Changing the transmission fluid and power steering
#1
07-16-2018
Changing the transmission fluid and power steering
Changing transmission and power steering fluid
Hey guys!
02 Ranger 3.0L Edge
I'm planning on changing my transmission fluid (mercon v) next week and my question is what fluid would y'all recommend? I dropped the pan and changed the fluid and filter like 3k miles ago and used CAR QUEST Mercon V since that was the only mercon v ATF available at my parts store at the time. The tranny shifts okay, I just think it could be smoother. I read a lot of things about amsoil, Valvoline, and Mobil 1. I also want to add a bottle of Lucas stop slip for good measure, is that a good idea? The fluid was brown when I first got it and now it's working itself up to a light pinkish-brown color.
The power steering pump is very loud and whiney when I turn. I read some post how these trucks generally have loud pumps and replacing them either reproduces the same loud whine or makes it worst for whatever reason. Flushing the pump with Castrol Mercon V didn't help at all, but I read some users here having good results with friction modifier or Lucas power steering additive. Im gonna change the fluid again and I'm open for suggestions!
Hey guys!
02 Ranger 3.0L Edge
I'm planning on changing my transmission fluid (mercon v) next week and my question is what fluid would y'all recommend? I dropped the pan and changed the fluid and filter like 3k miles ago and used CAR QUEST Mercon V since that was the only mercon v ATF available at my parts store at the time. The tranny shifts okay, I just think it could be smoother. I read a lot of things about amsoil, Valvoline, and Mobil 1. I also want to add a bottle of Lucas stop slip for good measure, is that a good idea? The fluid was brown when I first got it and now it's working itself up to a light pinkish-brown color.
The power steering pump is very loud and whiney when I turn. I read some post how these trucks generally have loud pumps and replacing them either reproduces the same loud whine or makes it worst for whatever reason. Flushing the pump with Castrol Mercon V didn't help at all, but I read some users here having good results with friction modifier or Lucas power steering additive. Im gonna change the fluid again and I'm open for suggestions!
#2
07-16-2018
RF's Exiled Elite
In my opinion the only fluid that should go in your transmission is Motorcraft Mercon V. It was literally designed to work with YOUR transmission. Multi vehicle formulas like mobil 1 and amsoil are designed so they "can" work work in a variety of transmissions. And there is absolutely zero need for any additives unless you have serious leaks, shudders or slippage issues and STILL those products are no more than a temporary bandaid. The best insurance for your trans is keeping it full of clean quality fluid, AND keeping it cool. An aftermarket trans cooler is the best investment you can make for an automatic. If the fluid was brown it was most likely burnt (overheated transmission). Consider adding a drain plug to your pan when you change the fluid again. This way you can swap a couple quarts each oil change or few thousand miles in a matter of minutes until that fluid is back to a beautiful bright red. (Remeber each time you drop or drain the pan it only changes about 40% of the overall fluid in the trans) 2-3 drains may be necessary to get it completely back to normal.
As for the power steering fluid, friction modifiers are made for use on clutch materials like in an automatic trans or limited slip differential. I can see zero reason they would do anything to benefit a steering system. However, in this case alone I have found that lucas type additives can help quiet down loud pumps but only because they are basically just raising the viscosity of the fluid.
As for the power steering fluid, friction modifiers are made for use on clutch materials like in an automatic trans or limited slip differential. I can see zero reason they would do anything to benefit a steering system. However, in this case alone I have found that lucas type additives can help quiet down loud pumps but only because they are basically just raising the viscosity of the fluid.
Last edited by Apexkeeper; 07-16-2018 at 02:05 PM.
#3
07-16-2018
Here is how I do my own transmission service. I've done this multiple times (all different kinds of cars) and it works perfectly.
