Ford 'filled for life' PTU fluid

[carviewsonic]

My Mom has all the servicing on her '17 Escape 2.0 EB done at the Ford dealer, as my Dad used to do before he passed. She lives 6 hrs from us, otherwise I would take care of the maintenance myself. Anyway, the Escape now has 100,000 kms, so they recommended a transmission fluid change along with the oil change. She called me and I told her 'good idea, have that done. Also, have the PTU fluid changed at the same time.'
They didn't do the PTU fluid, said it was 'filled for life'. So, a few day later she took the Escape to an independent garage recommended by a friend. They said the same thing, 'filled for life'. They must have looked at Ford's maintenance schedule.
I told her I would do it next time we visit, but she took it to a quick lube shop recommended by another friend, and they did change the fluid. They told her they do PTU fluid changes routinely.
Confusing for my Mom, I wish I hadn't told her and instead just brought the tools and gear oil with me on our next visit. I don't know why the dealer wouldn't do it at the request of a customer, well past warranty. It's simple to do (suck the old stuff out and fill with new) and a few more $ profit for the service department.

 

[bdcardinal]

Double annoying since that one has a drain plug too. We do it whenever someone asks. Easy money for the dealer but

 

[bdcardinal]

FWIW the PTU on my mom's 2014 Fusion Titanium with the 2.0EB has drain and fill plugs on it. I usually have one of the guys do a spill and fill on that and the transmission every 15K miles. It is cheap insurance I feel.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

lifetime my ass. In Flex/Edge/Taurus/Lincoln they basically sit between the cat and the exhaust pipe with less than half of quart of fluid very often. That thing gets cooked in a week. First time I changed my fluid it was a mix of broken down grease stuck on the plug along with metal and super glittery broken down watery oil. If its the same PTU and setup I would change it to something synthetic that resists heat and change it again next oil change because it might be full of magical metal sparkles that summon the money wizard.

 

[bdcardinal]

The 7A010B in the illustration is the fill plug and the 7A010A is the drain plug

Bottom side showing the drain plug

3/4 shot showing fill plug

 

[Passport1]

I had the Ford dealer change the ptu fluid in my '18 Edge. Money well spent. Only had 40K at the time. I'll get it done again at 55K. I don't think mine has a drain plug.

 

[carviewsonic]

The 7A010B in the illustration is the fill plug and the 7A010A is the drain plug

View attachment 243695

Bottom side showing the drain plug

View attachment 243696

3/4 shot showing fill plug

View attachment 243697ee

The 7A010B in the illustration is the fill plug and the 7A010A is the drain plug

View attachment 243695

Bottom side showing the drain plug

View attachment 243696

3/4 shot showing fill plug

View attachment 243697

Thankyou for the diagrams. Even easier than I thought to change the PTU fluid on a 2017 Escape. My 2010 Fusion has a fill port only, unfortunately.

 

[TheBeaz]

That's really crazy that the independent shop didn't know any better about lifetime fluids.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

That's really crazy that the independent shop didn't know any better about lifetime fluids.

They know, most dont want to be bothered with the hassle.

 

[oilboy123]

I'm about 95% sure the trans has the PTU my daughter's 17 2.0 Edge has. Has a fill, and drain. Takes about half qt of 75w-140. I use Amsoil Severe gear. I changed hers pretty early on, maybe 20,000 miles. Took about 3 changes before it started looking closer to fresh gear lube. I needed to take off bottom engine cover, and remove the lower turbo tube. The worst part is getting the turbo tubing off the studs under the trans. Maybe the Escape is different.

I would suggest changing it fairly often. It gets a lot of heat under there. I think it is a lifetime fluid, the lifetime of an oil change maybe. maybe....... Seems criminal some shops won't change it. Maybe they are just lazy. They certainly are not looking out for the customer.

 

[zzyzzx]

Already on my list of reason to only buy FWD vehicles.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Already on my list of reason to only buy FWD vehicles.

