filter off of the shallow pan doesn't reach it, if you're not on a level surface, you're starving your transmission for fluid and will eventually burn out the clutches.
GBE
I see an advantage to having the 3 extra quarts of fluid the B&M aftermarket pan gives me, not to mention the drain plug advantage.
I would contend that a replacement of tranny fluid (that fluid that would come from the pan via the plug) at every oil change interval would be better than a total flush at 30,000 miles.
Factory Tech--I did change the filter also. This pan was a Ford pan-one for a Super duty, and it appears to be the same size as the original one. I drained the TC, also, but not the lines and it took about 15 qts. of Mobil-1 ATF.
Edit--Thanks so much for the warning and advise
[This message has been edited by gdblake (edited 10-14-2000).]
Changing the fluid at every oil change is a dumb idea. The fluid system is a closed loop, isolated from oxygen and oxidation. Fluid just doesn't break down that fast. Also, the facotry fluid is not something that you can buy, it has speceil additives that assist in initial break in of the fiber plates. I personally change my fluid at anywhere from 50-70K miles, if at all. Until it turns, there's no reason to change it, and once it truns brtown, you need new fiber plates, too. I rate changing fluid right up there with the O/D off button. (see my rants elsewhere on that)
Yes, ford made a 4R70 with a drain plug, I'll find out the part number for the pan, the pan will run about $30, but the deep sump filter I hear goes for $44.55.
That would be so very cool if you could find a number on that.
My stock one is already mutilated by me attempting to use a "self-threading" on it. Found a bolt-on type to replace it, but would definately rather have a manufactured part so I never have to worry about it.
While I respect what you are saying Factory_Tech, I am in somewhat of a partial disagreement with you on waitng so long for changing. It might be alright for you in your situation but I want to add one thing.
Heat is the killer of tranny fluid. Excessive heat. And therefore a thorough knowledge of what the tranny has been subjected too is crutial to change interval decissons. Put in a tranny temp guage and do the research on fluid degradation at "time at temperature" and then decide when to drain/flush. Towing in hot weather a lot? Probably are degrading the fluid faster than you think. If the fluid gets scorched so goes it's ability to protect and then so goes the tranny. That's why so many go to full synthetics because it degrades at a higher temp. But still how do you know if you don't measure it? Do the tranny temp guage thing. It's cheap and easy and realy is almost a must for Towers and Haulers.
I don't know if it's dumb to change tranny fluid at every oil change. It may be overkill.
However, it is dumb to wait until the fluid has turned brown. If Ford recommends that the fluid be changed at 30,000 miles, why would anyone wait unti 50-60K?
An extra $6 at oil change time to save a $1500 tranny is insignificant to me.
Well now, on the heat I'd have to say that I agree with you, that's the big factor. If you're running a lot of towing or for that matter if you do a lot of stop and go driving or leaving the truck run in park for long periods of time that would affect when I changed the oil. Every oil change is still too often for me, but as a generic rule I guess 30,K is about right. I live in Ohio, not too hot, never haul anything heavier than groceries and honestly I never plan on keeping a truck more than 2 years (with A-Plan it's dumb to keep them longer, I think). Add on the special situation that if I DO blow out a tranny I'd rebuild it myself and it would only take me a saturdayu in the garage to do it, which I understand is not typical. tow hours to get it out, two to put it back and about 45 minutes for the actual overhaul, but hey, I've done a few of them before (several thousand).
As for the $6 to do it, I have actually had a oil change place replace my fluid in a Ranger (A4LD Tansmission) and I think I paid about $50.00, and at that price I'd at least wait until the factory recommended 30,000 miles. I think the ranger was just over 100k when I finally broke down and did it.
But yes Cphilip, I'[d have to say you're right and I'm wrong, for most people, 30K is prolly a good number.
It's funny how the exchange of information demonstrates fundamental paradigms between people.
I'm coming from the standpoint of "I'll own this truck for 20 years" and your coming from "I'll own the truck for 2 years.
Obviously, we're aiming our guns at different targets.
This is a great owner's forum and I appreciate everyone's posts and direct emails.
Incidentally, after hearing many horror stories about self-tapping and drill-and-bolt-and-then-weld-and-then-cuss drain plug solutions, I did pop for the B&M pan. I'll post on this thread with my satisfaction of this product.
Factory_Tech. What's that about starving the tranny with a deeper pan? I haven't heard that one before. Like Vann I recently ordered the B&M pan. I haven't received it yet, but I did get a new filter which was expensive itself.
BTW, my dad had a small Toyota pickup that he delivered mail in (over 100 stops a day) on a rual route. He drained the tranny every oil change (about 2-3 qts each time I think). He never had a problem with it for over 300,000 miles. Of course, that would be considered severe duty.
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1999 F-150 XLT SC Stepside, 5.4L (replaced), 3.55 Limited Slip, Towing Package, Captain's Chairs, Bright Red
Added: K&N, Westin Nerfs, JVC CD Player, 12 disc add-on CD changer
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Tranny Fluid Pan Drain Plug
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