1. Buy the qty of quarts your transmission system uses + 4 more. (probably 12+ qrts)
2. Buy a new filter and gasket.
3. Remove the *top* tranny pipe that goes into the radiator.
4. Plug the open radiator hole. (its only low pressure so a pushed in cap w/tape or held in place with finger is ok)
5. Put a tight fitting hose on the disconnected pipe and route down to a large catch container.
6. Stand there making sure the hose isn't near a belt and is properly routed to the catch can... have a friend start engine (leaving it in park) and let it run until the hose starts to spit air. Tell them to stop engine. NOTE: it takes about 15 seconds for the fluid to start coming out of the hose and it takes about 1-2 minutes for about 4 quarts to come out)
7. Put 4 quarts down the trans dipstick tube.
**Repeat steps 6 & 7 until you have swapped the systems fluid capacity. At about 70% of the capacity you'll see it turning a brighter red. And right about 100% + 1 quart it ought to be as bright red as is it in the bottle. (Mercon V isn't as bright red as some other others are)
8. Drop the pan, replace the filter, clean the magnet, reinstall w/new gasket.
9. Fill until the dipstick shows in the filled area.
10. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Touch the neg to the positive for at least 15 seconds. (or use a little wire to connect the two)
11. Reconnect the battery. Turn ignition key on and floor the throttle twice to reset the TPS sweep range. Then start the engine and let it idle. (look up idle learn process if you wish)
12. Go for a drive and get the fluid hot. Park on a level spot and top off as needed.
Tips & Info:
- Touching the battery terminals will clear the memory and force the tranny to relearn shifts. After a few days of driving / shifting it'll feel new again. (has to go through each shifting point and learn shift functions to make the physical shifts achieve the commands from the computer)
- Mercon V is sold by walmart and in my experience it's about the cheapest place you'll find it. If your local WM doesn't have it in stock, ask them to order it for you. When doing my 98 ranger w/3.0L I used 13quarts. Also they will take the old fluid for recycling. NOTE: Mercon V isn't in high demand anymore so they may not have 12+ quarts in stock. (I had to wait 1 week for them to get more in. But it was 1/2 the price vs other auto parts stores)
- Use a wrench to hold the tranny fitting still when loosening / tightening the tranny pipe. You don't want to let it turn in the radiator if you can help it.
- Using this method is about $150 cheaper than a Ford dealership would charge and you pretty much get the same results.
The last car I did this to was my (new to me) 98 ranger 3.0L w/150k miles on it. It's been about a month now and the tranny shifts exactly like new.
I've noticed the upshifts are crisp and consistent. Going into fwd or reverse is a little softer than before the flush.
btw, my old filter was not the oem filter and there was a lot of grey matter on my magnet. The fluid was fairly dark but not burnt smelling. I think at some point in time someone changed the fluid. But it looks like had been many yrs ago.
1. Buy the qty of quarts your transmission system uses + 4 more. (probably 12+ qrts)
2. Buy a new filter and gasket.
3. Remove the *top* tranny pipe that goes into the radiator.
4. Plug the open radiator hole. (its only low pressure so a pushed in cap w/tape or held in place with finger is ok)
5. Put a tight fitting hose on the disconnected pipe and route down to a large catch container.
6. Stand there making sure the hose isn't near a belt and is properly routed to the catch can... have a friend start engine (leaving it in park) and let it run until the hose starts to spit air. Tell them to stop engine. NOTE: it takes about 15 seconds for the fluid to start coming out of the hose and it takes about 1-2 minutes for about 4 quarts to come out)
7. Put 4 quarts down the trans dipstick tube.
**Repeat steps 6 & 7 until you have swapped the systems fluid capacity. At about 70% of the capacity you'll see it turning a brighter red. And right about 100% + 1 quart it ought to be as bright red as is it in the bottle. (Mercon V isn't as bright red as some other others are)
