I need some advice.

I have an '01 XLT 4wd 4r70 w/ 60000 mi. on it. Once and awhile the tranny has a DAR (Doesn't Act Right) moment like a late shift or a shudder..nothing that has me worried about an internal problem just that a fluid change is needed.

I was talking to the local mechanic in my area about chaning the fluid. He said that he did not have a "power flushing" machine. Instead he would unhook the tranny line at the radiator, start the truck up and let it all drain out, drop the pan, change the filter, put it all back together and refill.

After i started thinking about it, I was wondering if this could cause some dmg to the tranny. I don't know how you would get it out otherwise but running a mechanical part (even though it is not driven) while letting the lubricating fluid draining out would not be the first thought in my mind if I were doing this myself

Anyway I would love to give the business to my local area mechanic but I don't want to do it at the expense of my vechicle.

1. Is his method just as well as a "power flush" from Aamco or some other tranny shop?
2. Should I get the pan removed and the filter replaced?
3. Can I provide my own fluid with a power flush?
4. I was going to use Mobil-1 if I could...thoughts?
5. Am I missing anything else that I should do?

Thanks for the help.

 

From reading other posts I found out that Ford was using convertor drain plugs. According to these posts they stopped using plugs in the latter part of 01. Given that you have an 01 you might have a drian plug.

I like most people thought that plugs went away in the early 80's.

A called to several shops around here and it sounds like they dont know about the plugs. You would have to ask to have them look and tell them that is how you want it changed. I had one shop tell me that is not a good way to do it as the plug might leak. I rebuilt trannys 20 + years ago. Ford and Chrylsers had them and they didnt leak.

 

Should you replace the filter? See link below...

http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/98-2.html

The procedure if I remember correctly is to drop the pan which drains the fluid from the pan. Clean the magnet and pan and change the transmission filter. The magnet will problably be covered with all sorts of small metal filings. Add a drain plug to the pan if desired and re-install the pan. Fill with new transmission fluid to replace what was drained from the pan. Disconnect the transmission cooler line and add a small section of hose to direct fluid into a drain pan. Start the engine. Transmission fluid should be draining into the pan. You keep adding transmission fluid as fast as it is draining until the fluid changes color. This assumes your old fluid is very dirty and that you will be able to tell the difference in color between the old and the new fluid. I would just add about 10 quarts (for a 4R70W transmission) and shut the engine off. It is very handy if the drain pan has measurement capability so that you can see a quart drain and then add a quart. See another quart drain and then add another quart. Two people are suggested so that one person can manage the drain pan while the other person adds new transmission fluid. This method will keep fluid in the transmission while you change it.

If you have a torque convert drain plug then just drain the converter and then re-install the drain plug. Fill the transmission with new fluid to the proper dipstick level and your done.

 

Thanks for the info guys. The link was very informative.