You don't have my manual and just wondering if anyone knew at the top of their head when to change the tranny fluid.

Back in the day legend has it that if you go over 100k, leave it because once you change it, it'll loosen up the dirt and cause it to fail. The only way to keep it going strong is to change it on schedule and keep it clean. Next, I remember them saying "never use tranny fluid with additives because they'll eat the seals away. Stick to factory and you're good"

Well, I never change my fluid in my tranny on my old ford truck and it worked until 180,000 miles. A friend changed his Ford tranny fluid at 105,000 and sure enough, his tranny went out.

At any rate, I have 70k on my F150 and want to know when it's best to change to the fluid....

 

Manual is available online at owner.ford.com.

Per manual, change the fluid and filter every 150,000 miles.

 

I trust this Ford mechanic more than the manual any day!
In this video he explains why he suggests 60K mile intervals.

 

Thanks for the link.

1500,000 seems waaaaay too long. That's almost about time for the motor to start having issues.

 

Wow, did you see the filter on the escape he was showing? It's rated for 150,000 miles but if you want to change it you have to open up the transmission. Like, yo may as well rebuilt it at that point.

I didn't see the F150 though, did I miss it?

 

I have an 08 Escape and just drain & refill about once a year, wife doesn't drive it a lot.
The F150 filter wasn't in that particular video, he has other videos that will show it.

 

There are a large number of vehicles on the road with 200,000+ miles still running the factory AT fluid. It is heat, not miles that kill AT fluid. If someone doesn't tow a lot then chances are pretty good other parts of the truck will fall apart before the transmission fluid goes bad. You can change it every 30K or 60K if you want to. But chances are your transmission won't last more than about a year longer than the guy who never changes it. And he will save enough to almost pay 1/2 the cost for a new transmission. That is if the rest of the truck is salvageable.

I know when I bought my 07 Tacoma they recommended NEVER changing the fluid unless operated in severe conditions. There are lots of guys pushing 400,000 miles on the factory fluid. I'm closing in on 200,000 and have no plans to change mine. I'm going to wait and see on my Ford. Unless I start towing a lot more I'll probably do it at 150K. If that changes then maybe sooner.

If you tow a lot, especially with heavy trailers, in hot weather, and in mountains you need to change it, and often. If you ever let the fluid get over about 250 degrees I'd change it ASAP even if it were just done last week.

 

My 2011 5.0 liter King Ranch has had two (2) transmission flushes/ fluid replacements. The first was at 52,000 miles and the second was at 98,000. The first tranny service was due to improper shifting however, after the service it began to shift correctly. The second service was because I'd decided to keep my truck until I hit 150K miles so I had all fluids changed (i.e. both transfer cases, differential, coolant, brake system, fuel system and transmission) along with some other items (plugs, belts and hoses,etc.). Some of that service was probably not really necessary but I've got to admit the truck does perform, start and run better than before. I think the transmission service was about $150 and that's a relatively insignificant amount of money compared to replacing the transmission. The vehicle rarely pulls a trailer (when it does it's <5000 lbs.) and isn't used in severe service. I'm an old guy and I really don't want to push the truck and risk a breakdown. I had all of the work performed at two different Ford dealerships and both of the Service Managers recommended a transmission service between 50K-60K. I realize that's money in their pockets but it's certainly less expensive than a 2017 King Ranch! Good Luck with yours!

 

Ok so the manual says change fluid and filter every 150,000 miles. Its funny how most of the dealers want to do just a Flush and never change the filter. They told me that they back flush the filter. So what does that mean I asked? They couldn't explain it, but to me that means pushing back through the filter and pushing/ disturbing contaminates back into the transmission and then hoping they pull it all out. It makes more sense to me to drop the pan and CHANGE the filter if your going to wait until 150,000 miles, but that is too hard to do while being charged $200 for this service of flushing. Watch those videos as there is some good advice. i posted in another thread where I changed my fluid and filter at 42K. Probably a little early but I did it for under $100 dollars. And I will do it again at about 80K. The transmission holds about 13 quarts and when you just drop and change the filter it will take about 7 quarts if it has the right amount to start with. You can start the truck and check it by the cold mark and when it gets hot check the hot mark but you will need some kind of hand protection or the cat will burn you. It all depends on use and conditions, but changing the fluid is going to be better than not. Yes it may go 200,000 miles fine and even 400,000 if the motor makes it, but the f150 is not a quality small truck like the tacoma, and the transmissions are definitely rated for different duties and payloads. i would bet on the tacoma but wouldn't gamble with the f150 that high. i think the f150 transmissions are well made even though they are made in china i believe, like most things. But like stated its use and heat that stresses any fluid, so use that as a guide more so than mileage.