8. Drop the pan, replace the filter, clean the magnet, reinstall w/new gasket.
9. Fill until the dipstick shows in the filled area.
10. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Touch the neg to the positive for at least 15 seconds. (or use a little wire to connect the two)
11. Reconnect the battery. Turn ignition key on and floor the throttle twice to reset the TPS sweep range. Then start the engine and let it idle. (look up idle learn process if you wish)
12. Go for a drive and get the fluid hot. Park on a level spot and top off as needed.
Tips & Info:
- Touching the battery terminals will clear the memory and force the tranny to relearn shifts. After a few days of driving / shifting it'll feel new again. (has to go through each shifting point and learn shift functions to make the physical shifts achieve the commands from the computer)
- Mercon V is sold by walmart and in my experience it's about the cheapest place you'll find it. If your local WM doesn't have it in stock, ask them to order it for you. When doing my 98 ranger w/3.0L I used 13quarts. Also they will take the old fluid for recycling. NOTE: Mercon V isn't in high demand anymore so they may not have 12+ quarts in stock. (I had to wait 1 week for them to get more in. But it was 1/2 the price vs other auto parts stores)
- Use a wrench to hold the tranny fitting still when loosening / tightening the tranny pipe. You don't want to let it turn in the radiator if you can help it.
- Using this method is about $150 cheaper than a Ford dealership would charge and you pretty much get the same results.
The last car I did this to was my (new to me) 98 ranger 3.0L w/150k miles on it. It's been about a month now and the tranny shifts exactly like new.
I've noticed the upshifts are crisp and consistent. Going into fwd or reverse is a little softer than before the flush.
btw, my old filter was not the oem filter and there was a lot of grey matter on my magnet. The fluid was fairly dark but not burnt smelling. I think at some point in time someone changed the fluid. But it looks like had been many yrs ago.
Last edited by wydopnthrtl; 07-16-2018 at 08:49 PM.
#5
07-23-2018
Here is how I do my own transmission service. I've done this multiple times (all different kinds of cars) and it works perfectly.
1. Buy the qty of quarts your transmission system uses + 4 more. (probably 12+ qrts)
2. Buy a new filter and gasket.
3. Remove the *top* tranny pipe that goes into the radiator.
4. Plug the open radiator hole. (its only low pressure so a pushed in cap w/tape or held in place with finger is ok)
5. Put a tight fitting hose on the disconnected pipe and route down to a large catch container.
6. Stand there making sure the hose isn't near a belt and is properly routed to the catch can... have a friend start engine (leaving it in park) and let it run until the hose starts to spit air. Tell them to stop engine. NOTE: it takes about 15 seconds for the fluid to start coming out of the hose and it takes about 1-2 minutes for about 4 quarts to come out)
7. Put 4 quarts down the trans dipstick tube.
**Repeat steps 6 & 7 until you have swapped the systems fluid capacity. At about 70% of the capacity you'll see it turning a brighter red. And right about 100% + 1 quart it ought to be as bright red as is it in the bottle. (Mercon V isn't as bright red as some other others are)
8. Drop the pan, replace the filter, clean the magnet, reinstall w/new gasket.
9. Fill until the dipstick shows in the filled area.
10. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Touch the neg to the positive for at least 15 seconds. (or use a little wire to connect the two)
11. Reconnect the battery. Turn ignition key on and floor the throttle twice to reset the TPS sweep range. Then start the engine and let it idle. (look up idle learn process if you wish)
12. Go for a drive and get the fluid hot. Park on a level spot and top off as needed.
Tips & Info:
- Touching the battery terminals will clear the memory and force the tranny to relearn shifts. After a few days of driving / shifting it'll feel new again. (has to go through each shifting point and learn shift functions to make the physical shifts achieve the commands from the computer)
- Mercon V is sold by walmart and in my experience it's about the cheapest place you'll find it. If your local WM doesn't have it in stock, ask them to order it for you. When doing my 98 ranger w/3.0L I used 13quarts. Also they will take the old fluid for recycling. NOTE: Mercon V isn't in high demand anymore so they may not have 12+ quarts in stock. (I had to wait 1 week for them to get more in. But it was 1/2 the price vs other auto parts stores)
- Use a wrench to hold the tranny fitting still when loosening / tightening the tranny pipe. You don't want to let it turn in the radiator if you can help it.
