smokeywren

No, you misread something. Those procedures are for the 4R100 tranny behind a 7.3L diesel, so they will be slightly different for your F-150 with 6R80 tranny. Nowere is there any mention of draining only half the pan or filling up only half the pan. The 4R100 held a total of almost 18 quarts of ATF, so we used 20 quarts to assure a good flush. 7+6+6 = 19, plus one to top off with = 20 quarts total.

But the 6R80 SelectShift tranny holds a hair more that 13 quarts, so buy and use 15 quarts to assure a good flush. 5+5+4 = 14, plus one to top off with.

I have not tested the following procedures on an F-150 EcoBoost, but I'll bet they'll work if you use your noggin for something besides a hat rack.

1] After disconnecting the cooler return line and adding a clear plastic drain line to it, aim the drain line at a container, start the engine, and run it until all the ATF in the pan is pumped out. None of that draining halfway business. Pump it all out. There should be a huge air bubble in the drain line after almost all the ATF in the pan had been pumped out.

2] Measure the amount of ATF you pumped out in step 1, Pour in that much new ATF, or 5 quarts, whichever is less. For example, if you pumped out 5.5 quarts, then add 5 quarts of new ATF. Or if you pumped out less than 5 quarts, then pour in the amount you have already pumped out.

Then start the engine and pump out the pan again.

3] Repeat step 2.

4. Button it up. Get rid of your plastic drain line and reconnect the cooler return line to the tranny.

4]. Count the empty bottles of new ATF you have poured in so far. If you have already poured in 10 quarts, then pour in only enough to total 14 quarts.

5. Drive the truck at least 5 miles to warm up the tranny. Then check the ATF level. Use that 15th quart of new ATF to top off the hot tranny with new ATF. You want it full, but not overfilled.

The disconnected return line should not cause any sucking. ATF should not be trying to come out of the tranny where the return line is disconnected from the tranny. The only sucking is done by the tranny pump in the bottom of the pan. The tranny pump pumps the ATF through the tranny, torque converter, coolers, then back to the tranny. You disconnect the return line just before the old ATF goes back into the tranny.

brulaz

Real nice writeup on the tranny flush. How frequently do you flush?

Luigi

Got ya Smokey, I'll run that procedure.

I apologize, I did not mention that I saw it was for the larger diesel trans and that I was using it as a "guide". Thank you for being sure to mention that to me though.

I guess the way I wrote the last post poorly described my thoughts, I'll try again just to be clear...
I didn't realize that it was just the pan that was being pumped out, point being that its only part of the fluid in the tranny that is removed at a time, requiring subsequent pumps to get all the old fluid out???

That was what i meant by dumping "half way". Is that a correct assessment?

smokeywren

The pump is in the bottom of the pan, and the pan holds about one-third of the total ATF in the system. When the pump has pumped out all the ATF in the pan, it begins pumping air and won't pump out any more ATF.

So you pump out all the ATF in the pan, but that is only about one-third of the total ATF in the system. That's why it takes three iterations of pumping out he pan then refilling the pan to change all the ATF in the system.

Yeah, I think you got it. The goal is to use 15 quarts or a bit less of new ATF, and wind up with a hot tranny that is full but not overfull of new ATF.

Think of the ATF flow as though it were a garden hose.The new ATF is pumped out of the pan into that garden hose. All the old ATF in that hose is pushed out ahead of the new ATF until it comes out of the end of the hose and goes into the drain bucket. Where the new ATF first contacts the old ATF in the hose wll be a small area of mixed old/new ATF. Plus the head of the new ATF will scour the inside of the hose, collecting some of the old ATF that's clinging to the walls of the hose. You want to pump out that mixed ATF too, so that's why it requires more than the total system capacity of new ATF to flush out the system.

