I bought my truck back in 03 with 94,000 miles. Today it has 182,000 and still runs great. To my knowledge it has never had a trans service. I have heard from a few people that having the transmission flushed for the first time with this many miles on it might actually cause problems to surface??? Has anyone heard of this or had it happen?

The fluid looks good dosen't smell burnt and there very little residue on the stick.
Tahnks.

 

I've heard it can make things go bad, but really that depends on how bad things are inside. If theres a lot of friction material floating around in the fluid the tranny might be fine now as when the clutches engage the material in the fluid give it enough friction to engage. But after you flush that material out it might not have enough friction material. So like I said, it depends on how much has worn off the clutches/how worn out in overall it is inside.

In general though fresh fluid is a good thing. So why not just drop the pan, change the filter, clean the magnet, and swap out just the fluid thats in there. That should be enough really.

- Erik

 

Drop the pan, change the filter, and drain the torque converter. The 97's have a TC drain.

 

Thanks for the advice. Gonna go ahead with the change. I know ford has moved on to Mercron V, is this the reccomended replacement for Mercron?

 

Read your manual to be sure of the type. Mine states NOT to use Mercon V in place of Mercon.

 

FORD issued a TSB a few years back......Mercon V IS a DIRECT replacement for Mercon.....They don't even make Mercon any more, so you have to use Mercon V

....unless you happen to have a stash in your garage but then I would question it's integrity due to age...

 

glc, does the '01 4six TC's have a drain? Correct me if I'm wrong, but getting a trans kit (contains filter and gasket) and fluid (how much?) should be all I need to change the trans fluid correct?

 

dont do it.. ur just asking for problems

 

The drain in the TC was removed sometime in 01 as I remember. The pan gasket is reusable, no need to change it.

 

The drain plugs were deleted soon after the start of 2002 production. All 2001 trucks should have a torque converter drain plug.