Changing The Transmission Fluid on Your Hybrid Maverick (DIY Step By Step)

[Hardening2753]

That is exactly all they are doing. I also have a Chevy Volt serviced in the same way for $69. Drain and fill, nothing more. But the Ford Dealership wants like $239 like it's some long process.

Yeah I don't understand how it cost $239. It's easier and quicker than an oil change

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[Gonzo chris]

I did this recently on my 2023 Lariat Lux Hybrid. While Ford and other manufactures say some fluids are lifetime, that's just because they want to say that it is cheap to own a vehicle. Due to the driving style and conditions that the truck operates on I have to preform regular transmission drain and fills. You can do this with Walmart or Harbor Freight tools. If you have done an oil change you can drain and fill a transmission. While this is specific to the Hybrid, it likely is the same for the EcoBoost (and JK jeeps for what it's worth just different sockets and fluid).

You are responsible for your actions and assume all risk.

Tools

• 3/8 ratchet
• 3/8 extension - 5 inches
• 14 mm socket - Transmission drain bolt
• 10 mm hex socket - Transmission fill
• 21 mm socket - lug nuts (or use the one that came with truck)
• 4 mm hex socket - under engine splash guard
• Flashlight
• Funnel
• Mop bucket or oil receptacle
• Safety glasses
• Mechanix gloves
• Truck Jack
• Jack Stand
• Tire chock

Supplies

• Paper towels
• Nitrile gloves
• degreaser
• 6 quarts of Motorcraft Mercon ULV (toxic)
  • I always get extra if I spill

Step By Step
Lifting the truck

1. Activate the parking brake
2. Loosen but do not remove the lug nuts (21 mm socket)of the front driver tire
3. Chock the rear tires
4. Jack the truck up
5. Put the jack stand and lift to appropriate height
6. Remove the tire and side it next to the jack stand
   1. If the jack and stand both fail the tire will function as a stand as a last resort
7. Remove the under engine splash shield

Draining the Transmission

(Note: the blue line is me bolt marking it after I filled it. It is not there from the factory)

1. You will open the fill plug first (picture 1)
   1. This is to ensure that you can fill the transmission. If you cannot remove the fill plug abort and call a mechanic
2. With the 10 mm hex socket remove the transmission fill plug
   1. Mine was pretty tight and I had to use a breaker bar
3. Place the mop bucket or oil receptacle under the oil
4. Remove the Transmission drain bolt using the 14 mm socket (picture 2)
5. Let the transmission oil drain
   1. It is normal for some metal flakes but they should be small

Filling the Transmission

1. Tighten the transmission drain plug. I did 1/4 extra after it got tight
2. Measure the amount of transmission oil that wan removed. This is the same that you will add. I had 4.2 quarts come out and I put 4.5 back
3. Using the funnel begging to fill the transmission through the fill hole
4. Transmission fluid will start to leak as you get near the amount you removed
5. When full, tighten the transmission fill bolt. I did 1/4 extra turn after it got tight.
6. Congrats you did a transmission drain and fill!

Finishing

1. Replace the tire
2. Finger tighten the lug nuts
3. Make sure there is nothing under the truck
4. Jack the truck up some to remove the jack stand
5. Slowly lower the truck
6. Tighten the lug nuts
7. Turn the truck on
8. Cycle from parking>reverse>neutral>drive 4-5 times
9. Road test the truck by driving it to a local car part store to recycle the transmission fluid
10. Enjoy a cold beverage when you get home

Nice right up and thanks for the detailed info. Just curious what would require regular changes in by regular how often? I guess snapping off that bolt that required a breaker bar was a bit of a concern.

 

[Hardening2753]

Nice right up and thanks for the detailed info. Just curious what would require regular changes in by regular how often? I guess snapping off that bolt that required a breaker bar was a bit of a concern.

If you check the manual tells you exactly what conditions to do it more frequently at. For me it was frequent dusty conditions like driving up and down Forest roads a lot

The boat was a painted butt but it came out pretty quick once I got the breaker bar into it and it's a small breaker bar. Maybe I'm too weak lol

 

[Mavreezy]

That is exactly all they are doing. I also have a Chevy Volt serviced in the same way for $69. Drain and fill, nothing more. But the Ford Dealership wants like $239 like it's some long process.

I agree, it's a rip-off what they charge for the service. That's why I don't feel guilty screwing the dealership.

 

[inline_five]

Nice right up and thanks for the detailed info. Just curious what would require regular changes in by regular how often? I guess snapping off that bolt that required a breaker bar was a bit of a concern.

The book says 100k IIRC. Maybe 150k. FWIW there is a guy on YouTube who rebuilds Ford hybrid transmissions (specially the HF35 which ours is very similar) and he said that changing it every 50k would "significantly" lengthen the lifespan of the transmission. That's just normal driving in a sedan, so if towing, driving in extremely hot weather, driving in the mountains etc changing it every 30k in the Maverick might be beneficial.

 

[DrNoobNStein]

Awesome write up . My 15' Outlander Sport Cvt 2 was every 30K miles. Drain 4.5qts, drop pan, replace mesh filter and most important: change the Cvt cooler filter. Of course that tiny little cooler filter got overlooked by many owners because it was buried underneath the battery tray and 2 brackets

 

[mikeydang]

I did this recently on my 2023 Lariat Lux Hybrid. While Ford and other manufactures say some fluids are lifetime, that's just because they want to say that it is cheap to own a vehicle. Due to the driving style and conditions that the truck operates on I have to preform regular transmission drain and fills. You can do this with Walmart or Harbor Freight tools. If you have done an oil change you can drain and fill a transmission. While this is specific to the Hybrid, it likely is the same for the EcoBoost (and JK jeeps for what it's worth just different sockets and fluid).

