Hey guys my company has a 2008 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 regular cab with the 3.0 motor with the automatic transmission. The company bought it certified back in 2010 with 45k on it and now it's my service vehicle with just under 189k. I must admit I've never been a fan of Rangers but the little trucks grown on me problem is the last two guys that had it looks like they did next to nothing maintenance wise except for oil changes. When I got it I did a ton of suspensionwork to it and the motor in its sluggish way is strong, doesn't burn or leak oil. Truck has allot of rust with one of the bed supports almost completely rusted away but the frame looks new which is what matters. The thing that concerns me now is the transmission feels great shifts seamlessly doesn't jerk going forward but once you put it into reverse what I originally suspected was a bad motor mount sometimes it does a little jerk then rolls but. But sometimes it's like the gear doesn't engage until you give it a little gas and then it feels like if it pops into gear with a little jerk. Crazy because after the suspension the truck feels great certainly has little bs issues that I've found solutions for most of them here but if the transmission is going it might be the end of the line since they are very hesitant put money into it. It's a sharp little truck with a matching Leer camper and the fake chrome wheels.

 

So I did some research on here apparently it's on it's way out, is there anything that can be done additive wise or anything else to prolong the inevitable.

 

You can try a little Lucas trans fix. I have had good experience with it.

 

Thanks for the reply but how does that work do I have to drain some fluid out to make room for the additive and do you put in the entire 24oz in, the dipstick shows perfect level.

 

Like BigEdge said Lucas Trans fix or similar might help, yes you need to put it all in.

It is an additive so you may need to drain some ATF fluid to add it to trans.
Loosen trans cooler line to drain some fluid

All automatics run on Pressure, not a Ford thing, all of them rely on Pressure to engage and disengage clutches and band brakes.
If you look at diagrams or pictures of the inside of an automatic you will see many many passages used to channel that pressure where it needs to go, passages are sealed with gaskets and rubber seals.
Reverse requires the highest pressure to engage, above 150psi, so if there is lower pressure in the system it is usually noticed as a slow engaging Reverse at first.
Raising RPMs increases Front pump(main pump) speed so increases overall pressure.


Lucas trans fix helps reduce clutch and band slipping from lack of pressure, and it also swells gaskets and seals to slow down internal leaking which is why pressure is down.
It doesn't permanently fix internal leaks, but can help get a few more miles out of the trans
How many miles?
Reverse will get slower and slower to engage and then one day it won't engage, thats when you will know how many miles

 

So at this point it would be useless to add a transmission cooler right.

 

Never useless but won't help fix current problem.
If clutches and bands are slipping then it will help them last longer