serranot

It doesn't make any sense to me because I don't know what might be in a torque convertor that gets "held in" by fluid. It's a pump and a turbine.

I would want proof rather than urban legend. Or a mechanical explanation of what, exactly, gets "held in" by the fluid.

m3t4lm4n222

How does it "Not make sense".

Parts of the torque converter can break away but be held in by the OLD fluids in the torque converter. Especially if the fluid is old and gunked up. If you drain those fluids the parts that broke could fall out of place because the fluid is no longer in the torque converter.

Read up. Ford suggests that you don't drain your torque converter if the fluid has excessive amounts of miles on it. So does BMW.

Anyways, I've said the same thing over and over. He can do what he wants to do, regardless of what happens it doesn't affect me. I'm just trying to voice my concern. Why risk it when you have 185K miles on the truck? Would you rather have it run longer or introduce problems?

Reputable Lube/Repair shops have these policies for a reason. Take your Ford to a dealership or reputable shop and ask them about doing a full drain on a truck with 185K miles on it then go from there. Then you KNOW you'll be getting correct information.

UFM82

I do not know about "other" makes but I can tell you from personal experience (me, not my dad or uncle or friend or whatever) that if the fluid is contaminated and you do not drain it all you just contaminate the new fluid. The only issue I have ever heard of regarding torque converters is that you should not power flush a locking unit as it can damage the clutch material. After having serviced probably 150 Ford cars and truck in my life (not all had plugs) I can say that I never had anything "fall out" of a torque converter.

But don't pay attention to me. ASE certifications and Ford STST training mean little to some people.

m3t4lm4n222

First of all, I'm not telling him to disregard anyone's opinion. Maybe you're seeing it that way, but that's not what's going on. I'm just telling him my opinion and what I have heard from professionals that I am directly related too. I'm not trying to talk down on you or your personal experiance, but don't dealerships typically deal with vehicles under warranty? Vehicles with lower miles? Not typically with vehicles that have 185,000 miles and counting. Sure, some people may bring their higher mileage vehicles to dealerships, but i'm sure it's less common.

Yes, when you mix newer fluid with older fluid it mixes, but it's better than 100% older fluid. If you where to drop the pan more often cleaner/newer fluid and a new filter would be going in every time.

I'm not the only person whom believes that you shouldn't do full flushes with higher mile vehicles. I'm not trying to say that what everyone else is saying is wrong. I'm just trying to voice my opinion. If that offends you, well sorry.

Roscoet

I like the following point that was made in one of the links m3t4lm3n posted...

m3t4lm4n222

Yes, that is a very good point. There is indefinitely an issue problems arise after a full flush BUT can you afford to fix the problem that *Could* be created?

serranot

Ford who? Read up what? An internet discussion thread? I want to see the official Ford policy, not some internet chatter.

First, I doubt it has anything to do with things coming loose in the TC. I have changed high-mileage fluid before; my 2003 F-150 (which I bought used and was somewhat neglected) was experiencing TC shudder, which has a TSB for high-mileage fluid (Ford TSB 98-3-6). Ford policy in that case is to change the fluid. That seems to be in stark contrast to your assertion that Ford says not to change the fluid. And, I had no problems after the switch.

Now, I think there is some truth to the fact that changing the fluid in a transmission that has high mileage can remove the friction material that is allowing the clutches to limp along. But, that has nothing to do with the TC. And, that transmission is on its deathbed anyway. Perhaps changing the fluid hastened its demise a bit, but that transmission was not long for this world anyway.

As to your comment that reputable shops have a policy, this is because they don't want the liability for being blamed for killing a transmission that was neglected in the first place and is on its last leg. This is the same thing with spark plugs. Bring your 97-03 Ford with original plugs to the shop for changing, and they will tell you straight up that you pay for any cylinder repairs if a plug comes out with part of the head attached. This is because they know this is a problem, and they're not willing to pay for maintenance neglect.

And, of course, you are entitled to your opinion.

w0lvez

The magnet in the pan will tell you whether it's safe to change fluid or not. If your fluid is Dual Usage Mercon ® / Mercon ® V you should not see any debris in the magnet but if your using Mercon ® V it's normal to see a very light debris in the magnet. If you see metal particles sticking on the magnet it's contaminated & you should not change it until you identify & fix what's causing it. You don't want to increase the flow of oil because it will accelerate the grinding metal.



Don't be Naive to think that the reason new models don't have a Torque Converter drain plug is because it's causing problem.

Chris Stephens

ok so I been reading this Pissing contest and it ridiculous ... so I'm steal it for ya I am AES Certified in transmissions I work for jasper engines and transmissions in jasper Indiana draining the tquor convertor has no effect on the fluid leaving it to cause anything change /problem going to occur in the transmission at all in in way now I said this I'm going explain to the two of u why #1 the tquor converter is not held magically in the transmission by fluid it is bolted to the back of the flywheel on the motor and can move from that piston in any direction at all except in a complete circle when when the motor turns the flywheel #2 the only part of the tquor converter that even in any part of the transmission is the sleeve of the front the is a few inches long that has the front seal of the transmission around the out side of it to retain the fluid in the transmission so the shaft on the transmission and be installed the center of the tquor converter to allow it to spin the cluch contained inside the tquor converter #3 the transmission housing is bolted to the back of the motor and has a cross member bar little over half down the transmission across it bolted to fram and with a transmission rubber mout in the center it s bolted to so all of this basically hold the transmission and will not allow it to move at all just like the tquor converter is bolted that can move so if never parts can move and are bolted securely in place it is physically inposably for anything at all to happen when draining the fluid out of the tquor converter the it there being no fluid In it anymore the one and only thing that could occur witch ie very unlikely unless the problem already exists before the fluid drain would be the front seal is wore out cracked and the release of the fluid pressure cause it to start linking / linking worse and if ya discover that then you just have save urself by doing the drain then later when the seal gave away and all ur fluid runs out the front of ur transmission driveline down the road and ur stuck setting and got later removed the hole transmission to replace it and buy more fluid again cause u just wasted all u put in it at the time u was flushing it and that's best case scenario worse case u lose all ur fluid and u burn ur transmission clutches up and got either rebuilt the hole thing or buy a hole new one to install and about this time you realise if I would of just drained that tquor converter I could seen this problem before I turned this very expensive lesson just because I tryed to win a pissing contest man I wish my ego wasnt so big sometime now I've put out there for you uneducated in the most simplistic way I could explain for you to understand it very dumb to ever wasnt money when ya could of just read a book instead of my dad can beat up ur dad grade school bantering going on this page that spost to be here to help answer questions of factual knowledge to help the uneducated in the matter of a transmission flush

formerjeepguy

The original thread is from 8 years ago and the last reply was a year later in 2013. I'm sure these guys are thrilled that someone finally came along seven years later to finally put this matter to rest. Can you imagine all their sleepless nights until now? They must be so relieved. Kudos for finally resolving this conflict. Well done sir!