First Transmission / PTU / Differential Change

[FTMaverick80]

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.

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[matmondro]

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!

 

[Blitz-Hacker]

I just changed all powertrain lubricants in my maverick at 15,000 miles.

I changed my PTU/RTU fluid at 26,000 miles and both fluids were very dark and both magnets were completly loaded with debris. I wish I would of changed them sooner as well. My question is are these going look this bad in another 30k of driving or was this some kind of break in thing?

 

[FTMaverick80]

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!

Yes, I removed the air box. I didn't know you can reach the vent hose otherwise.

I can't believe how many people are filling it up through the vent hose. I looked at it after I removed it and there's a plate with a hole not much larger than a pin hole. I wish I removed it from the start. The mess I created was annoying.

As far as the PTU goes, I can't believe Ford underfilled these PTUs so badly, but glass half full over here......my fluids looked good.

 

[FTMaverick80]

That's a good question. My guess is in another 26,000 miles, it will look almost as dark as the first change, but will have less debris since the car is fully broken in now. But i'm just guessing

 

[matmondro]

I can't believe how many people are filling it up through the vent hose. I looked at it after I removed it and there's a plate with a hole not much larger than a pin hole. I wish I removed it from the start. The mess I created was annoying.

Agreed, I can't believe it either. I took a pic of it when I did mine in the fall. There's no way anybody is getting 5 qts of ATF through there!

 

[tciotti2003]

For all you diy' ers...When I 1st bought my 22 EB 1st edition lariat I took it to my mechanic and had them do a complete fluid change/flush including the RDU/PTU. Cost was $750.00 but this ol man is just too old to be doing it all myself..Just a post to let you know how much you save by doing it yourself...

 

[710-oil-614]

For all you diy' ers...When I 1st bought my 22 EB 1st edition lariat I took it to my mechanic and had them do a complete fluid change/flush including the RDU/PTU. Cost was $750.00 but this ol man is just too old to be doing it all myself..Just a post to let you know how much you save by doing it yourself...

You need to find a new mechanic!

 

[710-oil-614]

My PTU was likely only under filled by an oz or two max. About 15 oz came out and 16 went in.

 

[FTMaverick80]

For all you diy' ers...When I 1st bought my 22 EB 1st edition lariat I took it to my mechanic and had them do a complete fluid change/flush including the RDU/PTU. Cost was $750.00 but this ol man is just too old to be doing it all myself..Just a post to let you know how much you save by doing it yourself...

I'm not going to lie. It's tempting to just pay a mechanic to do this stuff. Crawling on the floor is not fun even with the quickjack I have. My 45 year old body has premature arthritis, plus I need to eat better and work out more. Plus, when you diy, you have the mess you have to clean up afterwards.

My advice to diy'ers....Bottle up the old fluids immediately. My garage stunk for a day after I changed the fluids and the only thing that I spilled (and promptly cleaned up) was the tranny fluid. I let the PTU and RDU fluid sit in an open oil pan for a few hours. That stuff reeks.

 

[Carlitos_92]

You need to find a new mechanic!

Yeah, $750 seems like dealer-level pricing if not more. I don't think all the fluids and filters cost $200 combined when I did my truck. The effort I expended after that, even being the first time, and including rotating the tires in my garage - wasn't worth another $550 to me.

My advice to diy'ers....Bottle up the old fluids immediately. My garage stunk for a day after I changed the fluids and the only thing that I spilled (and promptly cleaned up) was the tranny fluid. I let the PTU and RDU fluid sit in an open oil pan for a few hours. That stuff reeks.

Good advice. Some of that stuff is extra stinky. I grew up downwind of oil refineries and have even worked in the refining industry, so it all smells like "home" to me - but the modifiers they put in gear oil are especially pungent.

 

[FTMaverick80]

Good advice. Some of that stuff is extra stinky. I grew up downwind of oil refineries and have even worked in the refining industry, so it all smells like "home" to me - but the modifiers they put in gear oil are especially pungent.
[/QUOTE]

I was checking to make sure that I didn't spill any. I only had that stuff in the open for maybe 90 minutes. That odor sticks around for a short time!

 

[tciotti2003]

I'm not going to lie. It's tempting to just pay a mechanic to do this stuff. Crawling on the floor is not fun even with the quickjack I have. My 45 year old body has premature arthritis, plus I need to eat better and work out more. Plus, when you diy, you have the mess you have to clean up afterwards.

My advice to diy'ers....Bottle up the old fluids immediately. My garage stunk for a day after I changed the fluids and the only thing that I spilled (and promptly cleaned up) was the tranny fluid. I let the PTU and RDU fluid sit in an open oil pan for a few hours. That stuff reeks.
[/QUOTE
I get it..I'm 68 so I gotta pick my battles

 

[tciotti2003]

You need to find a new mechanic!

Nope..I think you're incorrect...Tranny flush, coolant flush and radiator pressure cleaned and tested, brake fluid changed, full syn oil change, oil and cabin filters changed and PTU/ RDU changed...All work is recorded and provided upon request and car fax reported to....Oh and, or course, tire rotation....So for $750, this 68 yr old man feels grateful to have a TRUSTED mechanic....

 

[710-oil-614]

Nope..I think you're incorrect...Tranny flush, coolant flush and radiator pressure cleaned and tested, brake fluid changed, full syn oil change, oil and cabin filters changed and PTU/ RDU changed...All work is recorded and provided upon request and car fax reported to....Oh and, or course, tire rotation....So for $750, this 68 yr old man feels grateful to have a TRUSTED mechanic....

Even with all the extra work that you omitted from the previous comment that’s still up there. How many miles on your Mav?

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