General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

How often should you change the tranny fluid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #1  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Icon5 How often should you change the tranny fluid

Hey guys sorry if I'm in the wrong area I just bought a ranger yesterday it has 87000km on it should I be thinking of flushing my tranny fluid or do wait? Any ideas?
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #2  
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
I don't know how much that is in MILES lol but it's always a good idea to change all fluids on a car when you buy it. Don't flush it, just change it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #3  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
The thing about just changing it is that you won't get it all, so I'd change it, drive it, and change it again. Some fluid will be in the torque converter which you won't get out by dropping the pan.

The thing about a flush, especially if it's not been done before, is that it can break loose any crud that may have built up, which can then move around in there and either clog something up, or start leaking.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #4  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Soaybe I should call the guy I bought it off and see if he has ever had it done before?
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #5  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
It would be nice to know.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #6  
dj wayne's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Ohio
I read every 30,000 miles. I just did mine at 50,000 and the mechanic said it looked like it had been changed once before, so I'm good.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #7  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WMR-W1145/?rtype=10

30000 sounds right, if you want to do it yourself I would get a pump like above, and pump fluid out the tranny dipstick tube. That way you don't have to drop the pan. And just put in new the amount you take out, then check the level while running to make sure it's where it should be.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #8  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Hey thanks man I think that's what I'm gonna do! I don't think I should change the filter with 87000 km would probably do more harm then anything
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #9  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
I thought I'd just let everyone no I called ford and they told me the rwd modle should be flushed every 50000 km
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #10  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
That's 31068 miles, so seems about what we thought.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #11  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Well now we have cleared up any confusion for the Canadians !
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #12  
muscleford's Avatar
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Pumping out the fluid. What about the filter change? Dropping the pan allows you to change the filter but you don't get the old fluid out of the torque converterf. Flushing gets the fluid out of the torque converter but you cannot change the filter. Both options have their disadvantages. Pumping out the fluid through the dipstick tube does not get the fluid out of the torque converter and does not allow you to change the filter unles you pump it out and then drop the pan anyway. Save the cost of the pump drop the pan and change the filter.

Or have it flushed then drop the pan and change the filter yourself. Costs two rounds of tranny fluid though.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #13  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
Can you tell us more about your truck? According to chiltons 06 up trannys are sealed for life. Which would mean no need for a new filter.

Also don't get a flush, they charge too much and all they do is use a fancy mechanical pump like I posted above for ten bucks. And it injects it a lot harder which is what stirs up the particles lying around in there.

Since you cant get it out of the torque converter,mthats why I recommended doing it more than once.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #14  
Kris03's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 1
From: glastonbury, ct
according to all data-if its automatic, you just inspect it every 30000miles. not replace. on the manual you replace.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #15  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Sorry when u say inspect you mean the filter?
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #16  
Kris03's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 1
From: glastonbury, ct
check fluid color and level with engine running.

it states that for normal operating conditions-its good for the life of the vehicle (however id change it when a vehichle hits 100k.) only on special operating conditions should it be changed every 30000 miles. special conditions are towing, alot of stop and go traffic, alot of idling, alot of off roading, cold climate, and short trips at cold engine temps.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #17  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Ya what your saying makes sence thanks for the info
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #18  
Kris03's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 1
From: glastonbury, ct
ya i did mine when i bought it. think it was at 105k. the guy showed me the color of the fluid when i got its first oil change and it was fairly dark colored. when you check it. it should be red.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #19  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
Ya I will make sure to look at the color an make sure it don't smell burnt. The truck wa drove by an old man who sold it to me because he was to old and they took his drivers license away I got it for 4800$ I haven't seen it yet because I'm living away by I get to see it in two weeks my dad took it for a drive he said it drive smoothe.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2012
  #20  
MNBen's Avatar
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Great Town, MN
Now we need to link the "how to change your transmission fluid/filter" thread.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012
  #21  
oldcrowalki's Avatar
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Does anybody have any clarification on the "sealed for life"? My Haynes manual also says for 2006 & up "sealed for life", but owner's manual says change every 30K mi. Did Ford do something to the 2006 & up (5R55E / 5R44E), so you don't have to drop the pan and change the filter? If I drop the pan and change filter, am I going to bungle something up because the filter is not replaceable, etc.? Just can't get my head around this.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012
  #22  
Ranger Smith's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix
If you have a 2wd with the 5R55E / 5R44E you can swap in the filter and pan from a 4wd and gain a little bit of capacity with a better design.

I changed mine at 50k mi and it was nasty brown, now at 100k I'm going to change it again and add a drain plug.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012
  #23  
SteelDirigible's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 2
From: Lexington, KY
Originally Posted by oldcrowalki
Does anybody have any clarification on the "sealed for life"? My Haynes manual also says for 2006 & up "sealed for life", but owner's manual says change every 30K mi. Did Ford do something to the 2006 & up (5R55E / 5R44E), so you don't have to drop the pan and change the filter? If I drop the pan and change filter, am I going to bungle something up because the filter is not replaceable, etc.? Just can't get my head around this.
Does the manual say t change the filter every 30k or does it just specify the fluid? Because it could mean just fluid, in which case you use the dipstick to replace fluid, and the tranny would remain sealed. I'd really like to know myself because I'd like to be
I've I don't need to change the filter but I also tow.

And I don't want someone just saying they "wouldn't trust it" I'd like so e reasoning.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012
  #24  
dj wayne's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Ohio
I had mine done at AAMCO Transmission. The tech there said not to flush it just drain it, because flushing for some reason causes lots of problems. I just had mine drained on his advice and haven't had any problems since. He said people come to him a lot for service work right after they had theirs flushed out by somebody else. He said don't flush it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012
  #25  
mitchellkend's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife
so to clear things up, most of us are saying drop the pan drain the fluid then add the new stuff? maybe change the gasket? someone should really try an find out weather we should change our filters or not i looked at my owners book i didn't see anything about that,
 
Reply



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:44 AM.