Should I change the fluid or not ?
 

Have a 98 4.6 2wd with the towing package. I never tow anything and rarely haul.Have 230,000 on from what I believe is the original fluid and filter. The tran.fluid is just starting to turn a reddish brown. With this many miles will it hurt to drop the pan and drain the tc and refill with fresh fluid or would I be better off just replacing half.

230k on original fuid?????. definetely change fluid and filter. do a complete flush.

Just drop the pan and drain converter to get the old fluid out. Doing a flush might just mean the end of your trans. I am the believer in dropping the pan and draining the converter.

Holy Chit,230,000 miles on OE fluid and filter:eek: Is that a record?When you pull the pan look for a plug laying in the pan.

If the fluid is still even slightly red, I really doubt it's the original fluid. Every case I've seen with over 100k on fluid is pitch-black and usually a little grainy to the touch.

If the fluid looks fine, don't bother. Like I said, I doubt it's the original fluid, it wouldn't be even a little red.

+ 1 - Just do this and your safe - It's real nice having a drain plug on the converter - take advantage of it and drain that as said .

Don't forget the new filter - they upgraded the filters , there allot better than stock..

If you need to drop temps in your trans - use that Amsoil stuff , I couldn't beleive the temp diff from Merc V..

Good Luck :thumbsup:

I bought it with 32k on it so it might have been changed once, I guess i'll know if the plug is still in the pan.

So since you have owned it you have never changed it??If so i can't beleive it still works!!!

I have never changed it, Only really drive it on the hwy. to and from work.

What trans do you have ?

4R70w

I think the YES' have it, change that fluid, no flush, and put some Mercon V in. I'm pretty sure it's a Ford recommended thing to put in Mercon V vs the original Dextron 3, but can't loose either way.

Ok, The "YES's" have it. How much Merc V does the 4R70w hold? Any tips ?
What's the best way to get the tc drain plug to line up?

I think the tranny holds around 14L of fluid when drained totally. See what the owners manual says in fluid capacities and buy that much, you may have a bottle left over. The drain on the TC can be reached by popping off that round cover, having someone with a long breaker bar and 18mm socket turn the engine over from the crank pulley bolt. You will notice a 4 pointed plug on the TC, when reinstalling, don't overtighten it or your ****. Just snug it up there a bit, 5 ft lbs or so.

You can do this without a helper. Borrow a mirror from your wife's/gf's closet, set it up so you can see the T/C inspection port from the front of the motor, like this:

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?num=14026

and turn the crank until you see the plug. :thumbsup:

-Ed