Instead of a garden hose, the ATF flow goes first though the operating passages of the tranny, then through the torque converter, then through the tranny coolers, and finally back into the tranny. But it's a one-way path, so as new ATF is pumped into system the old ATF is pushed on down the line. After returning to the tranny, the cooled ATF flows thoughtranny cooling passages, then dumps into the pan. So this procedure will change only about 95% of the total ATF in the system. The only way to change 100% is to disassemble the tranny.

I don't know how much ATF the 6R80 pan holds, so those procedures I cranked out may need adjustment. Here's a method to determine the adjustment needed:

When you measure the amount of old ATF that was pumped out on the first iteration, hold back that amount plus about half a quart of new ATF for the last refill and topping off. Pour in the same amount you drained out. Then see how much new ATF is left after the hold back for the final refill. If the amount available for the second refill is less than the amount drained out on the first drain cycle, then use that available amount for the second refill.

If the amount available for the second refill is more than the amount drained out, then you will need to add an extra drain/refill cycle. Use half the available new ATF to refill after the second drain cycle, then another half for the third cycle. After the third drain, you will button up the system and have an empty tranny pan. That leaves you plenty of new ATF to fill up and top off after the last drain.

After you figure out how much new ATF to add each cycle, write up your experience and post it here as a seperate thread. Use Mark Kovalsky's procedures as a guide for writing the 6R80 procedures. Then we'll get the moderators to make that a sticky thread for those that follow us, and you'll be famous.

Luigi

Got it, yeah sounds like we are both on the same page now. I assumed that was the situation with getting a 95% change. Like I said, its my first auto tranny service so I was not sure on the theory, but I have a greater understanding of the transmissions construction and thus reasons behind the procedure now.

Just to clarify, my truck is not an ecoboost. its an 05 SuperCrew with 5.4 triton 3V with automatic trans and electronic switching 4x4, So I have the 4R70W trans??? Sorry, some how I missed that in your previous post. I believe the manual said that holds 13.9 quarts? so maybe I won't be famous after all, lol, unless there really isn't a write up for that trans anywhere... I know I sure couldn't find it.

biggin86

Don't think it was mentioned but you should consider dropping the trans pan and putting in a new filter. Why all the new oil and a dirty filter? After you pump the pan dry like described just drop the pan, change filter, bolt back up and then refill.

smokeywren

The tranny filter doesn't need to be looked at until at least 100,000 miles. So inspect it on the second or third ATF change. It will probably be just fine even with 100,000 miles, so you don't have to actually replace it, the way you must replace a motor oil filter.

dereku

I would replace it. Its silly not to. He is spending 100$ in trans fluid whats a $20 filter.

Luigi

figured its time for an update, im settled in IL now....

First off, smokey is right. even the ford factory manual says you do not need to replace that filter ever, it is designed to work in the trans for the life of the vehicle. it is mainly a barrier for large sediment. so removing it and flushing it out is sufficient for the first 100k or so. after it hits that point (which it is at now) i plan on replacing it. you do want to pull the pan and clean that magnetic catch though.

regardless, the only service i did not do on the truck was the trans flush before i left. it was very clean, viscosity was good, and i just didnt want to chance something unnoticed to cause me an issue on the road.
so i made the 2100 mile drive in two and a half days, drove almost non stop pulling nearly 4500 pounds behind me at 55mph(that was hard)... the truck didnt skip a beat. coolant temp and oil pressure were nominal the entire drive. ran with the overdrive off and i still averaged 14+ mpg!

i was very impressed. i did not have a single issue and the truck pulled that thing like a champ! definitely a testament to "built ford tough". i bought that truck 3 months ago with 97K miles on it. serviced all the fluids, put a new air filter in it, and drove it around town for 3months, pulling jet skis to the lake every other weekend. then i made this 2100 mile trek. if thats not proof these are awesome machines, i dont know what is!

smokeywren

Probably. I changed the ATF in my brother's 2003 F-150 with the 4R70W tranny using Mark's procedures, and it worked great. The only difference in the procedures was how much ATF the pan held. I forget the numbers, but it was an easy adjustment to the amount of ATF needed for each cycle.