which one should I do? what does the manual actually specify? Thanks.

------------------
1998 F150 Nascar Edition
RC, 4.6L, 3.73
Current Mods ... Superchip

 

This is something that I know about I work in a shop and we do both there but I would do the fulsh. when you drop the pan you will only get about 4 to 5 qt's out and you leave in the tranny about 10 to 12 qt's of dirty fulid so when you start up the truck all of the dirty fulid just mixes in and you wont even tell the difference, now with the fulsh you get out 99.9% of the old tranny fulid so what one sounds better to you. also the fulsh michine will tell you if the filter is bad by the amount of preasure in the tranny and it does fulsh out the filter to, (if the pan gasket is not leaking don't fix what's not broken.)
As far as the manual it does not say to do one or the other. if the pan is leaking or you want to change the filter do a pan drop and a fulsh I think we charge 150.00 to do this.. sorry for the long post and I hope this helps..

Latter Allan

[This message has been edited by MN99F150-1 (edited 09-05-2000).]

 

Hey MN99F150-1:
I definitly agree with you about getting the "Flush" but I had one question about what you said about the filter. You said that the machine could tell if the filter was clogged by the amount of pressure the machine was reading. I understand this, what I dont understand is you said the flush also "flushes" (cleans) the filter too. How does it do this? The last time I had this service done (on another vehicle) the machine was hooked up to the cooling lines and the engine was started. As the trans pump pumped fluid through the system the machine collected old as new was pumped in. So my point through this long winded disertation is that unless the machine is greatly increasing line pressure and forcing dirt ect through the filter and then trough the trans I dont understand how the filter is being flushed. Is the machine backflushing the system without the vehicle running? Please explain. Also what type of shop do you work in? A trans shop? Dealer? quick lube type place?

Not trying to sound like a jerk just looking for more information.

Hobbit

------------------
99 XLT,4.6L Auto,4X4,tow pkge,Factory Side Steps and Mudflaps, K&N filter,BugflectorII, Amazon Green/Silver, Pace Edwards Rolltop Cover, still want a Superchip and by golly I'm gonna get one (just as soon and I hit the lottery )

 

The flush machine does not flush the filter.

The fluid is pumped out one of the cooler lines. New fluid is replaced into the cooler line and sent to the transmission. The transmission's pump is moving all this fluid, and it collects the fluid from the pan, through the filter, just like when the transmission is operating. That does not clean the filter.

Now that I explained that, I don't think you need to change the filter. The filter should last the life of the transmission. If the filter is plugged, the transmission has probably already failed.

Mark

 

I still do it the "old" way... and still will. That means dropping the pan, and pulling the plug on the Torque Converter, pulling off whichever cooler line is easiest to get to at trans, and the opposite one up front at the cooler, blow some low pressure air through cooler and line. Only fluid left in is whats in other line, plus any trapped in an accumulator then. And change filter too.

I don't see how the "flush" idea can claim a real high percentage exchange. Why? Because the trans has a sump. If you are pumping it in while you are pumping it out, it is always mixing in the sump. So the "solution is dilution", not an "exchange", as advertised. If enough new fluid is pumped in, for a long enough time, it could be pretty good. I'm thinking many times total system capacity to dilute well. But I don't think they are going to throw away 50 gallons per vehicle!

Any fault with my logic here?

 

hobbit
I have worked at a fast lube for 5 years and now I work at a GoodYear service center the difference from the fast lube and G/Y is that G/Y runs a better michine and it does back flush the system you run it for 5 minutes and we fill it up with a chemical that gets the varnish (sp) out of the pan and tranny (it does not clean out the filer to look like new but it does fulsh it out to make work better)and we turn the car off and take out as much dirty tranny fulid as we can than we fill the tranny up and start the car and then flush some where around 20 qts through the system to get out the additive the we put in, than we add a tranny additive to it and your all done. we use a new system to do this and it seems to be better that just fulshing it with tranny fulid..
I hope this helps
latter all Allan

------------------
1999 F150 Bright Red Extended Cab 4x4 Off Road, With Gray Interior, 5.4L, 3.73 Gears,

Add On's for now!
Access Tunnel Cover
Stainless Steel Nerf Bars
Stainless Steel Rocker Pannels
Putco Bed Rails
Clear Turn Signals
Flowmaster Exhaust
Lund Bug Guard
Painted Vent Shades
Painted Taillight Covers
Painted X-Cab Covers
Superchip (in and loveing it)
Airaid FIPK
Red Stering Wheel Cover
Pionneer CD Deck

Wish List: F1 Ram Air Hood, Tinted Side Windows, Wiper Crawl, Viser, Supercharger, NOS, ETC...

