Should I change my transmission fluid?

[Mack450]

I have around 160K on my truck now. It shifts a little rough but not too bad. The fluid is pink/red and not burnt at all. I would like to go threw the truck before winter and change diffs, t case, trans, antifreeze etc etc because i just bought the truck during the summer.

I talked to a few techs and they told me to do the diffs such but leave the transmission alone. They said its not worth changing it if you don't know when it was last done. They said the risks are not worth the benefits of changing it.

The truck is a work truck for my business and I would like to get as much life out of the current trans as I can but I do know I will need to get a tranny for it sometime in its life.

Any comments/suggestions are appreciated

Thanks!

[goodyFAB7.3]

i dont know what kind of tech told you that...
i would NOT flush it but a transmission drain, and new filter and fluid cannot hurt only help.
drain the tc as well
better yet bring it to a reputable tranny shop and have it serviced...

[Mack450]

Thanks for the reply. I kind of figured. Previous vehicles I have owned with high mileage I have never had a issue with draining the tranny. No reputable tranny shops around here unfortunately. I am pretty mechanically inclined. What kind of service is performed on a tranny at a transmission shop?

[Zaairman]

Do the drain plug drain on the tranny, replace the 7-8 quarts you get out, and be done with it. I do mine every oil change.

[Skew12]

Drain and refill should be fine. Guzzle has a nice writeup on it

[JEL]

Originally Posted by goodyFAB7.3

i dont know what kind of tech told you that...
i would NOT flush it but a transmission drain, and new filter and fluid cannot hurt only help.
drain the tc as well
better yet bring it to a reputable tranny shop and have it serviced...

x2

I am not sure where these ideas started, but I've never caused more problems with a tranny by simply draining all the fluid and changing the filter. I agree flushing is a can of worms, but doing a routine service can only help; when in doubt, change it out.

[SyN]

Just make sure you pour in the correct ATF... Good Advice above...

[rufushusky]

I would recommend the following...

4R100/E4OD Trans Flush Procedure - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

..works like a charm. I did it on my mother's 1997 mer mountaineer with the original 143k mile oil ATF. Flushed in Mercon V and it has been flawless in 10k miles since then.

[NoRalPh]

I don't mean to open this "Can-Of-Worms" again

BUT, before you make the decision to use Mercon V (something your owners manual specifically warns Against) do a little research and see that there are many others opinions that you should actually stick with DEX-III.

I know, I know, FORD has now decided it's actually OK and their original engineers warning was wrong,,,, BUT many of us feel it was in the best interest of FORD, Not YOU, when the "bean counters" (who, I'm sure know less than the 4R100 original designers) made that call.

YOUR Trans, YOUR decision, play it safe or gamble (as apparently Many others have done without concrete evidence of disaster)

All I'm sayin',,, Everybody should just be aware..........

[rufushusky]

Oh yeah disclaimer, the mercon v comment was in reference to the 4r70w in the Merc.

I agree let's not make this another mervon vs mercon v thread. It has been debate to noooo end.

My apologies for any unitential derailing.