04 with 260k miles...........how far should i push my luck ?

[1955moose]

If you wait too long, it's always a gamble. You got a few choices. Drain the pan and clean it and magnet. Or disconnect line from cooler and run and refill, along with pan/ filter. Or have a shop flush it, don't recommend 3 rd choice. Time and time again you guys write in with high mileage trans fluid service. Why? Don't you have owners books, or didn't someone tell you this is one of the most crucial services besides lof that needs to be done. The younger generation has the internet for everything, we didn't but we knew. I'm wondering why everyone thinks their exempt, your not! This is like the 10 th post with ridiculous high trans mile change intervals. Come on guys dummy up , if you were in my shop I'd probably give you a Moe slap across the face. Change your fluid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JoeD]

Moose, easiest fluid change I've experienced was a Saturn - drain plug and external spin on filter

 

[1955moose]

I know I worked for Saturn. Smartest filter I've ever seen, a spin on. Why don't more manufacturers do that. It's not as good as dropping the pan, and cleaning out debris. But if it meant regular fluid changes like oil, it would be a step in the right direction. Guess they all want to sell you guys a tranny, after the warranties up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ExplorerTom]

The 4r100 has a drain plug. Makes that part at least a lot easier.

I had an aux filter on my Explorer for awhile. I took it out. I still have the remote filter mount for it. Might install it on my Expedition.

 

[lane87]

OK, here it is, I do (almost) all my own work on my Expy and the reason I never touched the trans fluid over 200K is because early on (during warranty days) the service guy at Ford dealership said it was designed to last the life of the vehicle. Hence the no drain plug. Made sense at the time but you all have me certainly thinking otherwise now. Dang. This car looks and drives like it is new and I really wish I would have taken better care of the trans. Very little problems over the last 14 yrs. It has been a gem. Never towed anything much and now I hear an occasional "shutter" shifting into 6 on the freeway.

 

[1955moose]

An 03, depending on engine, and whether 2 or 4 wheel drive has a 4 speed 4r100 or 4 r70w. They both require service at no more than 50k intervals. Your friend doesn't know what he's talking about. Even the later 6 speeds, still need fluid/ filter changes at no more than 130k. At this point changing fluid will probably cause too many issues. You pretty much have to ride it out, and start getting better advice, like maybe techs that drive these vehicles everyday. Gee our website has those guys!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[1955moose]

See now I'm confused, you said my 03 expy 5.4 with 200k miles. Then you say in a later post I hear an occasional shutter shifting into 6 on the freeway. 2007 is the first 6r75 and 6r80 6 speed automatics. What year vehicle do you have? Did you put a 2007 transmission in a 2003 second edition? Doubt it as it probably wouldn't function with the early computer. So what's the deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lane87]

Thanks 1955Mosse. I understand I got bad advice. Correct 4 speed. 2WD. Guess I will just eat the $3-5k when it goes then. This vehicle is in too good of shape. Manual says only check fluid levels 100k + unless tran is AX4S and I guess the dude thought that meant 4WD???Hell if I know.

 

[CooterExpedition]

If you have a 4R70W, lift the truck as much as you can, dump whatever fluid you can get, replace all the solenoids with new, replace the filter, clean out the pan and the magnet, and then top off with fresh Mercon V or Valvoline MaxLife Full Synthetic ATF from walmart, $17.87 per gallon. You can get the full solenoid set for $69 on ebay.
they get contaminated by metal particulates suspended in the fluid. from the friction disks, the metal plates, the overdrive band, and the reverse band. the solenoids are operated by electrical voltage on small electro magnets. they will fail. and when they do, you will get broken teeth on hard parts. Sun Gear teeth and Planetary teeth.
Spend the $150 before it turns to $1500.

 

[1955moose]

Good advice ******!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lane87]

Thank you very much folks. I have to change the crank case gasket next week ( Rear Main Seal - small oil leak) so I may as well get this mess done. Looks like I have the 4R70W so:
- 4R70W Transmission Solenoid Package Shift Tcc Lock-Up Epc AODE Kit Set 1998-03 Ebay $93
- Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid, 1 Gallon (How many quarts do I need? All 12?)

