Transmission fluid change but no filter change?

[Mikeymac25]

Just dropped my truck off at the stealer for transmission fluid service and coolant service. After picking the advisors brain they don’t change the filter in the transmission as it’s not needed and the flush old and add new fluid and conditioner on the backend? Sounds fancy but even when I worked on Mercedes trannys back in the day that filter was changed at 40k is this correct or should i be telling them forget it and I’ll suck it up and do it?

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[Roscoe_t]

My personal opinion after babysitting a historically troublesome BMW 5hp30 transmission to 300k miles is this: I did a spill-and-fill with the bimmer ever 30k with a filter change every 60k. In retrospect, the filter probably didn't need a change that often.

I had a fluid flush done on my Ranger at 32k. I will repeat that at about 60k. My primary concern is not junk that the filter will catch, but micro particles that will erode and/or clog components in the valve body. So I'm in the early-and-often camp on fluid changes. I'll probably do a spill-and fill with filter change at 90k. I don't think the trans needs a filter before that. IMO.

My rationale is that the flush removes far more fluid than my spill-and-fill. I think the flush is more beneficial to the trans than the drain-and filter if you get on it early.

 

[got3fords]

I think it would be hard to do a flush after they drop the pan to replace the filter, they use a machine connected to ports somewhere to pull the fluid out while they are putting new in. I think they will do one or the other, but both at the same time is kinda overkill.

 

[Mikeymac25]

After now just getting back in the truck does feel a ton smoother im right at 71k bought the truck at 66k and have been playing catch up on maintenance last owner did not care but my advisor seemed pretty honest in that the filter isnt as important as the fluid the filter becomes a concern between 100-150k.

 

[Roscoe_t]

After now just getting back in the truck does feel a ton smoother im right at 71k bought the truck at 66k and have been playing catch up on maintenance last owner did not care but my advisor seemed pretty honest in that the filter isnt as important as the fluid the filter becomes a concern between 100-150k.

And, the filter replacement is a lot more labor intensive than the flush. My dealer quoted me something like $650 to drop the pan and replace the filter; the flush was about half that.

 

[Swede726]

I remeber a YouTube video of Ford tech saying Ford definitely designed the filter for its 150k intended life. He mentioned it was huge, had a ton more pleats, thicker material, etc than most transmission filters.

 

[harringtondav]

I owned a Durango and Caravan for 21 yrs each, and did transmission drain and filter replacement on each.
I was amazed by the amount of swarf on the magnets and slime in the pans. Normal clutch wear on the metal plates and fiber discs.
The filters didn't look too bad. I heard a theory that I think is valid: Any engine oil or trans filter does a better job as it ages. The debris acts to block finer particles as it clogs.....until the spin on filters go into bypass. These filter under pressure, I believe transmissions suck/draw the fluid from the sump.
I don't recall a bypass on the trans filters.
I reckon the Ranger has a sensor and MIL code for low pressure that would tell us when the trans filter needs servicing.

 

[ctechbob]

Nothing wrong with leaving the filter and just changing the fluid. It is a well designed piece. I wouldn't let it go the full 150k, but 60-80k should be just fine.

 

[carnut122]

Personally, I would (and soon will be) drop the pan and replace the filter and fluid. I've yet to drop a pan that didn't have the magnet covered with ferrous material to the point that it was likely saturated(not to mention the amount of other non-ferrous gook covering the bottom of the pan). Most of those fine particles circulate in your fluid as transmission filters may not be designed to capture such fine particles? Some will get caught in the fine screens covering your solenoids(I assume that's not just a GM/Chrysler thing) and eventually plug those screens not to mention the narrow tolerances in between the valves in the valve body. I suspect a flush would only hasten the process.

 

[got3fords]

I remeber a YouTube video of Ford tech saying Ford definitely designed the filter for its 150k intended life. He mentioned it was huge, had a ton more pleats, thicker material, etc than most transmission filters.

I am betting the surface area of the filter is huge compared to the fluid port it attaches to.

 

[ctechbob]

I am betting the surface area of the filter is huge compared to the fluid port it attaches to.

I tore one down once, there's pictures up here somewhere of it. It is a nice filter.

 

[ctechbob]

Found it:

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/a-look-inside-our-transmission-filter.25548/

 

[Swede726]

Found it:

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/a-look-inside-our-transmission-filter.25548/

Yeah. Looks like a pretty robust filter. A second internal magnetic is rare and seems to back up what I read from that ford tech.

The same guy recommend 30k-40k initial fluid change then filter/fluid at 70-80k. Seems reasonable.

 

[ctechbob]

Yeah. Looks like a pretty robust filter. A second internal magnetic is rare and seems to back up what I read from that ford tech.

The same guy recommend 30k-40k initial fluid change then filter/fluid at 70-80k. Seems reasonable.

Yep, I agree with him, although I do it sooner, I'm a nutcase.

 

[Frenchy]

Kinda hard to flush the fluid on the 10R80 in the Ranger. There are no lines coming out of the Transmission to hook up to. The cooler sits on the side of the transmission and the c

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