5R110 Servicing Question

[SickStroke6.0]

Okay so here's the deal:

I've got an '03 Ford F-250 6.0. It has 122k and the tranny hasn't been serviced (maybe once). I called Ford and this is what they said:

If you change it now you will burn the tranny up in three weeks. If the oil is too thick in the tranny we will not even attempt to do a servicing. Then all you can do is run it till it quits

But here's my very knowledgable buddy's opinion (whose 7.3 has 302k on stock tranny with a motor that has been DP-tuned since 10k and has an upgraded turbo):

Go down to xxxx (local oil change shop) and they will drop the pan and replace the fluid. Put some friction modifier in and it'll run forever!

What do you guys think?

[Evil Eye]

Drain the fluid and replace it with fresh fluid. Swap out the bypass filter and call it good.

[SickStroke6.0]

No friction modifier?

[russf]

lol thats the biggest load of crap I've heard. That would be like me saying your 1000 miles over your oil change, if you change it now your engine will go next month.

Your transmission will wear out faster by not having proper lubricaton. That's what the transmisson fluid is for, go ahead and do a service, the fluid eventually breaks down and doesn't do what it's supposed to do, thats why we change fluids, to replace that broken down fluid with a fluid that does its job. Take it to a shop that will do a flush with you (drop pan, change filter + inline filter, and flush the torque converter). Don't add the friction modifer.

[SickStroke6.0]

Originally Posted by russf

lol thats the biggest load of crap I've heard. That would be like me saying your 1000 miles over your oil change, if you change it now your engine will go next month.

Your transmission will wear out faster by not having proper lubricaton. That's what the transmisson fluid is for, go ahead and do a service, the fluid eventually breaks down and doesn't do what it's supposed to do, thats why we change fluids, to replace that broken down fluid with a fluid that does its job. Take it to a shop that will do a flush with you (drop pan, change filter + inline filter, and flush the torque converter). Don't add the friction modifer.

They had me convinced when they talked about the clutch packs. He said that right now, because the fluid is so thick that the clutch packs are spread apart, and whe you put the new fluid in with all the detergent it will fry them.

[Evil Eye]

Not sure what he was talking about, but these transmissions use fully synthetic transmission fluid (which is a type of hydraulic fluid) Mercon SP or LV ONLY. The clutch packs are designed to be immersed in this tranny fluid. Friction modifier is NOT needed or recommended. Drain it, change the bypass filter, and add 8-10 quarts back in until it is full. Call it DONE!

[SickStroke6.0]

Okay good deal Thanks guys!

[ipz2222]

You really DIDN'T get that line from a ford representative , did you????? That was true in the late '50s and early '60s but, my God, that was 50 and 60 years ago.!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SickStroke6.0]

Yep, I did. Everybody at Ford says to just leave it alone.