I have some questions about the 30k (30,000 / 30000) mile maintenance. I'll be there soon, and do virtually all the maintenance on my daily driver, but rarely have to do any on the 01 4x4 Supercrew since it is only now approaching 30k miles after ~4.5 years of ownership. So some info on some of the items listed on the maintenance list would be appreciated:

- Change engine oil and replace oil filter - no problem
- Inspect brake system, etc, etc. and rotate tires - no problem
- Replace engine air filter - no problem
- Replace fuel filter - info please! Where is it, does it require some special tool to release pressure, etc. etc.?
- Replace cabin air filter, if equipped - does the 01 Supercrew have one, and if so, where is it and how do you replace it?
- Change transmission/transaxle fluid on all vehicles equipped with AX4S, 4F50N, 4R70W, 4R100, 4F27E, or inspect fluid level (if have dipstick) on other vehicles - what are those designations, and do they apply to the Supercrew? If so, how do I change it? On my car, I just pop out a bolt on the side of the tranny, let it drain out, replace the bolt, and refill through an upper bolt.
- Inspect and lubricate 4x2 ball joints - info please
- Inspect and lubricate steering linkage - info please

 

slaughterj-

Getting ready for my 30k check as well. Will be interested in seeing comments.

 

I have no real useful information to add here..... but I'm just in aww that you have an '01 and you are just getting ready to kick 30k. I have 146k on my '01.... granted I do a lot of driving, but wow.

Mike

 

It's my "garage" queen I daily drive a Viper (clicking to add sig to this post).

I hope I get some substantive responses on this request!

 

Wanna adopt a 35 year old with a wife and two kids?!!

 

The fuel filter on our '01 Screws is clamped to the driver side frame rail under the cabin, roughly midway from front to back. You do need a special tool to release the connections that connect the fuel lines to the filter. The tool is readily available for a few bucks at most any parts store. I have never found it necessary to relieve the fuel pressure before changing the filter, but some folks prefer to.

Our Screws have the 4R70W automatic transmission, which FoMoCo recomends servicing every 30,000 miles. I prefer not to do this myself, and instead have it done at the dealership. There two methods that can be used. One is to drop the pan, drain all the fluid, (this should include the torque converter), clean or change the filter, button it back up, and refill with 12 or 13 quarts of Mercon V. The other method is usually referred to as a flush and fill, in which a tranny cooler line on the truck is temporarily disconnected and attached to a machine which pumps out the old fluid, circulates a solvent/cleaner through the tranny , and pumps in the 12 to 13 quarts of fresh fluid. The filter is not changed this way, but is supposedly cleaned by the solvent/cleaner. I have had both done, and am not sure of any advantages/disadvantages of one over the other. My transmission operates perfectly at 104,000 miles.

The factory ball joints are supposedly "lifetime lubed" and have no fittings for greasing. If that is in the manual, I'm not sure why. If/when the ball joints need replacing, Moog is a popular replacement brand. These replacements do have grease fittings.

I'm not sure if your 4x4 steering linkage is the same as my 4x2, but I only originally had two grease fittings on mine, one at each end of the idler arm. That's it as far as lubing the steering linkage on mine, (except for my replacement Moog upper ball joints, which as mentioned do have fittings, so I have a total of 4.)

I know I didn't cover everthing, but hope this helps.

 

Fuel Filter: usually located on the frame directly under the driver's door. YES, you need a connector removal tool to get the fuel connectors off of the fuel filter. No worries, just get the plastic set at Autozone for around $10. You're supposed to depressurize the fuel system by depressing the valve on the fuel intake arm. I never bother with it if the truck hasn't been driven in the last few hours. With the crud for gas they sell in NC, you should change it every 10K miles.

Cabin Air Filter: who cares. never changed one in my life.

Everything else: I just let the dealer do the visual inspection (usually free at my local dealer) and let them mess with changing the tranny fluid/filter and all the lubing.

 

Soooo, what are you offering?

 

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the tranny fluid is a lot more trouble than on my vehicles, so I'll do the oil and air filter myself, probably the fuel filter, and put the dealer to work for a little bit.

 

Well, I went and got the tranny service ($140) and complete fuel system tune-up, including fuel filter change and other service, (total for tranny and fuel system ~$323 with tax) at Ford. I figured I'd get all that done since it has 4.5 years of ownership, and plan to keep the truck for a long time. Also, I asked them to check on lubing the joints, but after checking, the 4x4 Supercrew apparently has all sealed joints, so nothing to do there. All sound reasonable?

When I get home tonight, I'll do the oil and air filter, and it'll be like a new truck!

 

No fittings at all, not even on the idler arm?

 

if you are doing a new air filter, i would recomend K&N filter, it will be the last one you buy for the life of the truck, and its got a little performance gain too.

Yea its time for me to think about doin my 30k, so was the 140 quote just for the tranny service? I can handle doing a fuel filter, but i dont really want to pull my tranny pan, etc...

Thanks
-Patrick

 

Whats the going price for a fuel filter change at a Ford dealer??? Thanks.

 

Most dealerships have a works package where you get the oil change and tires rotated plus a bunch of checks for like 35 bucks. I'd do that and get the tranny serviced in addition. You can do the fuel filter yourself and since you have low miles after all this time those cabin filters can go a little longer.

 

I just did the tranny on my 01 for the third time (75,000 miles I like to do it sooner than the recomendation, I tow) It is not bad at all to drop the pan and change out the filter. I did it in about an hour. Mine had a reuseable pan gasket on it as I think all 4r70W's would.