Ford Ranger ATF Change?

[tc1446]

My 2000 Ranger, AT, 4.0 motor, with 45,000 original miles, has never had
an ATF change. Does this involve the usual drop the pan and refill or is
it more complicated? Handbook says it takes Mercon and should be done every
30K miles.

 

[larryinnewyork]

I have a 2002 Ranger. What I did is:

63,400 miles - Had fluid exchanged by Mechanic (not recommending you wait).
93,800 miles - I removed pan and replaced filter
99,000 miles - Another Fluid exchange by Mechanic
104,000 miles - I removed Pan & installed magnetic drain plug
Note: My vehicle is 2WD / but I installed a 4WD Pan. It has a nice sump area (low point) to locate the drain plug.
If you use a 4WD Pan, you have to start using a 4WD Filter.

At 100,000 miles, I also installed an Inline Filter.

Now what I do is, once a year (7,500 miles) I remove the drain plug,
measure how much I took out (3 of 10 qts) and replace with SuperTech Mercon (from WalMart).

I'll keep doing this. It's super easy.
I'll also keep checking the fluid (just the color) that I drain.
Going back to the Mechanic is always an option.

 

[exranger06]

To answer your question, all you have to do is drop the pan and change the filter and no, it's not more complicated than that. Mercon V is the correct fluid to use.

 

[Rand]

Pan drop is always fine, I'd recommend it at least the first time to change the filter also.

After that you can buy a 2ft piece of tubing from the hardware and disconnect the trans cooler line (inlet) slip the hose over it and put it in a bucket.

Start engine, run until a few quarts pump out.

Stop engine

dump in a few quarts Mercon V.

Repeat a few times until 12-14qts or so.

CAUTION: use a cheap clamp and the right ID hose or it may backspray all over your engine due to backpressure.

 

[901Memphis]

Pan drop and refill with filter change will be great. Make sure to use Mercon V which is the correct superceded fluid. Castrol Mercon V is Ford approved. Motorcraft is always a safe bet. Also Mobil 1 ATF is good in my Ford, but I use half Mercon V and half Mobil 1.

The cooler line flush is a good idea too if you think you can handle it.

I'm guessing there's no drain plug?

 

[artificialist]

I prefer to do the first fluid change by dropping the pan and replacing the filter. That is because transmissions shed more wear metal and clutch dust early in life. Get an OEM filter and gasket, most aftermarket gaskets are far inferior from OEM, and sometimes the filters are inferior as well.

It takes Mercon V, but some multi-vehicle fluids can be used to replace Mercon V. Valvoline Maxlife is a common choice.