[GoJoeGo]

I am about to hit 30k miles. The maintenance schedule states it's time to change the automatic transmission fluid and external filter element. Is this something I should try for the first time? My only experience is 20 years of oil changes and light maintenance.

From reading the "Owner's Guide" it sounds easy, just like changing the oil. Is it?

Here is how I would do it:
> Drain trany fluid
> Remove and replace external filter element. (P/N# FT-145)
> Refill trany fluid,17.5 quarts, Mercon SP ATF
> Check levels on dip stick

Is that about right? Is there a more detailed written procedure somewhere that I can download?

Thanks for you help!

 

[teamroper60]

If you just drain the tranny pan (like doing an oil change), you will only need 7.5 quarts because you will not be changing out all the tranny fluid. The entire tranny holds something like 17.5 quarts. If you do a flush, then you will need the 17.5 plus some extra (I used 22 quarts to do my flush, but I probably went a little overboard to be sure I changed out all the old fluid).

You can do the flush using the method described in the FAQs on this site, but to do so, your tranny needs to be good and warm. If it isn't, you will need to plug the hole where you take the line loose or the fluid will come out the hole instead of the line.

 

[JCSHADOW5]

Very easy to do... As teamroper60 said make sure the trans is warm... I ended using 20 quarts to make sure the old fuild was flushed out...

Here the link over in the FAQ section on how to do it... Trans fuild change

Also make sure use Mercon SP fuild!!!


Jason

 

[jward]

teamroper60--
I read the link below and I am wondering approx. how many qts. drain out before you see the air bubbles in the tube ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif. Want to make sure I totally understand .
Thanks

 

[teamroper60]

I don't know exactly how many will drain out, I would have to guess probably 6 quarts or so, but you will for sure know it when the air bubbles start. The fluid will fill the tube completely, then all of a sudden there will be the air bubble...

This job is best done with a buddy, so if you can enlist one, it would be helpful....

 

[GoJoeGo]

Thanks for the help so far. Three more questions.

So as you are draining fluid out of the tube, what keep fluid from comming out the hole in the trany where I removed the tube? (engine running, shifting through gears)

It sounds like I will be draining the cooler dry, if air bubbles start flowing through the tube. Is that ok? Should I be adding new fluid as I drain from the tube?

Where can I buy Mercon SP? Not at WalMart or Pep Boys.

thanks

 

[teamroper60]

[ QUOTE ]
So as you are draining fluid out of the tube, what keep fluid from comming out the hole in the trany where I removed the tube? (engine running, shifting through gears)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I am honestly not sure what will keep it from coming out, but I am guessing a valve or something similar. I do know from experience, that if your tranny is not up to temp, it will flow out that hole for sure!!

[ QUOTE ]
It sounds like I will be draining the cooler dry, if air bubbles start flowing through the tube. Is that ok? Should I be adding new fluid as I drain from the tube?

[/ QUOTE ]

I stopped the engine and refilled as soon as I got the air bubble, so the tranny was never dry. Of course, like I said, I ended up using 22 quarts to do the job too...... Others may use a slightly different approach that doesn't waste as much fluid. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Where can I buy Mercon SP? Not at WalMart or Pep Boys.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only place I have ever found it was at the Ford dealer. A few months ago, someone posted that they had found it in an auto parts store, but I have never seen it anywhere but the Ford dealer. You might look around at your local auto parts stores... Maybe they have it in your area.

Good luck!!

 

[GoJoeGo]

I have read as much as I can find on this forum regarding changing the transmission fluid in 5R110. I still need a little help in getting the steps down right. Here is what I have so far. What am I missing and what do I have out of order?

