Tips for Changing Transmission Fluid

[Tim d]

Ooh, I love old Mopars! What is it, Charger, Challenger, Duster, ‘Cuda?

Cuda. And ty!

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[84IM]

Funny how some memories stick in our minds- in my late teens, I test drove a new 340 Duster, with a 4 speed.
I really wanted to buy that car, but back then, on my meager salary, it wasn't going to happen.

 

[84IM]

WOW!!! My method (no dirty hands or busted knuckles):

1. Me (to Ford Service Manager): "Here is my Maverick. Please change the fluids."
2. Service Manager: "Will that be cash or charge?"
3. Me: "Here is my credit card."

Many of us enjoy doing our own maintenance, and it makes it a lot easier if you have a hoist.
Because I have a hoist I'd do the job myself, but if, at my age, I had to crawl under the truck on jack stands I'd have my favorite auto repair shop do it.

 

[Automan21]

Bought all my fluids from RockAuto, another set of ramps from harbor freight so I can level it out and I will be doing this in the next couple of days.

 

[Automan21]

Ok did this today. I have an Ecoboost AWD with 15000 miles and don't beat on it. Had the Mav up on ramps and was able to shimmy underneath. Did the RDU and it took up 3/4 of the quart, It was a little dark but nothing crazy. Moved onto the PDU and that was dark/dirty brownish, That also took 3/4 of the quart. The automatic transmission did take 5 quarts but you have to idle to normal temp run through the gears a few times and then open level plug to drain til it levels out.

Also noticed that the black rtv I used to seal the boot at the clamp is working, no leak and a bone dry shaft *giggle*. I did notice on the drivers side where the shaft enters the transmission has a bit of a leak at seal/bearing. Not gushing but seeping out. But that cv axle is dry no tears or issues.

I have ordered a right side axle shaft from 2 places and not in stock and backordered til who knows......But left/drivers side is always in stock smh

 

[MatthewPK]

Had anybody put magnetic plug on their transmission? What is the thread pitch?

 

[Jman79]

i'll have this done at the dealer, hopefully they know all these pitfalls and get the right amount in.

This is exactly why I don't have the dealer do anything to my car .

Laughing but dead serious.

 

[Ben_BlackHawk]

Tscottok, thanks for the tips on how to do the transmission fluid drain and flush, they were very helpful when I did this job on my Mav! I did mine at 16,300 miles and the fluid was a very dark red, but I did not see any metallic glimmers in the drained fluid. Here are some of my findings/experiences that might make the job even easier/quicker for MTC members in the future:

• Used the Torque Pro app ($5) in conjunction with an OBDII reader to monitor the transmission fluid temperature during the process. I had previously been using the paid version of Dash Command, but it does not have a nicely built-in PID for Ford vehicles like Torque Pro does. I was able to get my transmission fluid up to 197°F with some mildly aggressive driving.
• Purchased a 10-quart paint mixing container ($5) from Farm & Fleet to drain the old fluid into. It has graduations on the side to tell how much fluid drained out. Could have gone with the 5-quart container instead. Link to the 10-quart: https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1510612-leaktite-10-quart-mix-n-measure-container.html
• (Assuming you have already taken the undershield off and brought the transmission fluid up to temperature) The 10-quart container mentioned above is just able to fit underneath the transmission drain plug without having to jack up the vehicle. The 5-quart container will fit without issue and a lid ($2) can be purchased for that container, unlike the 10-quart. The drain plug (14mm) is not too far from the bumper, so you can lie on your back and reach under with a wrench to remove the plug.
• I also drained out 4.25 quarts of fluid with the vehicle being level. By raising up the passenger side of the vehicle, I was able to drain an additional 0.5 quarts of fluid. Raising the rear of the vehicle removed an inconsequential amount of fluid. In total, I drained out 4.75 quarts.
• The airbox is fairly easy to remove to get easier access to the transmission vent. I flushed ~0.5 quarts through, put the drain plug back on, and put exactly 4.75 quarts back in.
• The small, thin, blue funnel in the Hyper Tough funnel 3-pack ($4) worked well to get new fluid into the transmission.
• For the fluid leveling process, I would strongly recommend removing the front driver wheel to gain access to the leveling plug (it would be very difficult to get access to the plug with the wheel still on). To get the vehicle level, I used a previously cut spacer block that was the same distance from the ground to the pinch weld as when the front wheel was on.
• MAKE SURE TO ONLY REMOVE THE LEVELING PLUG WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
• To add additional fluid to the transmission while the engine is running during the leveling process without having to fully remove the airbox again (did this to make the process faster to avoid the fluid temp from dropping lower): pull up on the airbox to remove it from the rubber isolators and then jam the previously mentioned funnel into the transmission vent. I only had to add ~0.1 quarts of fluid before it started dribbling out of the leveling plug.
• Don't bother with the torque spec on the drain and leveling plugs—they have a rubber gasket on them to prevent leaking. Just need to get them snug.

 

[Carlitos_92]

• MAKE SURE TO ONLY REMOVE THE LEVELING PLUG WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

Great write-up. I cannot stress that particular bullet point enough.

FYI, if you've got the wheel off and the fill plug out, you may find it just as easy (or easier) to simply pump the ATF from the quart bottle into the fill plug hole like you would a PTU or RDU. I did it this way because I really wanted everything (breather cap, air cleaner box, etc) buttoned up while I ran the engine up to temp.

 

[Ben_BlackHawk]

Great write-up. I cannot stress that particular bullet point enough.

FYI, if you've got the wheel off and the fill plug out, you may find it just as easy (or easier) to simply pump the ATF from the quart bottle into the fill plug hole like you would a PTU or RDU. I did it this way because I really wanted everything (breather cap, air cleaner box, etc) buttoned up while I ran the engine up to temp.

That is definitely a good alternative!

 

[dochawk]

To bad the maverick doesn't come with lifetime tranny fluid like my two 14 year old dodges.

they're far older than that.

When checking fluids on my '97 Eldorado Touring Coupe, I couldn't find the transmission dipstick.

A bit of panicked research revealed that it was because it's sealed at the factory!

The 4T80e was introduced in 1993 along with the Northstar V8 (Cadillac Allante and Eldorado Touring Coupe only for a couple of years), but I don't know if it was sealed that early.

Any answer to this? Is it 9 or 4.25 qts?

That could depend upon just what gets drained. the 4L60 on my Fleetwood, for example, has wildly different amounts depending upon whether or not the torque converter gets pulled as well.

 

[Tim d]

they're far older than that.

When checking fluids on my '97 Eldorado Touring Coupe, I couldn't find the transmission dipstick.

A bit of panicked research revealed that it was because it's sealed at the factory!

The 4T80e was introduced in 1993 along with the Northstar V8 (Cadillac Allante and Eldorado Touring Coupe only for a couple of years), but I don't know if it was sealed that early.



That could depend upon just what gets drained. the 4L60 on my Fleetwood, for example, has wildly different amounts depending upon whether or not the torque converter gets pulled as well.

Did not know that! So many years to perfect the formula.

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