what is the best tranny fluid to use? i have been looking at royal purple, amsoil, and red line. any recommendations?

 

The exact name I don't remember but it was a motorcraft product. Ford makes a synthetic product that is recomended for SVT. I have a 2000 L so I had to drain tranny and torque converter and change filter. But I think it work great I have 87 K on my L now and have raced it 3 seasons now as well as drive it 152 miles a day for work.

Peace, Suavy

 

want my .02?

no offense to anybody here who uses synthetic oil or whichever super dooper brand you choose in your tranny, but...

Just use a standard Mercon III fluid like the motorcraft product that ford specifies. Get yourself a Ford 4R100/E4OD 4x4 oil pan/filter (cheap and comes with a drainplug which is WONDERFUL) and just change your fluid more frequently. you don't need super dooper fluid and even if you have it you should change it and the filter regularly if you are hard on your truck or are racing very much.

just my advice, also highly recommend a Factory Tech Valve Body with that first tranny service and 4x4 pan/filter swap.

later,
chris

 

I run Mobil1 ATF it is cheap and available everywhere. Level 10 recomended it for my rebuilt unit.

 

Hey Chris, do you remember how much extra oil you have to put in the trann after you change to the bigger pan?

Suavy

 

When I do a line mod filter and pan I add 7 then check it usually takes anothe 1/2qt. I buy 8 qts and a 4wd filter in general... Pop a hole in the stock pan with a hammer and screwdriver.

 

I had a local lube change shop use there machine to pump the old fluid out and pump in Redline's D4 synthetic fluid about 20,000 miles ago. I now have 40,600 miles on my L and it shifts fine.

Dan

 

well, since I was dropping the pan and all, I took the opportunity to also drain the torque converter at the same time, it's easy to do and makes sense if you are already draining half of the fluid and installing a new 4x4 filter, why not drain it all and make a real service out of it? Now this was probably about a year and a half ago, but I BELIEVE that it takes exactly 15.5 quarts of fluid if you add the 4x4 pan and drain the converter.

good luck.

later,
chris

 

I thought someone said on here that with 01's and 02's you cant drain the converter. Is this true?

 

not true...

I drained my '01 at least 3 different times and have installed a FT valve body on an '02 and drained it as well.

later,
chris

 

I think what Greg mentioned was that the 01's built late (Aug.?)in the year and after no longer have the drain plug. I may be wrong, but someone probably could chime in about that.

 

They quit using drain plugs in converters on 8-11-2001.

G

 

any particular reason why?

also, my mind may be playing tricks on me, but I feel certain that the last time I installed a FT accumulator body it was on an '02 and the bellhousing had a drain plug, but I've been wrong once or twice before

 

So what exactly am I looking for, the last time I changed out the FT VB I only replace the fluid in the pan, I saw the little rubber plug at the bottom of the housing, once I take that off, am I looking for a drain plug somwhere on the converter( and does that mean I have to turn the converter/engine till I find that plug?) thanks again in advance.

 

yes it's a circular rubber plug direct center on the bottom of the bellhousing. an 11mm socket will work fine. and you'll have to turn the engine over until the converter rotates to the correct position unless you're really lucky