2014 Expy maintenance questions

[Richard Pittenger]

Hello group, We've owned this vehicle since Feb., 2019. It was purchased out of TX and it was a one owner (older gentleman), two-wheel drive and now has approx. 35K miles. As we're getting ready for a family vacation next month, I reviewed today the manual to see what service items are specified. I can take care of oil changes, tire rotation, brake checks, etc. Per the manual, it's overdue for the transmission fluid to be checked and the book calls for a coolant change at six years or 105K miles.

It really upsets me that Ford changed the tranny dipstick design to make it much harder to check, so I'll probably need to have the dealer perform that service. If the coolant change is recommended, I'll probably enlist the help of the dealer to do that as well.

My question: What is the experience/recommendation of the group as to the need to check tranny fluid level and change the coolant on this six-year old, 35K vehicle? It seems to be operating fine right now.

Thanks in advance for your help/advice.

Richard

 

[Plati]

I have a 2014 5.4EL with Transfer Case & 102K miles. Full alignment at 50K. New battery at 79K. Plugs at 80K. Coolant & snake belt at 98K. Obviously ... oil & filter, air filter, brakes, wiper blades, tires as required. I've never looked at transmission fluid level.

I plan to do transmission / F + R differential / Transfer Case fluid at 110K.
Assuming the world opens up and I can get it out on the open road for long distance travel.

Right now it's just a wind block for my lawn furniture and holds the tarp in place.

 

[07navi]

Hello group, We've owned this vehicle since Feb., 2019. It was purchased out of TX and it was a one owner (older gentleman), two-wheel drive and now has approx. 35K miles. As we're getting ready for a family vacation next month, I reviewed today the manual to see what service items are specified. I can take care of oil changes, tire rotation, brake checks, etc. Per the manual, it's overdue for the transmission fluid to be checked and the book calls for a coolant change at six years or 105K miles.

It really upsets me that Ford changed the tranny dipstick design to make it much harder to check, so I'll probably need to have the dealer perform that service. If the coolant change is recommended, I'll probably enlist the help of the dealer to do that as well.

My question: What is the experience/recommendation of the group as to the need to check tranny fluid level and change the coolant on this six-year old, 35K vehicle? It seems to be operating fine right now.

Thanks in advance for your help/advice.

Richard

I wouldn't worry about the trans fluid level until it slips a little on a hard low speed turn and then add a quart. It will probably never need more fluid.

 

[Trainmaster]

If it's not leaking and is shifting normally, it shouldn't require tranny fluid. Not a bad idea to check it though when you can.

If you never change your anti-freeze, your heater core will eventually clog. After six years, the coolant should be changed. No rush though. Just get to it when you have a change.

 

[Richard Pittenger]

Thanks gentlemen for your replies. I'll likely go ahead and have both maintenace items performed mostly for peace of mind.

I appreciate your responses.
Richard

 

[07navi]

Thanks gentlemen for your replies. I'll likely go ahead and have both maintenace items performed mostly for peace of mind.

I appreciate your responses.
Richard

At 35 k miles both of those will be a waste of time and money. You might want to change the coolant soon though.

 

[JExpedition07]

These transmissions have huge 7 quart pans and won’t slip or have funny shifts at all until they are 2+ FULL quarts low on fluid. It’s crazy. My last Expy was 2 quarts low when I checked it once and it wasn’t shifting weird at all. So you are probably fine. Change it at 100k miles, they are finding Mercon LV breaks down just like SP and V.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

+1 on checking the tranny fluid and likely leaving it alone, though I have a trans temp gauge to give me some idea of how well the fluid is doing its job.

The antifreeze/coolant I would consider changing. It will often continue to do its job as an antifreeze/coolant for the life of the vehicle, but what it loses over time - and what can't easily be measured - are its anti-corrosion properties. It's not what I would consider an essential job right this moment, but rather a "best practice" type of thing. Also, it's something you could do very cheaply with a few bottles of distilled water on your own or probably for $100-150 or so at the shop (depending on labor prices in your area, etc.).

 

[07navi]

These transmissions have huge 7 quart pans and won’t slip or have funny shifts at all until they are 2+ FULL quarts low on fluid. It’s crazy. My last Expy was 2 quarts low when I checked it once and it wasn’t shifting weird at all. So you are probably fine. Change it at 100k miles, they are finding Mercon LV breaks down just like SP and V.

It all breaks down, there is no silver bullet.

 

[Plati]

At 35 k miles both of those will be a waste of time and money.

So ... in your opinion ... coolant change goes by miles ONLY and NOT years?
How many years would you go before changing coolant?

 

[07navi]

So ... in your opinion ... coolant change goes by miles ONLY and NOT years?
How many years would you go before changing coolant?

I change mine every 3 years and thoroughly flush entire system by running engine flush and water for a week beforehand and try to run the heaters (hot in summer). I use the straight green stuff I get from garage sales for pennies on the dollar (50-50 in system). I have a system of fully removing the old stuff I will do a writ-up with pictures this summer depending on how nice everyone is.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I change mine every 3 years and thoroughly flush entire system by running engine flush and water for a week beforehand and try to run the heaters (hot in summer). I use the straight green stuff I get from garage sales for pennies on the dollar (50-50 in system). I have a system of fully removing the old stuff I will do a writ-up with pictures this summer depending on how nice everyone is.

Yesterday it was a waste of time and money to change the coolant. Today it's every 3 years and you edited your original post to say he might want to change it soon. Jeff, is that you?

 

[07navi]

Yesterday it was a waste of time and money to change the coolant. Today it's every 3 years and you edited your original post to say he might want to change it soon. Jeff, is that you?

I change mine a lot but I doubt if it is really necessary, I get the coolant for almost nothing also. That guy only has 35k+- mile on his truck and pays to have it done. He can do it but probably not necessary yet. Who is Jeff?

 

[Jamo]

It has been said that some bus owners (I have a 1953 GM PD-4104 w/Detroit 6/71 Diesel) will use the green Cascade dish powder mixed with water as a system flush. I will be doing that later this summer...