You are responsible for your actions and assume all risk.

Tools

• 3/8 ratchet
• 3/8 extension - 5 inches
• 14 mm socket - Transmission drain bolt
• 10 mm hex socket - Transmission fill
• 21 mm socket - lug nuts (or use the one that came with truck)
• 4 mm hex socket - under engine splash guard
• Flashlight
• Funnel
• Mop bucket or oil receptacle
• Safety glasses
• Mechanix gloves
• Truck Jack
• Jack Stand
• Tire chock

Supplies

• Paper towels
• Nitrile gloves
• degreaser
• 6 quarts of Motorcraft Mercon ULV (toxic)
  • I always get extra if I spill

Step By Step
Lifting the truck

1. Activate the parking brake
2. Loosen but do not remove the lug nuts (21 mm socket)of the front driver tire
3. Chock the rear tires
4. Jack the truck up
5. Put the jack stand and lift to appropriate height
6. Remove the tire and side it next to the jack stand
   1. If the jack and stand both fail the tire will function as a stand as a last resort
7. Remove the under engine splash shield

Draining the Transmission

(Note: the blue line is me bolt marking it after I filled it. It is not there from the factory)

1. You will open the fill plug first (picture 1)
   1. This is to ensure that you can fill the transmission. If you cannot remove the fill plug abort and call a mechanic
2. With the 10 mm hex socket remove the transmission fill plug
   1. Mine was pretty tight and I had to use a breaker bar
3. Place the mop bucket or oil receptacle under the oil
4. Remove the Transmission drain bolt using the 14 mm socket (picture 2)
5. Let the transmission oil drain
   1. It is normal for some metal flakes but they should be small

Filling the Transmission

1. Tighten the transmission drain plug. I did 1/4 extra after it got tight
2. Measure the amount of transmission oil that wan removed. This is the same that you will add. I had 4.2 quarts come out and I put 4.5 back
3. Using the funnel begging to fill the transmission through the fill hole
4. Transmission fluid will start to leak as you get near the amount you removed
5. When full, tighten the transmission fill bolt. I did 1/4 extra turn after it got tight.
6. Congrats you did a transmission drain and fill!

Finishing

1. Replace the tire
2. Finger tighten the lug nuts
3. Make sure there is nothing under the truck
4. Jack the truck up some to remove the jack stand
5. Slowly lower the truck
6. Tighten the lug nuts
7. Turn the truck on
8. Cycle from parking>reverse>neutral>drive 4-5 times
9. Road test the truck by driving it to a local car part store to recycle the transmission fluid
10. Enjoy a cold beverage when you get home

Thanks for the info, looks easy enough, but which tire ? LOL

 

[LtCasual]

Thanks for the info, looks easy enough, but which tire ? LOL

Driver side.

Thanks for this write up! I'm looking to do mine at 20k miles just to make sure it wasn't underfilled at the factory since I have seen that a few times here. After that I probably won't touch it again for another 60k.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Great write-up, thank you.

I have my Ford dealership do the drain & refill every time I go in for an oil change. I've had it done 4 times.

You're correct, the Ford tech tells me that a little over 4 quarts drains out.

I only get it done because my dealership only charges me $75 to drain & refill the transmission fluid. If my math is correct, I'm only getting charged around $20 for labor based on the the cost of 5 quarts at $11 a pop.

My tech said it's overkill what I'm doing based on the mileage my truck has (25k), but he doesn't mind it since the truck is already up on the lift.

Anyways, thanks again for sharing your write-up.

Look up "OCD" on the internet.

 

[jerrisn]

Yeah I don't understand how it cost $239. It's easier and quicker than an oil change

I called again and they said $239 total. $140 Parts and $100 labor.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

So are we checking the fluid level at the fill plug with the motor running on the hybrid Mavericks?

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Follow up question. Has anyone used a different ULV ATF other than the Ford brand? I was thinking of using Valvoline ULV fluid which is about half the price. Since Ford doesn't make the transmission fluid does anyone know who the manufacture is?

 

[Hoagus]

What was the mileage? Did I miss that part?

 

[Montana]

If you check the manual tells you exactly what conditions to do it more frequently at. For me it was frequent dusty conditions like driving up and down Forest roads a lot

The boat was a painted butt but it came out pretty quick once I got the breaker bar into it and it's a small breaker bar. Maybe I'm too weak lol

Nah mine was on there too. Same with the PTU/RDU and tranny level plug.
It's just loctite.

What was the mileage? Did I miss that part?

Yea. OP opted to change around 30k.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Follow up question. Has anyone used a different ULV ATF other than the Ford brand? I was thinking of using Valvoline ULV fluid which is about half the price. Since Ford doesn't make the transmission fluid does anyone know who the manufacture is?

According to John Kelly at Weber State the eCVT requires additives which protect the polymer coatings on the field coils. Heat can destroy those additives and if coatings deteriorate the copper coils can melt. The winding are square wires and have 90° turns to make the motors smaller, saving copper, and more powerful. The coatings have to carry heat rapidly. In one of his videos he had tech's from the Bahamas that on the earlier models of the eCVT are changing the fluid ANNUALLY due to hf35 failures from heat. These are earlier models than maverick though. I personally at 100+°F switch to 91 octane and limit speed to 68-70:mph.

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