Changing auto trans fluid

[Eric]

Anyone do their own transmission oil change? I was thinking of doing it myself as the quotes I'm getting are in the $125 range. I was wondering how difficult the job is and how much oil comes out when you drop the pan. I assume 1/2 or more is in the torque converter that you can't get out. Also do you need to change the filter as well when you only have 46,000 miles?

 

[ELVATO]

Can't remember off the top of my head what the exact amounts are, but it's something like 5 qts in the pan, and 14 in the TC (or is it 14 total?). For any transmissions made after 2001, you have to do a fluid exchange since you can't directly drain the TC.

There is a method where you disconnect the trans cooler line, turn on the truck for a couple seconds, catch what comes out, and put an equal amount of new stuff in. You keep on doing this until the oil comes out clean.

Is the $125 for all 14/19 qts of oil (w/e the total amount of pan and TC is), and filter? A filter is like 10-15 bucks. The oil is the pricey part, since each qt is like 5-6 dollars, it adds up when you have to change out all those qts.

I'd go ahead and change the filter while you're in there.

 

[Stoned06]

With the new way they flush the system, it gets all the fluid out without dropping the pan, and even back-flushes the filter to get some debris off of that. They use the cooler lines and reverse the flow to get it done. It's worth the $125 (about what I paid) to get it done.
If you drop the pan, I would replace the filter too. It's a fairly cheap part and worth it to do it if you're going to the trouble of dropping the pan. Ford was charging twice the amount I paid for trans flush to change the filter due to the amount of time, new gasket, and fluid.
With only 46,000 miles, you most likely do not need a flush or fluid exchange until 100K (per owner's manual) unless you are doing a fair amount of towing. I have nearly 60K on mine, but I tow about 6000 lbs a fair amount in the summer months.

 

[Eric]

Since I am not the original owner I wanted to change the fluid as I don't know how it was treated before. I know the prior owner did some towing across the country for a move. The $125 quote was to drop the pan and change the filter and whatever oil is in the pan, it was not a "flush". However there is a local oil chage store called Jiffy Lube that advertises a transmission fluid "flush" but that does not include changing the filter for the same price (my manual says the filter change is not necessary if no part failure). So I don't know what route I should go if I decide not to do it myself.

 

[ELVATO]

If they are just dropping the pan, they are only changing 5 qts of oil, which isn't even half the amount. I'd ask around at other places to see what their prices are, and for what service.

 

[KWT2000]

up here most charge $179 to drop pan change filter and then do a full fluid exchange. make sure they use actual mercon 5 fluid and not dexron/mercon with an additive friction modifier

 

[Stoned06]

At my local Ford dealer, it was $116 for a trans flush, no filter or dropping of the pan.

 

[Eric]

I called 3 shops all around $125, only one shop said they pull the return line and pump the fluid into a bucket until pink. They all use the synthetic Mercon V. I am also thinking of doing this myself so when the pan is off I can install a drain plug so I can change the fluid more regularly.