First Transmission / PTU / Differential Change

[Darryl]

That was my experience exactly as well when filling the ATF through the vent tube. Did you remove the airbox to get to the hose clamp on the vent? With the airbox out there was plenty of open space!

My PTU was also underfilled. Crazy how they're coming from the factory like that!

how much was in it? According to the workshop manual the ptu capacity is between 0.4 and 0.5 qts depending on the application . That's not much at all. But Ford has determined that it's enough. As for the metal on the magnet in the differential, I've noticed that most vehicles quickly accumulate metal at first. But they accumulate it much more slowly after that. It's interesting that the owners manual says that our and rear differential fluid doesn't have a maintenance interval .But it says it MIGHT need to be charged under severe service. But even then it doesn't give a specific mileage. In my opinion the ptu will only need to be changed in conditions where the vehicle has been operated under conditions where there was a lot of instances where traction was lost such as mud, sand or snow since it just basically floats along for the ride until needed. The rear differential is more likely to need service when towing heavy loads regularly. But like the ptu, it gets little heavy use unless the front wheels lack traction. With it primarily being a front wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels are more likely to lose traction when towing because the load is increased, but less weight is on the front at that time

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[matmondro]

how much was in it? According to the workshop manual the ptu capacity is between 0.4 and 0.5 qts depending on the application . That's not much at all. But Ford has determined that it's enough.

Only around 10-11 fl. oz. Took 16 fl. oz. when refilling.

 

[24TremorXLT]

Im at 20k on my Tremor and I use the truck quite heavily. I was going to change the fluids at 30k should i be looking into changing them sooner? Truck drives incredible as of the moment.

 

[710-oil-614]

Im at 20k on my Tremor and I use the truck quite heavily. I was going to change the fluids at 30k should i be looking into changing them sooner? Truck drives incredible as of the moment.

This is just preventive. Do it if you want, if not you'll likely be just fine.

Tremor has additional PTU cooler but no drain plug if I remember correctly, so you have to separate the cooler to drain it from the seal.

 

[RRaynor2]

I just changed all powertrain lubricants in my maverick at 15,000 miles. I don't drive it hard, but I don't drive it lightly either. I towed a 2,000 pound boat and trailer for maybe 3,000 of those miles so I figured it was a good idea to do a break in change, especially since I hear horror stories about the PTU being underfilled.

The transmission fluid looked clean. Minimal sparkling, no chunks, shavings, or bits visible to the naked eye. 4.25 quarts came out. Filling it up was a fiasco. I tried filling it through the vent - big mistake. Transmission fluid trickled out from between the funnel spout and rubber vent. I strongly recommend people do themselves a favor and remove the hose clamp and take it off. Filling it was a breeze. I have no idea how much I put it. I used up 5 quarts, but I have no idea how much I lost from spilling some. My guess is I lost about a fourth of a quart, not much more, not much less. I decided to just put everything in and then check the leveling plug. I went for a quick drive through town and then the highway to make sure I got the fluid up to temp. When I opened it up, a fourth of a quart trickled out.

The differential was the easiest of them all. Quick and easy access. The fluid was clean, BUT I was a bit surprised by how much sludge was on the magnet for 15,000 miles.

The PTU was very worrisome. I should have measured how much came out, but it was WAY underfilled. Thanks Ford. Glass half full is that the fluid was clean. No shavings, bits, or chunks. Another surprise was that there was less sludge on the PTU magnet than on the differential magnet. That was a head scratcher.

The biggest mistake I made was not filling up the ptu immediately after hearing all these stories. It was a commonly reported problem. Very disconcerting to know I drove 15,000 miles like that.

Did you take the front wheel off when checking the level for the ATF? I'm about to do that same thing and I'm toying with the idea of just turning the wheel out of the way to get to the level plug.

 

[FTMaverick80]

Im at 20k on my Tremor and I use the truck quite heavily. I was going to change the fluids at 30k should i be looking into changing them sooner? Truck drives incredible as of the moment.

I would at least think about filling it. But at your mileage, it wouldn't hurt to drain the old stuff.

 

[FTMaverick80]

Did you take the front wheel off when checking the level for the ATF? I'm about to do that same thing and I'm toying with the idea of just turning the wheel out of the way to get to the level plug.

