I've been surfing through here for an hour to find the answer to this question:

When should I change my transmission fluid and transfer case fluid?

I have a 2007, 4x4 Lariat. The book has convoluted instructions at the 30K mile mark and the 60K mile mark.

Please discuss.

 

A lot depends on your usage. Towing, heavy hauling, or similar will make your trans run hotter and under more load with increased potential wear. Therefore shorter interval is best. A good cooler also helps if you have hard usage.

Changing earlier will never hurt anything. Besides money for the extra trans fluid and filters.

On my 97 Expedition 4x4, I welded a drain plug on the trans so I can drain the pan without the usual mess. I change the fluid every 30K, but the filter only every other time. I don't do the whole system flush thing. My opinion is keep the fluid clean and fresher and your trans will stay working good. I also don't do any serious towing with the Expedition beyond a small utility trailer, I have a 1-ton dually for heavy towing.

 

I added a drain plug to my pan as well and now I just drain the pan and fill with fresh fluid. Nothing fancy, just the 'supertech' mercon stuff they have at Walmart by the gallon.. I need 6 qts to do a pan drain/refill.

I do this about every second oil change or at least once a year. Been doing just the pan drops since I did do a full fluid change when I first got the truck in 2001. I've only had the drain plug for about 2 years now, so I've not done a filter change yet, but that'll be done on the next change..

Might be overkill, but it's cheap and my fluid is nice and clear and red and I tow a #5000 TT about 5-6 times a year and it's my daily driver.

Just what I do....

Mitch

 

Consider upgrading to Mag Hytec pans & covers. I have an '07 like you. I have been draining the pan every 10,000 miles. The peace of mind comes from watching reasonable clean fluid come out. I know that I do it often enough that I don't have to worry about driving around with burnt transmission fluid.

 

I'm sure you know that the torque converter on your model has a drain plug. You can drain almost all of it at the same time.

 

Why? I did that already... No need to keep doing it and it's really a PITA to do.. With my yearly pan drops it's been keeping the fluid very fresh and clean and there is never anything on the magnet?

Mitch

 

NEVER !!!! lmao

 

yep... NEVER!

 

Changing the trans more than every 50,000 km or 30,000 miles is overkill IMO, unless you have overheated the trans and burnt your fluid.

Adding a trans temp gauge (and a cooler if your 04 doesn't have the tow package) would be good idea if you tow anything or haul very heavy loads.

I don't know what the manual says but I only do transfer cases every 100,000 km or about 60,000 miles. I just did the girlfriends Blazer for the first time at 130,000 km or about 80,000 miles and it was not too dirty. Honestly I expected it to be pretty nasty because she will put it in 4 wheel drive if someone walks by with an ice cream cone.

 

Adding a stand alone cooler is the BEST thing u can do for an auto trans...

 

Transfer case and diffs should be done every 100k miles, that's plenty often enough. If I had an automatic, I'd be doing it every 30k, complete exchange, unless I had Amsoil fluid. That stuff I'd run 60k.

 

She drives a Chevy?

Dump Her!

 

looking to change fluids. decent info here.

 

So without starting another thread, what's the procedure to swap the fluid in the auto trans in an 01? I can figure out the pan and filter I'm sure, but what about the converter? Does it have a drain plug? How do I swap all the fluid or the majority of it?

The dealer wants $183 + tax. The quick lube place wants $130. I figure I can do it cheaper...

BTW: Where did you guys get the weld on drain plugs and exactly where did you install them on the pan?

 

A complete change takes 14 quarts of fluid - that makes the $130 not look so bad.

Not sure whether an 01 still has a converter drain. To find out, crawl under and drop the inspection cover and have someone turn the engine over with a socket and breaker bar and look for one.