- Using this method is about $150 cheaper than a Ford dealership would charge and you pretty much get the same results.
The last car I did this to was my (new to me) 98 ranger 3.0L w/150k miles on it. It's been about a month now and the tranny shifts exactly like new.
I've noticed the upshifts are crisp and consistent. Going into fwd or reverse is a little softer than before the flush.
btw, my old filter was not the oem filter and there was a lot of grey matter on my magnet. The fluid was fairly dark but not burnt smelling. I think at some point in time someone changed the fluid. But it looks like had been many yrs ago.
1. Buy the qty of quarts your transmission system uses + 4 more. (probably 12+ qrts)
2. Buy a new filter and gasket.
3. Remove the *top* tranny pipe that goes into the radiator.
4. Plug the open radiator hole. (its only low pressure so a pushed in cap w/tape or held in place with finger is ok)
5. Put a tight fitting hose on the disconnected pipe and route down to a large catch container.
6. Stand there making sure the hose isn't near a belt and is properly routed to the catch can... have a friend start engine (leaving it in park) and let it run until the hose starts to spit air. Tell them to stop engine. NOTE: it takes about 15 seconds for the fluid to start coming out of the hose and it takes about 1-2 minutes for about 4 quarts to come out)
7. Put 4 quarts down the trans dipstick tube.
**Repeat steps 6 & 7 until you have swapped the systems fluid capacity. At about 70% of the capacity you'll see it turning a brighter red. And right about 100% + 1 quart it ought to be as bright red as is it in the bottle. (Mercon V isn't as bright red as some other others are)
8. Drop the pan, replace the filter, clean the magnet, reinstall w/new gasket.
9. Fill until the dipstick shows in the filled area.
10. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Touch the neg to the positive for at least 15 seconds. (or use a little wire to connect the two)
11. Reconnect the battery. Turn ignition key on and floor the throttle twice to reset the TPS sweep range. Then start the engine and let it idle. (look up idle learn process if you wish)
12. Go for a drive and get the fluid hot. Park on a level spot and top off as needed.
Tips & Info:
- Touching the battery terminals will clear the memory and force the tranny to relearn shifts. After a few days of driving / shifting it'll feel new again. (has to go through each shifting point and learn shift functions to make the physical shifts achieve the commands from the computer)
- Mercon V is sold by walmart and in my experience it's about the cheapest place you'll find it. If your local WM doesn't have it in stock, ask them to order it for you. When doing my 98 ranger w/3.0L I used 13quarts. Also they will take the old fluid for recycling. NOTE: Mercon V isn't in high demand anymore so they may not have 12+ quarts in stock. (I had to wait 1 week for them to get more in. But it was 1/2 the price vs other auto parts stores)
- Use a wrench to hold the tranny fitting still when loosening / tightening the tranny pipe. You don't want to let it turn in the radiator if you can help it.
- Using this method is about $150 cheaper than a Ford dealership would charge and you pretty much get the same results.
The last car I did this to was my (new to me) 98 ranger 3.0L w/150k miles on it. It's been about a month now and the tranny shifts exactly like new.
I've noticed the upshifts are crisp and consistent. Going into fwd or reverse is a little softer than before the flush.
btw, my old filter was not the oem filter and there was a lot of grey matter on my magnet. The fluid was fairly dark but not burnt smelling. I think at some point in time someone changed the fluid. But it looks like had been many yrs ago.
I think I'll stick with Castrol Mercon V this time. It's only $5 a quart at my local parts store. Would I need to change the filter and gasket again even though I changed it a couple months back? Last time I changed it I used Car Quest brand if that matters. And lastly, could you go more into detail or post a link on steps 10 & 11? Thanks
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