Ecoboost Transmission fluid, PTU and RDU fluid change @ 25k miles -- Tips & Results

[XLT 4k Cactus Gray]

I saw someone else ask this question but never saw an answer and was wondering myself - could you just fill the transmission fluid back up from the leveling hole on the side rather than bother with taking the airbox out and trying to fill it from the top?

Has anyone tried this? Seems like it would be the easiest way.

That's the way my dealer did mine through the leveling hole

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[matmondro]

I saw someone else ask this question but never saw an answer and was wondering myself - could you just fill the transmission fluid back up from the leveling hole on the side rather than bother with taking the airbox out and trying to fill it from the top?

Has anyone tried this? Seems like it would be the easiest way.

I would never fill it that way honestly. That would require the vehicle to be running, and I wouldn't start a vehicle up that's missing most of its transmission fluid. When the vehicle is off, the fluid all settles down into the case and rises well above the leveling plug. Essentially, the plug is submerged when its off, but when running it's not submerged. So you'd never be able to get the proper amount of fluid in when off, and even if you started adding fluid then started up the truck, you're still starting it up several quarts low. Going through the top/vent is also the procedure outlined in the Ford Service Manual.

The removal of the airbox and vent took only a couple of minutes, and there's plenty of room/light when filling from the top. Space is very limited to get to the leveling plug through the wheel well.

 

[MatthewPK]

I would never fill it that way honestly. That would require the vehicle to be running, and I wouldn't start a vehicle up that's missing most of its transmission fluid. When the vehicle is off, the fluid all settles down into the case and rises well above the leveling plug. Essentially, the plug is submerged when its off, but when running it's not submerged. So you'd never be able to get the proper amount of fluid in when off, and even if you started adding fluid then started up the truck, you're still starting it up several quarts low. Going through the top/vent is also the procedure outlined in the Ford Service Manual.

The removal of the airbox and vent took only a couple of minutes, and there's plenty of room/light when filling from the top. Space is very limited to get to the leveling plug through the wheel well.

I wonder if we should have similar reservations about running the engine with no air filter?

 

[Blinky]

Yes...if you want the trans to last.

While I'm a Mopar fan that lifetime oil is a myth. It's only lifetime until the trans blows!

It'll last a "lifetime", might be the lifetime of a mayfly or house gecko but one lifetime

I wonder if we should have similar reservations about running the engine with no air filter?

Running your car in the shop for 5 minutes without an airfilter? Not a problem as long as you don't leave a rag laying over the air intake or have a ton of dust swirling around.
Driving the car around to warm the transmission? I'd toss the filter back in, it only takes minute or two to pull it back out.

 

[matmondro]

I wonder if we should have similar reservations about running the engine with no air filter?

Personally, I wouldn't really have any reservations on that, at least not for more than 30 seconds or a minute. To drive the truck, then definitely.

When doing this process I did put the airbox back in to drive around to warm it up. When checking the level after and needing to add a little bit more, I just pulled it all back out again. Wasn't difficult and only took a couple of minutes!

 

[bckrupps]

I had the dealer do mine at 12k on my FX4. Definately early but wanted to make sure everything was full and any break in crap is gone. 25k from now on which is like 3 years for me. My last truck was a Frontier and 16 years in didnt burn a drop of anything. It was a hell of a truck. I going for a minimum of 10 years from this one.

 

[MatthewPK]

I did my tremor PTU, RDU, transmission, and oil this weekend at 5k miles because I had heard about factory underfilling.

I did not measure the ATF, but I did measure the others. The RDU had a little shy of 3/4 quart, which is less than I put back in.
The PTU has under half a quart, which is much less than I put back in.

 

[matmondro]

I did my tremor PTU, RDU, transmission, and oil this weekend at 5k miles because I had heard about factory underfilling.

I did not measure the ATF, but I did measure the others. The RDU had a little shy of 3/4 quart, which is less than I put back in.
The PTU has under half a quart, which is much less than I put back in.

I had noticed the same too. Seemed like I put a little more back in than what came out. Have driven about 350 miles since doing these fluids and towed a snowmobile trailer about 45 miles of that. Has been trouble-free!

 

[craigt502]

Did the PTU and transmission fluid today at 28k miles. I tow/haul more than the average Maverick owner I’d say. Took almost half a quart of 75W85 for the PTU and almost 5 quarts of trans fluid. Comparison picture of the new and old fluids. Top is PTU. Bottom is trans.

 

[matmondro]

Did the PTU and transmission fluid today at 28k miles. I tow/haul more than the average Maverick owner I’d say. Took almost half a quart of 75W85 for the PTU and almost 5 quarts of trans fluid. Comparison picture of the new and old fluids. Top is PTU. Bottom is trans.

Nice! That's about how my fluids looked when I did the change too. Good to get that factory fill out of there.

 

[metomwhou]

Nice write up. Guarantee I'd be adding an aprox 12" extension to that vent hose to facilitate further oil changes and to raise it above the splash zone.

That's a great idea....What type of tubing would you use and would there be any worriy about that restrictor not be in there anymore?



Also, there seems to be lots of talk about driving the truck around to warm up the trans but the video that's linked appears to be able to get the trans up to temp by just letting the truck run. Another video I watched(of the too many to list) showed similar techniques but also moving it through the gears a few times while parked....Am I missing something?

 

[Tbone289]

Also, there seems to be lots of talk about driving the truck around to warm up the trans but the video that's linked appears to be able to get the trans up to temp by just letting the truck run. Another video I watched(of the too many to list) showed similar techniques but also moving it through the gears a few times while parked....Am I missing something?

You need to get the transmission up to temperature before the final fluid check to ensure that it's not overfilled. The minimum temperature for the fluid check is 185 degrees. It will take a very long time to get it up to 185 degrees if you don't drive it. At least that's the case for my 4K tow Maverick with the auxiliary transmission cooler. In normal driving, my transmission doesn't reach 185 degrees until about 15-20 minutes.

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