waltheraustin

So is filter change apart of this maintenance?

BadCon

Ford more or less considers this fluid a lifetime fill, and it is good fluid (Mercon LV), fully synthetic etc. However like anything there are usage scenarios where it might be beneficial to change it early...especially when you consider the vast majority of the wear and tear is going to occur early in the transmissions life due to the metal break-in wear that occurs as the parts machine each other. My personal service regime for anything with gears is to change the factory fill early, say 15k miles or so, then each subsequent change after another 60k miles. Reason being is you allow the parts to break-in and machine each other, then you remove those metals from the fluid to prevent further wear and tear. Since we are talking high quality fluids here, 60k miles isn't all that long.

For the transmission on the first service I would drop the pan and replace the filter and clean the magnet. For the next service I probably wouldn't replace the filter, and for me I wouldn't even drop the pan as I have a fluid extractor that can draw fluid through the fill hole. Once you get those initial break-in materials out of the fluid at the first change, there is not a whole lot of contamination that occurs in a transmission...unless of course you overheat it and the clutch materials start to fail.

waltheraustin

That's basically where I'm at. I had the tsb done and part of that was 7 quarts so I'm hoping anything that was a decent cleaning. That was at roughly 20k so I'm in the next few weeks will use my extractor and remove what I can, then drop the pan and change the filter (ft202 - I hope) then do exactly what you mentioned and drain and refill what I can in the 30k after that. The tranny and rear diff (2wd) will be done at the same time. I use the truck for the travel trailer so it's definitely severe duty.

Can't thank Ford enough for not putting the exhaust right below it. Should be easy with the extractor and torque wrench.

Napalm

Not I don't say chemical flush and yes I agree with all of that. Suppose it's a terminology change - but fluid exchange = flush in my history. IE using that fluid exchanger tool they mention is flushing the transmission - but doing so with trans fluid. NO extra chemicals, 100% agree on that. Interesting they don't specifically list either the 10R100 in that video, or the new 8 and 9T transmission. Curious as to when it was made since they show newer cars in the video.

Using the right machine - holds gallons of the transmission fluid - heated to temp - and connects though the cooling line connections. It runs with light pressure relying on the transmissions pump to provide the main movement - and if you use it long enough you will exchange more than the full transmission fill amount though the machine.

The filter is just screen and if you had issues it should be changed. GM world and design of the 6L80E, 8L90 etc etc and Ford's newest products - the trans pan is only meant to be removed when there are issues with the transmission - fluid flush is meant to be done at or around 100K miles or 5 years. The purpose - is not so much cleaning the transmission but rather replacing all of the fluid and it's additives.

Napalm

SO interesting differences.

my Explorer which as the 6T55 - change the fluid - no mention of the filter and if you look at the shop procedure - it uses the fluid exchange machine as mentioned above.

2017 F150 - replace fluid and filter. however shop procedures list both pan drop and filter change - and also the fluid exchange machine.

Other installations of the ZF sourced 6sp - IE in the Ram, In the Mercedes - Change fluid - recommends a fluid exchange machine. (again in no case is there use of a chemical flush solution)

Newer transmissions - the 10R100, Gm 8L90E, 8t60 - all say change fluid and mention the fluid exchange system.

I'll still stand behind what I said before - for this unit - is meant to be flushed (fluid flushed - no special cleaners) and if there are no issues there is no need to drop the pan. Testing as shown that it potentially causes more issues than helps.