Alot of shops now have machines that change out most all of the fluid, but they do not remove the pan and change the filter. How critical is the filter change. Also, have you noticed a positive change when using Amsoil in your auto trans. Thanks.

 

according to ford you dont have to change the filter,ever. i guess if you have your truck for years and years you might consider it. the machines that hook up to your truck to change the fluid are great. i got mine done last week and it made a big difference in it. it takes it all out,even the torque convertor. cost me about 60 bucks. i used penzoil synthetic in the motor,5w30

 

I hope that was just a typo when you replied and did NOT put 5w30 in your transmission!

 

sorry i didnt finish ,the synthetic went in the crank case, i was hurrying to leave and didnt finish. hope i didnt confuse anyone

 

Where did you get your Trans fully changed for 60 dollars? Was it a Ford Dealer?

Thanks

 

it was a small faimily owned oil change shop. it's kinda like the valvoline quick lube places but i guess this is the only one around. its in buckner, ky.

 

Were you also able to confirm that they put the correct Fluid in? It depends on if you have the 4r70 or 4r100.

 

HI!... You should change your tranny filter EVERYTIME you do a tranny fluid service!!!!!! By just changing the fluid to fresh you are accomplishing nothing really and just wasting your money. There is metal/aluminum/bronz debree that sticks to your tranny filter. That of coarse is why it is there. Also you get that same debree settling to the bottom of the tranny pan and sticking to the magnet that has been put on the pan to collect some of this debree. After several fluid changes without filter changes your tranny filter can actually become about 50% clogged up and starve the tranny for fluid. Remember that a tranny is a large HYDRAULIC pump and it needs a steady flow of clean, filtered fluid pumping through it. IMO I don't beleive in that sucking of fluid to do a tranny service. That's NOT the proper way of doing it, just the cheap way.

 

I kind of agree with ya. I have own BMW's for a long time and their owner's manual scare people because they are forward with what maintenance is required. Examples are change brake fluid every year, trans oil for a manual changed every 30,000 miles and rear end the same. American vehicles owner's manuals say you never have to change the rear end or the brake fluid. Spark plugs every 100,000 miles Please. This is just marketing. Granted after some initial break in the trans probably does not produce much more stuff to get caught in the filter but still replace it would be best.

 

HI!... I'm usually very hard on my truck, street racing/dragstrip. I do the following on this time table, no matter what.

Once a a year :

*Replace rearend oil (REDLINE synthetic)
*Change tranny fluid + filter and external filter (REDLINE synthetic)
*Spark plugs (Platinum, FORD)
*PCV (FORD)
*Power steering fluid (REDLINE synthetic)

*Change oil + filter every 3000KMS (VALVOLINE 10W-30)
*Brake fluid every 2 years or when it gets dark (REDLINE)
*Brakes, when needed.

 

I hear ya. I used that redline stuff in all my bmw's and it rocks. It really makes a difference. When you take a BMW, and all you do in one sitting is put redline in the engine, tranny and rear then take it for a drive it is like night and day. I have kind of stopped using them now that they have gotten older and have not decided what to do about the expy. Still feeling the waters on this one!!

 

Just my experience, I'm sure others will disagree, but the machine method has worked just fine for me. I'm sitting at around 138,000 miles as of today, and the filter has not been replaced, but the fluid has been swapped about every 30,000 miles. The tranny works just fine and I haven't had any problems with it, though my truck obviously isn't doing what Neal is! I've had other cars that have gone the other way with the filter and fluid swap, and that worked just fine too. I haven't actually ever had a tranny crap out on me, maybe I'm just lucky.

For those who care, I currently have Valvoline Durablend ATF in the tranny (meets mercon V requirements). I don't tow anything much over 2500lbs, and I do that rare enough.

 

The problem with me is I am 36 years old and have never owned a car that was an automatic. The the expy is the first. I was just wondering what is the best way to care for it. I will probably change mine in the expy at 15,000 to 20,000 miles with the filter changed also on the first one. Then after that I will have it machine swapped out every 20,000 or so. I am thinking about going to Mobil one also.

 

if I am not mistaken when the shop does a machine swap of the fluid if they do it right they reverse the flow through the filter to clean out the debris.

maybe a little research on the BG or Snap on sight might provide some answers since they both make the best equipment for this process.

no flame intended neal but 10w-30?!?!?!

peace-

 

HI!... HCMQ : YES! VALVOLINE 10-W-30. I don't like that **** water oil that FORD recomends. When I 1ST started using their preferred oil, I noticed that the oil broke down very quickly and became dark fast. I prefer the 10-W-30 weight and have never had a problem with it. It actually increased my oil preasure by 10PSI when I switched. Been running it for 3 years now with no problems, including NO piston slap! You think that's bad? I run VALVOLINE 20-W-50 in my PRO STREET RANGER for 7 years.