I have a 95 F150 5.8L E4OD (see sig).

I am planning on changing the ATF and filter this weekend but this will be my first time doing this. I have researched it heavily and I feel like I know how to go about doing it. The only question I have left is what kind of fluid I should use.

I'll obviously be using synthetic and I was planning on using Redline D4 ATF until I found out how expensive it was. It seems like it is almost twice as much as all the other ones. If it is really superior to the other fluids then I don't mind spending the money but I figured I would get a 2nd opinion.

Also, I have found 2 different tutorials for changing the fluid and I'm not sure which to follow. I have heard that flushing the system (as the Ford dealerships do) can end up causing more problems than it fixes. Which (if either) of these 2 tutorials would probably be better to do?

http://www.fordf150.net/howto/transmission.php
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...nsmission.html

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks,
Chris

 

mercon v ATOD fluid for 1996 and newer ford auto trannys..

 

Any plane ole Mercon (not V), fluid will be fine for yer E4OD. Pay as much as you want, but I just use the Motorcraft brand. Unless it is the newest version of Mercon V which has been "changed" to be compatable with the E4OD/4R100, but there isn't a way to tell it apart from the old Mercon V, which should be used in the 4R70w only.

Your 95 has a drain plug for the torque converter so draining that and the pan gets most of the fluid out no flushing needed.

Remove the rubber plug under the bell housing, and spin the motor by hand till the drain plug is at the bottom and let it drain.

I forget, did I invite you over to www.fourdoorbronco.com where we discuss everything Cent?

Adrianspeeder

 

Ya you invited me and I've been over there a few times but I feel kinda left out, couldn't seem to find very many F-series centurions like mine, mostly bronco conversions.

 

I have a 1997 with the E4OD, and it was SUPER easy to change the fluid. Just drop the pan, pull the old filter off, (fish out the gasket ) Put the new filter back on, put the pan back on, pull the rubber stopper out, have somebody bump the key until the drain bolt lines up. remove it, drain the tq converter oil (takes 5 or 6 minutes), put the plug back in, put the stopper back on. 45 minute job at the most. Go to the ford dealership and tell them what year model you have. They'll give you the right oil. It should take 2 gallons and 3 quarts, (I think)

 

When you drop the pan, it's gonna be messy. So buy a drain plug kit beforehand & have 1/2" drill bit & some good sealant (I prefer Napa Right Stuff) ready so it'll be cleaner next time. Don't worry about putting the plug in the ABSOLUTE lowest part of the pan - that's not its purpose. It's only there to get the fluid level below the lip of the pan so it doesn't spray out. The most important considerations are that 1) it doesn't interfere with anything inside the pan, & 2) it doesn't ever drag anything the truck is driving over. Also, make SURE the nut can never back off the fitting; use red threadlocker, or a chisel to ding the threads above the nut.

 

So from what I have been reading I will use Amsoil Synthetic ATF. Any suggestions otherwise?

As for the method, I will pull the grommet on the bell housing and rotate the engine over until I see the torque converter drain plug and drain the TC. Then I will unbolt 1 corner of the tranny pan and loosen the others to drain the fluid below the brim of the pan. Drop the pan. Drain and clean pan with solvent and clean magnet of any debris. (I think I will skip the drain plug this time because I'm on borrowed time this weekend). Bolt the pan back up to torque specs from Ford. Fill through dipstick (how many quarts?), then run engine for 5 minutes. Fill again. Run engine. Etc, until I've filled to full. Did I miss anything?

-Chris

EDIT: My brother mentioned that he heard good things about an ATF called Royal Purple. Has anyone had any experiences with this fluid?

 

NO! DON'T DO THAT! Use what your truck was made for. Motorcraft. If you put ANYTHING else in it, you're asking for trouble. You can't go wrong with putting the correct fluid in your trans, and you can only hurt it by changing to something else. Engine oil doesn't make much difference, but trannies are much more pickey.

I would drain the pan first, but that's just me. You don't have to be fancy with it cause you're gonna get it all over ya anyway! It's a good idea to clean out from around it prior to dropping the pan. Don't use any solvents on your pan gasket. It's re-usable, so be careful not to bend it. Go by the ford place, and they'll tell you exactly how much fluid is required for a change. Mention that you are draining the converter as well.
You can try it if you want to, but you might regret it later. Changes in tranny fluid viscosity have a noticable effect on trans function. (unlike engine oil) And possibly reliability/longevity.

 

You won't be able to get ALL the fluid out (about 2 quarts stay in there).
Just remember what ever fluid (syn, etc) will be mixing with that old fluid.

As far as Merc V, I am real happy with the Valvoline I used in my '98 4R70W.

 

As stated do not use friction modfied merconV fluid in an
e40d. Use plain old dex III or buy mercon fluid from the dealer. I just use dexIII in them personally. If I were going to go with synthetic I would choose the mobil 1, but it seems like a waste of money to me. Money spent on a large cooler to extend transmission life would be a better way to spend it.
Alan