trans shop recs lucas

[electrolover]

So I have an 04 explorer with the 5 speed auto. They are known for shift flare. Thats where the transmission gets hung up in between gears and doesn't shift right. After doing some online research I called my local trans shop. And of coarse he told me exactly what the problem was. The servo binds up in the housing of the trans and does not move properly which causes it. Then he told me that it would eventually take the clutches out too. He recommends rebuilding it and he will sleeve the housing and fix the valve body issues from the factory for 1800. I told him it was still running ok and I wanted to put it off so he said put lucas in.

I took his advise. I changed the fluid and found a mess in the pan. A bunch of black clutch particles. Cleaned it all out, dumped the lucas straight in the pan, bolted it back up and pumped in the rest of the valvoline merc V.

That was about a year ago and its still running fine. Shift flare is noticeably less and it hasn't started slipping yet. It seems a thicker fluid was a good bandaid for the servo binding and gualding the aluminium housing. Im currently at 130k which is where I here they all go out by and im hoping to get 150 of it before having it rebuilt.

 

[hardcore302]

If it works...

 

[skyship]

If you get a problem with an auto box then the first thing the good books say to do if it's not something simple like a low fluid level or electrical, is to change the fluid, if it's dirty change it twice as you often can only drain about half in one go. Drive around for a day or so between the changes if possible.
If that does not solve the problem then using a major brand hydraulic fluid additive sometimes works. Most just thicken up the fluid, so don't use them as a precaution because they can cause the box to overheat if used hard.
Some of the more well know fluid additives do have full approvals and the ZF one for LG does remind you to change the fluid first and points out that it is approved for noise reduction only.
In terms of preventative maintanance it is worth changing the fluid and cleaning the filter rather more often than some manufacturers recommend, particularly if you tow or have a big right boot, but it's also worth doing more changes for older boxes used in dusty environments.
Topping up with the wrong fluid and premature use of additives, combined with lack of fluid changes causes most box problems. The funny one is the use of Moly manual box additive in an auto box, as it causes them to slip.

 

[bmwtechguy]

That trans additive and their PST additive are the only Lucas products that I have personally found to work. If problem persists after a fluid exchange, then it's either rebuild or bandaid (Lucas). Not everyone has $1800 laying around ready for a rebuild. Might give em enough time to get the cash together or trade.

 

[electrolover]

Well skyship your kinda talking out of your [censored] again. The ford 5r55 is a pos from the dealer. Its a sealed trans, which means it has no dipstick to check fluid level or add the wrong fluid. The owners manual states to have the fluid changed at 100k. We had it changed at the dealer at 90k. Then i changed the fluid at 112k.
They all have problems from bad design. This is one of those cases where the oem is the bad guy. And changing atf when a trans. Is slipping will cause it to go ahead and stop working all together because the suspended clutch media is the only thing hold it together.

 

[electrolover]

Originally Posted By: bmwtechguy
That trans additive and their PST additive are the only Lucas products that I have personally found to work. If problem persists after a fluid exchange, then it's either rebuild or bandaid (Lucas). Not everyone has $1800 laying around ready for a rebuild. Might give em enough time to get the cash together or trade.

darn right

 

[racin4ds]

I love the Lucas ATF Stop Slip additive, my father and I have used it for years with success. The local trans guy around here swears by it, he won't warranty his trans if you don't use it. I used a bottle of it back years ago when I had my 01 Explorer with the 5r55 trans along with the transgo improvement kit installed I never once had a transmission problem with that thing and we sold it with over 140k, it is still on the road today.

 

[Clevy]

Lucas is great stuff for machines on their last legs. They prolong useable life. That being said I'd never use any of their engine and transmission stuff a property working unit.

Ya. Sunkship seems to know everything,about nothing.

 

[ahoier]

The C&W Trans-X worked great for me. I think it's primarily a detergent/cleaner though, as it pours light like regular trans fluid.....

 

[artificialist]

Lucas does help a junk transmission go a few miles further. That in mind, I wouldn't use it in one that functions properly because it changes the viscosity and it might foam.