 

Guys,

Just had a routine trans service done at the dealer (2 years @ 13,000 miles). I posted this in this topic a few weeks ago asking for advice as to whether to have it done with low miles. As you can surmise my driving habits are extreme with short runs, stop and go, failing to reach operating temperatures, etc.

Two replies suggested to have it done and I did. When talking to the service department tech he told me the fluid WAS dirty and the service was needed in his opinion.

So, they did a full flush (12 quarts Mercon 4), dropped the pan and changed the filter. Now I feel better that I did the right thing. I won't quibble over the extra cost of a full flush compared to the cost of transmission repairs after the warranty is over. It seems to be the general consensus that if you are going to have routine transmission service, have the whole thing flushed.

Now I am not going to argue the point with Mark about the trans filter's life, he may be correct, but if I am going to have the whole trans flushed and serviced I might as well have them change the filter too, even if it is only for peace of mind.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

What is better OEM fluid or synthetic? I'm over due transmission fluid and filter change. I would rather drop the pan, change filter, drain converter than a flush. Call me old fashion. Sometimes these new high tech equipmment is just hype.

------------------
1997 F-150 XLT Extend Cab, 3 Door, 4.6L (Winsor), Long Bed, Tow Package, Teal over Silver, K&N Air Filter, Tow 27 Foot Travel Trailer, 2 repaired doors

 

bostondog,

OEM Mercon V is synthetic. Personally, I think if there's not a fluid that is measurably better than OEM (and there's not at this time) you may as well use what the factory uses. Just my opinion.

------------------
98 F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP Super Cab Short Bed, 4.6, Auto, 4.10's, Magnacharger supercharger, Superchip, Gibson single cat-back, 80/100w German head lamps, Warn HS9500i winch with semi hidden mount, Wrangler dual battery kit with red & yellow top Optima batteries, Torsion bars cranked up 2.5 turns. Needs one more door.

 

The factory Mercon V is not synthetic! It's a synthetic blend.

Pure synthetics are superior to the factory fill.

No machine backflushes the filter. It simply isn't possible.

I have seen a study that looked at 3,000 vehicles that had a transmission fluid exchange with one of the machines. They did an oil analysis before and after. The analysis showed that contaminants in the fluids were reduced 95%. This means that 95% of the fluid was changed by the machine.

Also, there is no such thing as Mercon 4. For some reason they went from Mercon III to Mercon V.


Mark

 

mark
I don't where you get your info but there are some systems that do a back fulsh. but I am not going to sit here and disagree with you because it is not worth it to me. I know what kind of system that we use and that is that. What kind of shop do you work in to know so much!!!!

latter all Allan

------------------
1999 F150 Bright Red Extended Cab 4x4 Off Road, With Gray Interior, 5.4L, 3.73 Gears,

Add On's for now!
Access Tunnel Cover
Stainless Steel Nerf Bars
Stainless Steel Rocker Pannels
Putco Bed Rails
Clear Turn Signals
Flowmaster Exhaust
Lund Bug Guard
Painted Vent Shades
Painted Taillight Covers
Painted X-Cab Covers
Superchip (in and loveing it)
Airaid FIPK
Red Stering Wheel Cover
Pionneer CD Deck

Wish List: F1 Ram Air Hood, Tinted Side Windows, Wiper Crawl, Viser, Supercharger, NOS, ETC...

 

Guys,

Mark is correct, Ford Mercon IV is a synthetic blend, not a full synthetic.

If they put 12 quarts in my truck with this trans service would that include the torque converter too?

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

There is no Mercon IV. The factory fill in 4R70Ws is Mercon V.

Mark

 

the 4r70w is the trans. that usually has the
torque conv. shudder problem (esp. if filled
with mercon III) the various tsb's from ford
on this say the fluid degrades. they recommend replacing all the fluid with mercon
V (this trans. only). this can be done either
way on this trans. because the conv. has a
drain. while they don't say to replace filter, if you drop pan why not. the flush
should work as well though, because it's a
screen and not really a filter. which ever
way is used, make sure at least 12qts. of fluid is used. on the smaller trans. (ranger/
expl.) the flush method is the only way to
get it all out as well as front drive transaxles.

 

Have you opened a filter from a 4R70W?
It isn't a screen. It has a paper filter media just like an engine oil filter.

Mark