I took it off. I didn't bother to see if I could just turn the wheel and access it. If you're going to bother with checking the level, my recommendation is to fill it a 1/4 of a quart more than what you got out (if you have a way to measure) if the fluid is cold. 1/2 a quart if you drained the fluid when it was warm, because I think warm transmission fluid expands. Just let that extra dribble out instead of refilling it if you notice you didn't fill it all the way.

I don't know if I did the procedure right. I put the car in park, reverse, neutral, and drive for a few second to get the fluid all the way through. Then I drove it on the highway to get into each gear and get the transmission temperature up to operating temp. Then with the car running while in park, i removed the leveling plug and let it dribble out. I read that the car should be in neutral, but I left it in park with the parking brake and opposite tire chocked. I made sure the car was level.

My guess is I got pretty darn close to what it should be. I removed 4.25 quarts (this is what I measured when the fluid was cold). I put 5 quarts into it, but I spilled a little bit while filling (my guess is around a 1/4 of a quart). Then when I opened up the leveling plug, a 1/4 of a quart dribbled out.

My guess is I MAYBE filled a fourth of a quart more than what I took out, but I can't know for certain.

 

[24TremorXLT]

This is just preventive. Do it if you want, if not you'll likely be just fine.

Tremor has additional PTU cooler but no drain plug if I remember correctly, so you have to separate the cooler to drain it from the seal.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[24TremorXLT]

I would at least think about filling it. But at your mileage, it wouldn't hurt to drain the old stuff.

Ok, thanks ill definitely get ready for it just to be safe

 

[matmondro]

I took it off. I didn't bother to see if I could just turn the wheel and access it. If you're going to bother with checking the level, my recommendation is to fill it a 1/4 of a quart more than what you got out (if you have a way to measure) if the fluid is cold. 1/2 a quart if you drained the fluid when it was warm, because I think warm transmission fluid expands. Just let that extra dribble out instead of refilling it if you notice you didn't fill it all the way.

I don't know if I did the procedure right. I put the car in park, reverse, neutral, and drive for a few second to get the fluid all the way through. Then I drove it on the highway to get into each gear and get the transmission temperature up to operating temp. Then with the car running while in park, i removed the leveling plug and let it dribble out. I read that the car should be in neutral, but I left it in park with the parking brake and opposite tire chocked. I made sure the car was level.

My guess is I got pretty darn close to what it should be. I removed 4.25 quarts (this is what I measured when the fluid was cold). I put 5 quarts into it, but I spilled a little bit while filling (my guess is around a 1/4 of a quart). Then when I opened up the leveling plug, a 1/4 of a quart dribbled out.

My guess is I MAYBE filled a fourth of a quart more than what I took out, but I can't know for certain.

Your procedure is correct! And if you're about 0.25 qt over, I wouldn't be worried honestly.

 

[anthonym6]

From the service manual for the 8 Speed Automatic...

• With the engine running in PARK on a level surface make sure the transmission is at normal operating temperature 85-93° C (185-200° F). If necessary, drive the vehicle until the transmission is at normal operating temperature 85-93°C (185-200°F).
• With the engine running in PARK, remove the transmission fluid leveling plug and check if transmission fluid seeps out of the transmission fluid leveling plug hole.
• If the transmission fluid does not seep out of the transmission fluid leveling plug hole, add clean transmission fluid in increments of 0.25L (0.5 pt) until the transmission fluid is even with the transmission fluid leveling plug hole.
• Install the transmission fluid leveling plug.
  Torque: 26 lb.ft (35 Nm)

 

[FTMaverick80]

I did everything except measure the torque. It feels like I put at least 20ft lbs on it though.

 

[Bradley]

That was my experience exactly as well when filling the ATF through the vent tube. Did you remove the airbox to get to the hose clamp on the vent? With the airbox out there was plenty of open space!

My PTU was also underfilled. Crazy how they're coming from the factory like that!

Very good to know. Does this low fluid situation apply to my "not yet delivered" AWD hybrid?

 

[710-oil-614]

Very good to know. Does this low fluid situation apply to my "not yet delivered" AWD hybrid?

Most likely. Can easily open up the fill plug when you get it and top off.

 

[FTMaverick80]

Very good to know. Does this low fluid situation apply to my "not yet delivered" AWD hybrid?

I think they PROBABLY corrected it on the new ones. But, it definitely doesn't hurt to open the fill plug with the truck level and see if it's full. No need to bother draining it yet.

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