1. Get transmission up to full temperature (i.e. hot)
2. Remove drain pan plug and drain fluid
3. Reinstall drain plug
4. Add 7 qts Mercon SP through dipstick tube
5. Remove the by-pass filter housing. Remove filter element
6. Reinstall by-pass filter housing without filter element*
7. Disconnect the transmission fluid return line at the transmission. This is the line towards the rear of the transmission.
8. Install clear tube to end of return line, other end of clear tube into bucket.
9. Start engine. At idle speed, shift the transmission into each stop 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ect… Waiting 5 seconds at each stop.
10. As you are performing step 9, keep your eye on the clear tube. Stop the engine as soon as you see air bubbles in the clear tube. Add additional clean Mercon SP through the dipstick tube to replace about the same amount of fluid that just came out through the clear tube.
11. Repeat steps 9 & 10 until clean fluid is coming out the clear tube. The clean fluid should start coming out after adding about 17 to 20 quarts.
12. Remove the by-pass filter housing, Install new filter element, reinstal housing with filter element.
13. Check fluid level
14. Add Mercon SP as required.

* My thought for taking the filter element out in step 6 was that you do not want to run clean fluid through a dirty filter.

Here is another thought. Instead of the process of installing a clear tube on the return line, and looking for air bubbles, why not just take the by pass filter housing and filter element off and let the fluid come out there, as you run the engine and shift through the gears? I guess you would know to stop the engine when fluid stops coming out and then you could add more fluid at that time. My concern is that I don’t want to run the transmission without any fluid in it.

What are your thoughts? How would you modify the process? Thanks for your help!

Joe

 

[teamroper60]

Here is what I did (and I admit, I took your list and used it, rather than re-type everything):

1. Get transmission up to full temperature (i.e. hot)
2. Disconnect the transmission fluid return line at the transmission. This is the line towards the rear of the transmission.
3. Install clear tube to end of return line, other end of clear tube into bucket.
4. Start engine. At idle speed, shift the transmission into each stop 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ect… Waiting 5 seconds at each stop.
5. As you are performing step 4, keep your eye on the clear tube. Stop the engine as soon as you see air bubbles in the clear tube. Add additional clean Mercon SP through the dipstick tube to replace about the same amount of fluid that just came out through the clear tube.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until clean fluid is coming out the clear tube. The clean fluid should start coming out after adding about 17 to 20 quarts.
7. Remove the by-pass filter housing. Remove filter element
8. Install new filter element, reinstall housing with filter element.
9. Check fluid level
10. Add Mercon SP as required.

Notice I did not drain the pan first, nor did I change the bypass filter until done with the rest of the change over. My tranny was never "dry", though it would have been about 5-7 quarts low after each start up.

You use the clear tube so you can see the air bubble quicker and shut off, thus minimizing the amount of time your tranny is running while low on fluid.

There were some posts about draining the old fluid out through the line to the bypass filter. I didn't go that route because I was not sure it would work, since the bypass only filters something like 10% of the fluid at a time. Others have said it works just fine, so you would probably be ok to do it that way if you prefer.

 

[6670]

About how long is it taking to see air bubbles in clear tube.

 

[JCSHADOW5]

GojoeGo,

I did the same to the T as Teamroper 60... With you turning off the engine as soon as you see the air bubble's. I wouldn't think it would hurt the trans at all... Your only running the truck at idle while doing this...

On fluid you can check your local dealership first, but I found online dealers to be alot cheaper almost by 1.00. The last part number had for fluid was XT-6-QSP, but you need check and make sure this right first before ordering...

For online orders would start with one our Site Sponsors PowerStrokeShop their very nice and have great sevice and fast shipping too...


Smoker,

It been about 6 months since change mine and don't recall how fast the bubbles showed up but wasn't long at all...

Jason

 

[teamroper60]

[ QUOTE ]
About how long is it taking to see air bubbles in clear tube.

[/ QUOTE ]

Smoker,

It was last January when I did mine, so my recollection may be a bit fuzzy, but I am thinking it was around 6 quarts that came out before the bubble showed up. Time wise, it sure didn't seem to take long, maybe a couple of minutes or so...

Hope that helps.