Hello, i am a proud owner of a used 2008 Ford Ranger, It has 93600 miles but runs like a champ. I love the vehicle but i have one large gripe with it, the previous owner did not care for it as i would have cared for it, I know for a fact that the transmission fluid on the car has never been changed, and I am unable to find a definitive answer on weather i should flush it or not in its advanced mileage. I checked the fluid, its a dark brown color with a pinkish tinge, I've never smelt burnt fluid but my fluid has a light, almost undecipherable smell. If it was burnt would the smell be stronger? In case anyone is wondering I know very little about cars, I can change brakes, oil, rotate tires, etc, but thats all. So to wrap up that unnecessarily long question, to flush? or not to flush?

 

also, on a side note she shifts quite well, I feel no unusual delay when i shift

 

I don't believe in flushes, drain and fill yes, change filter if need be, seen some flushes do damage, I wouldn't recommend it. That in turn will open a bag of worms though.

 

okay thanks alot, thats what i was thinking about doing, would you happen to know how i refill the ranger? through the dipstick?

 

I'd suggest a pan drop and a filter change.

1. To refill. Add Mercon V (I suggest Motorcraft for your fluid and filter) until you can see it on the dipstick on the very bottom.

2. Start the truck up once you can see its on the very tip on the dipstick and keep adding until you are sure its at the very BOTTOM of the COLD fill line (remember ATF expands and it's easier to add more fluid than drain more out).

3. Go drive the truck for 5 minutes then recheck and adjust the fluid level to the TOP of the HOT line.

Tips and suggestions:

• Get a funnel with a thin neck that will fit down into the dipstick tube.
• If using a funnel used for other fluids, give it a quick cleaning with brake clean.
• Once your done with your 5 minute drive and your topping off your fluid to it's final level. Go slow, and allow a 30 seconds or more between pours. ATF will creep up on that dipstick quicker than you think.

 

I did a pan drop and a filter change not long ago but also undid the trans cooler lines at the front and replaced all the fluid that way. I made a how-to with some pics on here.

 

I was always under the impression that the transmission fluid is good for the life of the vehicle...

 

I just changed mine after 85k and it was a .... hard thing to do because on a 5speed the tranny drain and fill is in an awkward place, if you don't have a pump use a bottle of gear oil (without liquid) and put your tranny fluid in there and squeeze it in. It's harder than I thought but mine shifts like a dream

 

I have flushed mine every 50k miles with synthetic fluid. Got 263k miles on it now........never dropped the pan

 

I have done them both ways. To me its just less expensive to drop the pan vs a flush so I recommend just dropping the pan and a new filter.

 

Do the filter for sure i only did the fluid the first time around and it developed a stutter coming out of OD swapped the filter and all was well. As to mileage someoe said earlier fluid is lifetime no it breaksdown like any other fluid and fluid is way more critical in a auto vs manual. Auto requires the fluid to cool and as a hydraulic fluid to shift the gears at ~90,000 your probably ok i think the interval is like 60,000 so your not to bad but i would change the fluid it may save the life of your tranny.