I recently purchased a 1998 F150 4x4, automatic w/overdrive, 211,000 miles. The previous owner, who had the truck since it had 35K miles, told me that he had never serviced the transmission. The transmission fluid looks dirty - a grayish color, but smells fine. The truck has no transmission problems and shifts good. I am getting mixed opinions as to whether or not I should have the transmission serviced. Some say I should, while others say if I change it for the first time with this many miles, I'm likely to have problems with the transmission because of the difference in the consistency of the fluids. Any suggestions or opinions? Thanks for your feedback.

 

If it fails due to fresh fluid, it was gonna fail soon anyway. Get some fresh in there and maybe keep it goin longer.

Adrianspeeder

 

Fluid and filter. At least drop the pan, change the filter, clean the pan and refill with fresh fluid. You may want to repeat this process a few thousand miles later or drain the torque converter at the same time as the pan. This will get most of the old fluid out. Don't flush the transmission. This could knock junk around that does not need to be disturbed. Most people that complain of a tranny going out after a fluid change had a flush done. Just drain and fill, change the filter and repeat if need be.

 

I think it's already outlived it's life expectancy, honestly. Seals will get a little soft at that age, shifts might be a little sluggish. Service it or not, I don't think it'd matter, I think that 'box has given a good service life at this point.

 

what Ive seen is generally, with that many miles on transmissions and fluid is they will fail soon after you change the dirty fluid. i think with all the dirt and particles in suspension they keep the trans working. when fresh fluid is put in. it has all the properties again and will clean and lube all the parts again. since they are prolly worn out it will fail.

i would let it go and save for a new or rebuilt trans.

if you call around, most trans shop wont change your fluid if you tell them it has never been changed.

 

ah....i was thinkin about changing mine at 121,000 an 03'...good idea? or am i in the same boat and let it go....?? thanks

 

It won't hurt it to change it. That's just about the right mileage anyway.

They were talking about the guy that has 200,000+++ miles on it. Sometimes when you change tranny fluid that has been left in there that long, it tends to dislodge trash that built up over time(from running in crappy worn out oil). Generally speaking, though, if you haven't overheated the tranny and generated some crud, then an oil change will probably do it good.

I'd take the chance and change it. If probably won't hurt it. I changed my girlfriend's at 190,000 miles and it shifts a lot smoother now. It was brown too.

 

Yeah, I'd change it, too.

200K miles is beyond these trucks' transmissions life expectancy? Good grief.

I'm dissappointed to hear that.

The more I read here, the suckier the implications. At least from a lot of the experiences related here.

I'm hoping for better results.

 

It's past some people's expectancy, but not past what most of us expect, and what most of the trucks deliver.

 

That's good to hear.