Reading the post about flush or change and I have a question. If I drop the pan and drain it and change the filter but if I am unable to drain the torque converter does this mean I can not switch to synthetic fluid because I didn't get all the old fluid out? I have done the drain and filter before without changing the torque converter because I didn't know you could but I always used regular fluid so no big deal.

P.S. yeah I knew the torque converter had fluid still in it after a drain.

 

The fluid for it is synthetic, mercon V is anyways. I take this is for an 02? Mercon V only should go back in. The transfer case takes Mercon/ Dextron 3 I think, right guys? They should be different and not mixed up, it says so in the owners manual. I guess since the t.c can't be drained, I would just dump what I could and fill to appropriate level, having some old in the mix. Mine has the drain, so I don't really know otherwise.

 

Yeah it is for the 02 I hadn't check what fluid it calls for. I just bought it a few weeks ago and when I buy a used vehicle I pretty much change all the fluids seeing as this truck was made in 01 it is coming on 5 years old and I don't know how the previous owner treated it so getting the fluids is one of the first things I will do. gear,tranny,motor etc.

 

You may drop the pan, change the filter and refill synthetic. It will mix fine with whatever you currently have in there. I believe that after '01 Ford stopped putting torque converter drain plugs in the 4r70w transmission so a basic transmission service may be your best bet. Perform that service every 15K-30K with synthetic fluid and a new filter and you will greatly enhance the longevity of your transmission. Amsoil, Mobil1 or Redline will work great there, 4 quarts is all you need.

 

While synthetic will mix with regular fluid, changing all of the fluid is always better. Read this article on how to change it all, even without a drain plug in the converter.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...nsmission.html

 

Good lord that's confusing got to step 6b return to 3a by going to step 4c....just kidding I really appreciate the link.

I may just drain the pan right now and refill with Mercron V then at 60K change all the fluid and filter and use Royal Purple.

That's the biggest concern is I want to go to Royal Purple but I know I need to get all the old fluid out before switching to it.

 

One other thing you can do to get all of the fluid out is to unhook the tranny coolant line going into the radiator and run the engine VERY BRIEFLY and this should pump all of the fluid out.. Use a tube wrench to loosen the line and make sure you dont run it without fluid for too long.

 

thanks guys I got a bout a month until I have all my tools then I will decide which way to go. Love the website just because of things like this. I am nervous about the whole running the engine to pump out fluid but sounds like the only way.

 

It won't pump all the fluid out. It will pump out about 5-6 quarts, then the pump runs out when the pan is empty. Then you get air. Read the link I posted above to do this.

 

The pump out procedure is actually given by Ford as a correct procedure in some of the transmission service CDs.

I just did it on my E40D a couple of weeks ago. I disconnected the rubber return line under the right front corner near the radiator and used it as my pumpout drain. Pumped it out once, reflled with three gallons of fluid, pumped that out, dropped the pan and changed the filter, then refilled to the correct level. Took all of about an hour and about 4 1/4 gallons of fluid.

I do have the 5.4 with the factory auxillary cooler. If you have a different configuration, the plumbing will differ.

Just remember to kill the engine as soon as the flow of fluid starts to drop off. You won't hurt the pump or anything else as long as you don't let it run dry.

Steve

 

ok cool thanks guys yeah i have 5.4 don't know about the aux cooler.