Changed the eCVT transmission fluid in my Hybrid Maverick

[Richard2212]

That seems like an excessively short eCVT fluid change interval, given that (a) the manufacturer specified the first change at 150k miles, (b) its essentially just a diff and not a tranny with clutch packs and overheated fluid to wear out, (c) people who have changed it report that the fluid is clean with essentially no metal in it. Unless its been in a flood, I think I'd believe Fords recommended interval in this case.

First oil change for a "gear" box should be before 10k miles. Ford is recommending long intervals to reduce the apparent long term maintenance costs. Bad idea for the vehicle owner.

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[LC48]

Long change intervals are very much a game, similar to carbon credits - not a single reputable tribologist will support these manufacturers long change intervals. The science doesn't support it. As long as she makes it past warranty the OEM is happy to accept the government credits.....

 

[surfstar]

Long change intervals are very much a game, similar to carbon credits - not a single reputable tribologist will support these manufacturers long change intervals. The science doesn't support it. As long as she makes it past warranty the OEM is happy to accept the government credits.....

So do Toyota and Honda do/did something different? They built their reputation on long lasting vehicles, yet I doubt that they have a shorter OCI for engines or transmissions. In fact, Honda was known for stating to NOT change your first oil fill too early due to special break-in lube (which may have just been extra moly from assembly).
We're not talking heavy machinery with expensive bits and calculated mean time between failure - we're talking consumer-grade mass-produced vehicles. The average (heck 90% of) owners will never reap any benefits from enhanced filtration / shorter OCIs / routine monitoring of fluids. It's a hobby for weird vehicle owners. (longtime BITOG member here, but I didn't buy into all of it)

 

[LC48]

So do Toyota and Honda do/did something different? They built their reputation on long lasting vehicles, yet I doubt that they have a shorter OCI for engines or transmissions. In fact, Honda was known for stating to NOT change your first oil fill too early due to special break-in lube (which may have just been extra moly from assembly).
We're not talking heavy machinery with expensive bits and calculated mean time between failure - we're talking consumer-grade mass-produced vehicles. The average (heck 90% of) owners will never reap any benefits from enhanced filtration / shorter OCIs / routine monitoring of fluids. It's a hobby for weird vehicle owners. (longtime BITOG member here, but I didn't buy into all of it)

BITOG is 95% opinion, probably one of the more useless sites on the web.

Toyota and Honda are still living off that reputation, their reliability today is not what it was 20-years ago, and has nothing to do with today's ridiculous long maintenance intervals. Honda was correct, break-in lubes are still a thing in the performance world, heavier phosphorus loads in those oils help the zinc do its job, but break-in oils have done all they can do by about 400 miles or so.

GDI engines are hell on oil due to fuel contamination, ecoboost is pure GDI, every oil sample shows fuel contamination- this is not a Ford issue, all GDI engines suffer the same.

Tear down a 100 k engine that ran 10k intervals, do the same with one that ran 5k intervals and the difference in wear is measurable.

Forget BITOG, unless you just want to be validated to use Walmart oil and filters on a 10k plus change interval, plenty of laymen their that will swear by it.....

OR, listen to a guy like Lake Speed Jr., or Gale Banks. Any number of lube engineers, the data is published and public.

Oil is cheap, even "expensive oil" is cheap for the benefits it provides. Yes materials and lubricants are superior today, no question, but they suffer from contamination and dilution like they always have.

10,000 mile intervals are about environmental credits to the manufacturer, not driven by sound lubrication engineering.

 

[The Real Maverick]

But EcoBoost and Hybrids are not the same.

On my last 840 mile tank the engine was running about 15% of the time.

 

[inline_five]

That seems like an excessively short eCVT fluid change interval, given that (a) the manufacturer specified the first change at 150k miles, (b) its essentially just a diff and not a tranny with clutch packs and overheated fluid to wear out, (c) people who have changed it report that the fluid is clean with essentially no metal in it. Unless its been in a flood, I think I'd believe Fords recommended interval in this case.

The Maverick's transmission is the HF45, which is an HF35 transmission modified for additional cooling to handle another 500 lbs of towing capacity.

Engineering Fords new HF45 hybrid transmission (sae.org)

Moving on, the HF35 transmission which is mechanically similar has had numerous issues with bearing noise and gear failure.