Please correct me if I am not making the right purchases here. Thanks again. This forum saves my butt.

 

[1955moose]

A gallon is four quarts, you will probably be draining out 5-6 quarts on your drain. Do yourself a favor pick up a big plastic cement mixing pan at your hardware store. It's a mess if you try using small pans. Pick up a filter as well for your trans. If you have a full sized dipstick you refill to hash marks when warm, don't over or under fill. Probably going to need about 6 quarts, buy a couple of loose ones along with the gallon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CooterExpedition]

Thanks, I'm speaking from experience, it happened to my 2001 F150 with 150k miles on it. I had to replace just about everything in the transmission case. It's better than original with rebuilt pump, all major sub components rebuilt, solenoids, sonnax sure cure kit, tuff seperator plate, tripple locking ring on diode. Heck I even did the u joints while the drive shaft was out.

 

[1955moose]

Thanks again ******. It amazes me how many of our members spend big money on every kind of crap available for their rides, but won't do the maintenance that's in their owners manual. That $3,500 that they have to pay some bonehead that doesn't even have a quality rebuilt transmission, they could take their family on vacation, or have in the bank, for something real important, like that new roof their gonna need.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CooterExpedition]

You should be able to find the solenoids for less. I got these and they are working great.

 

[CooterExpedition]

Get the tuff plate for $35 too. It includes a cap to protect it from the 2-3 shift accumulator denting the stock plate. After 250k miles it may well be damaged. You can pull the valve body and leave everything else in the transmission.

 

[CooterExpedition]

Go to about 35 minutes into this YouTube link.

 

[lane87]

I paid extra for the filter and gasket. $93

 

[Wilson]

Mine is an Early 2003 5.4, with 194,000 miles on it. Been highway driven, always garaged, and always maintained, no dents, paint flawless. It "looks as new". Lots of parts over time replaced, like door seals, seat covers, etc., the stuff that wears out from normal use.

So I feel like buying a new Expedition, and I drive over to the local dealer with mine.

Salesman comes out, he says "What are you interested in buying?"

I tell him a new Expedition.

He takes one look at mine, and says, "Why would you want to buy a new truck, when you have this one?"

I told him I wanted a newer model. . .He asked how many miles were on mine, I told him - he basically said they will run well to about 260,000 miles then everything was subject to change after that.

He told me that he kept his until 275,000 miles (kept it as a ranch car), and then bought a new one.

So if you can imagine, here I am at the Ford dealership with $50k in my pocket, and the SALESMAN is talking me out of buying a new car !

Not sure that I really liked the engine choice anyway, there is nothing like the 5.4 V8 (in my humble opinion), and the ECO Boost new engine I'm really not sure about. One thing I can tell, at least I can work on the 5.4, the new ECO-Boost looks like a very difficult engine compartment to maintain, and although I do 90% of any maintenance myself, the ECO-Boost 2017 looks exceeding difficult under the hood.

 

[Wilson]

OK, here it is, I do (almost) all my own work on my Expy and the reason I never touched the trans fluid over 200K is because early on (during warranty days) the service guy at Ford dealership said it was designed to last the life of the vehicle. Hence the no drain plug. Made sense at the time but you all have me certainly thinking otherwise now. Dang. This car looks and drives like it is new and I really wish I would have taken better care of the trans. Very little problems over the last 14 yrs. It has been a gem. Never towed anything much and now I hear an occasional "shutter" shifting into 6 on the freeway.

My exact experience as well. At 20,000 miles, car in warranty, it needed a transmission replacement due to improper parts install at the factory level. After the new transmission was installed, the tech (who was also a race car tranny guy) told me you will never have to change this fluid. Of course I was skeptical, but I must say 150k miles later, when I remove the dipstick on the transmission, the oil seems to be new. No dirt, metal, smells like it's still fresh.

So I haven't touched it yet, gonna do more study on it first before screwing up a good thing.