Okay flatlander

 

[notharry]

To begin with the fliuds are way better than th were years ago. Im sure most will agree that oils (lubricants) are many many times better than they were years ago. Components are manufactured with mirror like finishes and micro tolerances. They dont need as frequent changes. However, If it moves it wears. Period. I change all my fluids regularly and the ones they say for life I replace every 50 to 60,000 miles. Do I get metal out when I do the drain on the diferentials transmissions and transfer cases? You betcha! Right? You do to!

They say lifetime. That means the fluid will last as long as they expect the vehicle or the component to last. They dont however give us a number and if you try to get one they will spend the next 5 minutes talking technical gargan. Say the expectency is ten years. Say, I want mine to last 20 because I keep the vehicles repaired correctly treat the rust accordingly, and i dont mind spending a few bucks on maintenance to get there. I have many stories in me but our subaru outback has 193890 miles. Same transmission Diffs Transmission engine. Not a leak. I never replace a oil seal. I did replace the power steering pump at 120,000. Yes dirty oil ruins seals too.

Again every time I change any fluid it always has contaminate in it. I makes perfect sense to get it out!

 

[Dave9]

Some '11 to '19(?) Ford's Explorers with AWD have the same issue. Some of those PTUs have a drain plug and some don't. Typical recommendation I see is change it every 30K mi, or shorter interval for severe duty.

No fluid is really lifetime.

 

[KCJeep]

I had the dealer change the PTU fluid twice now in or Edge at 30k intervals. Not expensive and they were happy to do it. However, the first time I had it done I had to talk to 3 different people in service before they understood what I wanted. I took that to mean not very many people get it changed.

It’s my understanding this is more important with the 3.5 than the 2.0 but wise to do both.

 

[notharry]

To begin with the fliuds are way better than th were years ago. Im sure most will agree that oils (lubricants) are many many times better than they were years ago. Components are manufactured with mirror like finishes and micro tolerances. They dont need as frequent changes. However, If it moves it wears. Period. I change all my fluids regularly and the ones they say for life I replace every 50 to 60,000 miles. Do I get metal out when I do the drain on the diferentials transmissions and transfer cases? You betcha! Right? You do to!

They say lifetime. That means the fluid will last as long as they expect the vehicle or the component to last. They dont however give us a number and if you try to get one they will spend the next 5 minutes talking technical gargan. Say the expectency is ten years. Say, I want mine to last 20 because I keep the vehicles repaired correctly treat the rust accordingly, and i dont mind spending a few bucks on maintenance to get there. I have many stories in me but our subaru outback has 193890 miles. Same transmission Diffs Transmission engine. Not a leak. I never replace a oil seal. I did replace the power steering pump at 120,000. Yes dirty oil ruins seals too.

Again every time I change any fluid it always has contaminate in it. I makes perfect sense to get it out!

Well i misspoke Replaced the front crankshaft pully pump seal twice. Numerous valve cover gaskets etc. but yea! The most cost effective repair is one that doesent have to be done.

Keep it slippery people!

 

[Marcozi]

"Lifetime fluids" is a marketing ploy, not a maintenance philosophy.

 

[dlundblad]

Dads 2016 SHO had either a drain or a fill. I crawled under the car one day and couldn’t figure it out as everything was shoehorned in there. Not serviceable at all. Awesome car, but he traded it in at 60k before that or the water pump needed replaced. Hopefully the next owner was aware of what was to come.

I read here that a guy had an Explorer (same platform as the Taurus) who sent off an oil sample to Blackstone. The PTU even had a cooler (dad’s sho did not) and Blackstone recommended 5k intervals.

It’s not a bad design, but you’d think they would have made them more serviceable since they are so hard on oil. I believe his called for 75w140. If you can service them, do so.

 

[JMK]

Exploder ptu that exploded. Pure junk.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Did it ruin the tranny case as well?