• 15 min long video on HF35 transmission from a rebuilder
• Common failure point (3:00)
• Reason it happens (5:10)
• How to prevent failure (5:45)
• Replacing internal filter and dirty transmission oil (12:25)

Now, it's your call if you want to trust Ford's maintenance plan to keep your transmission going. Me personally, changing well prior to the 150,000 recommended value Ford "recommends" is cheap insurance.

Personal opinion only but changing it at 10k and 30k thereafter isn't a bad interval. If doing only easy driving I'm sure 60k is probably sufficient however based on my experience with my Prius.

 

[Tiger Dude]

The eCVT is not a torque converter, which uses the fluid to actually transfer the forces. The oil is just keeping it lubed and cool. It is a very mild application for transmission fluid.

 

[huunvubu]

What's everybody changing their oil at after purchase for the first change?3k?5k?

When the oil monitor says to change it or 12 months occur.

 

[inline_five]

The eCVT is not a torque converter, which uses the fluid to actually transfer the forces. The oil is just keeping it lubed and cool. It is a very mild application for transmission fluid.

and yet Ford still found a way to make the transmission fail

With the HF45 already being a higher strung version of the HF35 requiring more cooling capacity, that doesn't bode well for the "150,000 mile" schedule when HF35s are failing at 100k.

 

[sprubs]

But EcoBoost and Hybrids are not the same.

On my last 840 mile tank the engine was running about 15% of the time.

Is there a way to see how much the engine is running?? That sounds really low unless you literally mean "time" and you spent a lot of it sitting in traffic. But even still, how do you find this information? It would be interesting to have if possible.

 

[sprubs]

The eCVT is not a torque converter, which uses the fluid to actually transfer the forces. The oil is just keeping it lubed and cool. It is a very mild application for transmission fluid.

This right here. I wouldn't try to apply best practices on a traditional automatic transmission to the eCVT. This thing is a different beast entirely.

 

[Puckjim]

Long change intervals are very much a game, similar to carbon credits - not a single reputable tribologist will support these manufacturers long change intervals. The science doesn't support it. As long as she makes it past warranty the OEM is happy to accept the government credits.....

So if I get an extended warranty will Ford reprogram my Oil Life monitor to recommend oil changes every 1000 miles?

The "tribologists" that built the car recommend the intervals....That's plenty reputable.

Change your oil when the truck tells you to.

 

[Gonzo chris]

Long change intervals are very much a game, similar to carbon credits - not a single reputable tribologist will support these manufacturers long change intervals. The science doesn't support it. As long as she makes it past warranty the OEM is happy to accept the government credits.....

I'm aware of credits going to auto manufacturers but I didn't know they got one for having long oil change or transmission fluid change specified intervals?

 

[Gonzo chris]

BITOG is 95% opinion, probably one of the more useless sites on the web.

Toyota and Honda are still living off that reputation, their reliability today is not what it was 20-years ago, and has nothing to do with today's ridiculous long maintenance intervals. Honda was correct, break-in lubes are still a thing in the performance world, heavier phosphorus loads in those oils help the zinc do its job, but break-in oils have done all they can do by about 400 miles or so.

GDI engines are hell on oil due to fuel contamination, ecoboost is pure GDI, every oil sample shows fuel contamination- this is not a Ford issue, all GDI engines suffer the same.

Tear down a 100 k engine that ran 10k intervals, do the same with one that ran 5k intervals and the difference in wear is measurable.

Forget BITOG, unless you just want to be validated to use Walmart oil and filters on a 10k plus change interval, plenty of laymen their that will swear by it.....

OR, listen to a guy like Lake Speed Jr., or Gale Banks. Any number of lube engineers, the data is published and public.

Oil is cheap, even "expensive oil" is cheap for the benefits it provides. Yes materials and lubricants are superior today, no question, but they suffer from contamination and dilution like they always have.

10,000 mile intervals are about environmental credits to the manufacturer, not driven by sound lubrication engineering.

I have a GDI VW Golf and I had the oil analyzed after being changed at a 6,000 mi interval and it did not show any excessive contamination in the oil from fuel. I would imagine that's an issue with rings on the vehicle?

 

[CajunMick]

Easiest way is to jump pick up a pump attachment for bottle

https://www.harborfreight.com/gear-...toe8CXkpWX2bZ-Qp0ky1l9lkFoE8ZsSsaAggNEALw_wcB

Oh gee, that’s one thing I don’t have in my toolbox. I’ve always said why do HF when have everything in tool box, shop. LoL

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