I posted this question in the matience section and no one replyed so I thought I would put it here.



OK. I just recently got my truck and it has 44,000 miles on it and it is a 2000. I am just wondering when do to the following maintence:

Tranny Fluid
Flush Cooling System
Differential Fluid
Alignment
Engine Tune Up

Just wondering at how many miles I need to do these things. I looked in the manual, but I just want to know for sure when to do it in the "real" world.

 

Well, its hard to say. Depending on where you bought you vehicle, some of these maintance things "should" have been done. Idealy, in a perfect world, if you bought the truck from a dealership (especially from a Ford dealership) the dealer would have performed all of the scheduled maintance before putting it on the used lot. As you know, we dont live in a perfect world, thus more than likely (unless it's an unusual dealership) the dealership would have done the least amount of maintance to the truck that 'needs' to be done to sell it. With this being said, these things may need to be done, UNLESS, that is the original owner had the maintance already done. But, most people do not maintain a vehice as it should be. So, now that I've said all that you need to determine if the maintance has been done or not. The best way to check is to go to a Ford dealership and let them check the VIN number on the truck. They can tell you all the maintance/repairs that have been made at any Ford dealership. If the maintance has been done (which is unlikely) you are in the clear and dont need to worry about it for now. However, if you can not find any maintance records on the truck, you may need to have some things done. Now, here is what I would do if I did not know any maintance records on the truck. I would have the fluids changed/flushed (oil, coolant, tranny, rear diff). You may also want to consider having the brake fluid and steering fluid flushed (depending on how **** you are). As far as the front alignment goes, if the truck drives straight, I would not worry about it. I have 49,000 miles on my 2000 Expedition and the thing drives straight as an arrow and has never had an alignment. If you search the boards you will find MANY posts talking about the great ability of these trucks holding their original alignment specs. Now dont get me wrong, if the truck has been driven off-road or seen rough roads an alignment may be in order. My truck never sees any more than maybe a gravel parking lot and I always avoid rough roads and potholes (i'm picky about where i drive). Finally, as far as the tune up goes, the engine in your truck was designed with a 100,000 mile tune-up interval. Once again, depending on how the truck has been driven and maintained will tell you if a tune-up is needed. More than likely, unless the first 44,000 miles on the truck have been rough miles, you will not be needing a tune-up. Sorry this has dragged on so long, but I hope I have answered your question. Enjoy your new-to-you truck. I love my Expediton and fully expect to keep it for several more years and hopefull see at least 150,000 miles.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't trust, nor want to spend the time to have them research the repair records. I bought it from a dealer, but who knows they may say they weren't done just so I will get them done there. I am just going to go a head and get the cooling, tranny, and diff. serviced so I know that it was done. The alignment I will hold off on for now. Thanks again for the help.

 

I had the same question when I bought my truck almost 2 years ago. I decided to do the safest thing and I picked up a Haynes repair manual and did everything up to the 60,000 miles check. It's not that expensive and you can do it a little at a time. I probably changed some things that didn't need to be changed, but that's ok with me.

Now I can sleep well knowing what's in it and when it was put in.

Hunt4Fun

 

I would like to do the things myself, but I am rather intimidated with it. Normally if I have directions I can figure things out, but when it comes to the tranny and things I don't want to mess it up. It is going to cost me about $200 to get all these things serviced by a mechanic so I wanted to make sure I am not wasting my money.

 

I have done everything you mentioned except the tune up @ 30K. Yes it would run about $200-300. I won't wait till 100K for a tune up. I'll do it around 60K...

 

Tranny and Coolant now for sure unless you know it's been done recently. The other stuff can wait, unless you are seeing uneven tire wear, then do alignment.