1998 F150
E40D tranny
4wd
140,000

Not sure if fluid has ever been changed on the tranny (guess i'll find out if I discover a dust plug in pan).

I've searched and read the articles but have a couple of questions

1) what is the difference in quarts needed/drained if you just do a pan drain vs doing a pan and torque converter drain?

2) I seem some say drain from the TC and others have you pulling off the return line to drain. Which gets the most fluid out and/or which is easier?

3) If I do the TC drain, exacly how do I turn the flywheel to get the drain plug to line up? Is it the teeth inside the hole on the TC or do I need to turn something else to get it to line up?

4) Is there a good link that has pictures of either which line to pull off to drain?

Thanks

 

Drain the TC. You can use a socket on the damper pulley bolt on the crank to turn the engine. Rotate it until the drain plug is visible then just remove it. remove the pan always messy for me anyway. Get a new filter. Reuse the good stock gasket if its the original they are reusable. 14-16 quarts to re fil it cant remember witch. I can do it in a half an hour. I always change the trans fluid first thing when I buy a used car or truck. Good luck.

 

BTW when you drop the pan if there is what looks like a loly pop in there the pan has never been off. Just discard it and dont worry. Its a factory shipping part.

 

Thanks. So I guess its a 2 person job as one person has to turn the pully/crank as the other watches up through the hole. Maybe I can get my wife to help

 

well I always manage to do it alone. Some guys I know short out the starter with a screw driver but I always just turn the crank. . I guess if you got someone that would be nice. But its possible for 1 guy to do it.

 

I was at about 165,000 miles when the 98's E4OD went out, - the truck would barley move. The truck has twice the miles now. That was 12 years ago and haven't touched it since. Trying to recall some of the details...

Well, accumulator/valve bodys were a mess, those were cleaned. Hardware tuned with a Transgo kit, adjusted shift points. Once set, I flushed the new fluid since this was fluid used for trial and error. It was used and re-used 3 times within a couple days. You can do that with trans fluid, re-use everything but the last 1 or 2 quarts drained from the pan. Anyway, once the shift points were snappy and comfortable, final flush was through the return line using premium fluid. I used 20 qrts to final flush with the E4OD.

Haven't touched it since and never will again expect..the perks of using the best fluid formulated for this trans.

Found a few pics from that fix, -










BTW- I'm almost positive I flushed with the truck running, flush, fill, flush fill, flush fill....I can't remember if I went to neutral, park or shut down. Or what gear selection. The exact procedure you would have to locate.

There is two good write-ups I pulled info from back then. I think one came from the Diesel garage ? Something like that and it was all in color, but that may have included mainly rebuild info. The other I used was a flush write-up in print, the one I went with, it was short and good from what I recall (that may have been on F150.net ?).

Anyway, the 98's E40D has been solid for 12 years or so, still quick shifts lagging just a little while going into OD. I used Amsoil T-fluid which was quite an expense from what I recall. Took a chance with investing as much as I did vs finding a used replacement. It's more than obvious now that I made the right choice. I've had an analysis done twice since with excellent results. Decided that I won't get another unless I notice a color change at this point. If you plan on keeping the truck, that Amsoil is money well spent.

 

I like Amsoil. I've changed my fluid 3 times. First time the day I bought the truck. Had 130k miles on it 10 years ago. Now It has about 155. The pan had never been off so I changed it twice with cheap walmart trans fluid. Then I got Amsoil and changed it a 3rd time. My trans shifts like new.. I probably wont chang it again for along time if ever. Truck is babied now so it wont ever need it. Amsoil costs some money. Im thinking it was $150

 

Thanks for the write up and pics! Not sure how far i'll take it as I'm not having any major issues, more just about being preventative. I do like the thought of putting Amsoil in it, but if I do I want to put as much in as possible. Not just a quick pan drain/fill. I'm guessing draining the TC and pan would get me the most out. Could I take the line off that goes to the tranny (showing in your pic) to get even more out. I know with my wifes car, if I leave the drain plug out and run the engine, it'll pump more into the pan so I can continue to drain.

 

I'm pretty sure after draining the pan and the TC the amount left is inconsequential. Less then a quart. I'm not sure on the drain and fill capacity. JBREW did the pump out through the cooler method so I dont know if the drain and fill capacity is actually 20 quarts. I'd check that out so you dont but to much. If you go amsoil especially. You should be able to find an official capacity at autozone or the like.. The worst part of the whole deal is draining the pan and doing the filter and no mater what method you chose gotta do that.