I'm getting conflicting information on whether the oil in the torque converter can be changed. My F150 is a '94, 5.0, E4OD, 115K. Tech #1 (who changed the sump screen and oil a few days ago) says there's no drain plug, and the only way to remove the old oil would be through the fill plug. Tech #2 (who owns a '93 diesel F350) says yep, there's a drain plug. I crawled under for a quick look and didn't see a drain plug, but my up-close eyesight isn't the greatest...

So I guess I have 2 questions, beginning with who's right, and is replacing the torque converter oil something that Ford recommends?

Thanks in advance...

 

Should be a plug, but you're no going to find it by just poking your head under there. The torque converter has to be rotated until the plug is visible.

 

Some do have plugs some do not. My 95 does not.

 

mine had the plug, i laid under the truck while my dad turned the key just enough to maybe spin the engine 1 time. we did that till the bolt lined up with the hole on the bottom of the bellhousing.

 

Why would you drain the Torque Converter only? The oil circulates continually throughout the transmission and converter, passing some of it through the oil cooler; that's how converter heat gets gone. The converter drain plug is there to allow ALL the oil involved to be drained for replacement.

If you drain the transmission only, replacing it's oil with new, only HALF the old oil is gotten rid of, the rest stays in the converter.

Or maybe I'm missing something here? imp

 

Draining a partial amount of trans fluid is a good maintenance method. I have a drain on the pan but the drain on the convertor works just as well. Every other oil change or at any sign of fluid discoloration I drain the trans fluid. Using this method only gets about 35% of the fluid each service but it works to keep the fluid clean.

I try to keep the fluid from getting dirty, as it would be if you waited to change it all every 30 to 50k.

 

If you buy a Ford rebuilt auto trans, they include an in-line filter which fits in the cooler line. Failure to install it voids warranty.

Might be a good idea to put one in? Keep in mind, though, if it clogs the transmission will overheat. In comparison, engine oil filters are supposed to have a built-in by-pass valve which opens as clogging occurs, to save the engine starvinmg for oil. imp

 

I prefer a magnetic drain plug. In my experience an auto tranny will only get tiny metal particles in the fluid. Simply keeping the fluid clean with a drain and fill method has worked for me to get long service life out of a transmission.

An added filter surely couldnt hurt. Transmission fluid is probably the most neglected maintenance item on a vehicle, outside of a fuel filter. I believe thats why most auto makers have switched to a non servicable fuel filter. Its now mostly integrel to the pump.