High Milage ATF change?

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roadrunner

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Background on the car. It's my fathers 95 Explorer w/ 112k miles. It was a company car that was no longer needed so they offered it to him for a pretty cheap price. The bad side is that it wasn't really taken care of too much. Had regualr oil changes except that was it. I'm pretty sure the ATF has never been replaced in this SUV.

I wanted to see what was the best recomendation for maintenance on the transmission. At the bery least I want to drop the pan and change the filter, but how far should I go with the fluid? So I just refill with minaimal ammount of new fluid or should I competly drain the tq converter? My biggest fear is that the trans will slip when I get done. I was also thinking adding a bit of Auto Rx. Also could a bi of friction modifyer help if it does begin to slip.

Thanks
 
WARNING WARNING!! DO NOT CHANGE THE ATF FLUID!!! Old trannies have pretty well worn out clutch and what ever clutch material is left on the clutch packs will be ate away by the new ATF. Since the new ATF will be full of brand new detergents it will terrorize the old clutches and then your 3-4 gears will start slipping. I would not recommend a fluid change. Hell I have never changed the Fluid in my Cherokee and it has 106k on it I just watch the fluid level and add a little here or there if needed.
 
I wouldn't agree with that, but I will say do not get a flush. A flush will send a bunch of garbage from the pan back into the valvebody and solenoids.

If you can drain the pan and the converter, a fluid cahnge is worth it. If you can only drop the pan, in my opinion I'd just leave it alone an run it.
 
I replaced the fluid in my daughter's '98 Explorer (at 104,000 miles) with new Mercon V by simply dropping the pan, changing the filter, and replacing with about 4.5 quarts of ATF rated Mercon V fluid. I do not like the pressure flushes. Let a fluid/filter change slowly remove contaminates.

Pleased to say Explorer and daughter are doing very well.

New fluid is important in that it replaces additives that have decomposed and renews base fluid that has oxidized.

Keep an eye on fluid during the three months after fluid/filter replacement. If it turns dark brown, remove fluid and refill. Keep doing this until the fluid remains Cherry Red.
 
I disagree too. I changed my fluid at 100k miles for the first time in a Ford 4r70w (for those of you that don't know, this is one of Ford's worst automatic transmissions - the reason for Mercon V). I now have 27k miles and am getting ready to change it again.

Check the torque converter for a drain plug (some have one) buy looking for a access hole in the bellhousing - you may have to pop out a rubber gromet. Turn the engine crank with a large rachet until you find the drain or determine there isn't one. If there is, let it drain - it'll take about an hour.

Drop the pan, change the filter, clean the pan and magnet (if there is one) - the 4r70w has a reusable gasket - this message is stamped into the pan. Replace the pan using the reusable gasket of a new one (be carefull with cork gaskets (it is very easy to over-tighten it). Put in a few quarts, run the engine and tranny through the gears, add more fluid. Continue thos until the dipstick reads full.

Even if you can't drain the converter, the new fluid will be a breath of freash air for the tranny.

The post by BadBirdLT1 is an "old mechanics tale" and no more true than the 3m/3k mile oil change recommended by the lubrication companies & quick lube places. However, DO NOT get it flushed. There are too many small particles to break loose and get into the wrong places.
 
If the fluid was burnt and the tranmission was already having problems, I could see where changing the fluid might accelerate the speed of demise, but the damage was already done, and a preimptive rebuild would probably be in order, rather than a fluid change.

Do the "flush" (I call it fluid exchange) services actually do a pressure flush? I thought that they simply empty the old fluid into one container, and put the new fluid in at the same rate that the old fluid is coming out. I am actually a fan of this procedure, since it completely changes the fluid, instead of changing less than half.
 
Here's my high milage trans. service story:
1993 Volvo 240 Wagon
Currently 171,000 miles
Owned since 72,000 miles
I think the car had only 1 trans service in its life(performed by previous owner). I purchased a trans. flushing kit(specific to Volvo) which came with instructions that warned of the risks of flushing high milage transmissions. After reading the warning I chickened out on doing the flush, but I think I've found a safer, more reasonable alternative. Since my tranny has a drain plug I'm able to drain about 3.5 quarts out without dropping the pan. I've been replacing fluid in these 3.5qt increments every 3 months or so. I do realize I'll never have completely clean fluid by doing this. It still comes out a bit dirty after doing this 3 times, but the color(and smell
freak2.gif
) have greatly improved. The best part is this has had no adverse affects on shifting and performance.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BadBirdLT1:
WARNING WARNING!! DO NOT CHANGE THE ATF FLUID!!! Old trannies have pretty well worn out clutch and what ever clutch material is left on the clutch packs will be ate away by the new ATF. Since the new ATF will be full of brand new detergents it will terrorize the old clutches -*-*
Click to expand...
Exactly on target except the last part... I would not suggest one can go 100K and not change the fluid at all... other than that suggestion, YOU hit the NAIL SQUARE. THIS is perfectly four cornered.
 
Why not clean the transmission with Auto-Rx...or even LubeControl? Then do the flush.

Lubrizol lists the additives in their ATF package...no detergent, just dispersant and other stuff.


Ken
 
about 3-4 weeks ago, i got the atf changed on our 89 ford aerostar b/c the old atf was over 55,000 miles. then last week the transmission went out and we had to get it rebuilt which cost a lot. if i knew what i know now, i wouldnt have changed the ATF. it ran perfect before the atf change.
 
Leaving the oil fluid in WILL cause a shortened life. Proactive maintenance calls for proactive actions. Chenge the fluid, but don't plan on leaving the new fluid in for more than 1000 km or so. When the performance BEGINS to drop, pull the pan and change with filter. The new fluid will have taken much of the varnish and sludge out as it is an excellent cleaner. Yesterday I was with our local Ford technician explaning just about this. Three weeks ago they changed the atf on an Explorer and a week later it wouldn't run. They changed the atf and filter again and it was full of crud that they assumed was in the oil they put in. I showed then that both pails were from the same lot # and explained all this. The Explorer now has 2 weeks on the new oil and going well.
 
quote:
Originally posted by oilcanboyd:
about 3-4 weeks ago, i got the atf changed on our 89 ford aerostar b/c the old atf was over 55,000 miles. then last week the transmission went out and we had to get it rebuilt which cost a lot. if i knew what i know now, i wouldnt have changed the ATF. it ran perfect before the atf change.
Click to expand...
did u change the fluid or flush it? how many quarts you put out....i really got to change my vans fluid...
 
quote:
Originally posted by oilcanboyd:
about 3-4 weeks ago, i got the atf changed on our 89 ford aerostar b/c the old atf was over 55,000 miles. then last week the transmission went out and we had to get it rebuilt which cost a lot. if i knew what i know now, i wouldnt have changed the ATF. it ran perfect before the atf change.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately your vehicle has a rep for bad transmissions. Pure coincidence. Did you ask the mechanic that changed it for you?
 
quote:
Originally posted by CosmicFlash:
What about life-time fluids such as VW/Audi's in their Tiptronic's?
Click to expand...
Lifetime for what? Your warranty or your tranny?

Its only the manufacturers responsibility for the length of the warranty.

After that, they'd love to have you come in with a busted up tranny
smile.gif
.
 
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