MBS Extended Automatic Transmission Dipsticks now available

[Warrant]

I just completed the Fitzstick install today. Took about 45 minutes. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out the best way to remove the plug. Contrary to what some assumed, it's aluminum, by the way. I used a flexible 3/8" ratchet and a 1-1/8" combo wrench as a cheater bar. Instead of bringing the handle down at a funky angle, I kept it close to the exhaust and slid the box end of the wrench over the ratchet handle. I had about 2" to work with and that was all I needed. It broke loose fairly easily.

I will be installing this bad boy in the next couple of days.

I just ordered my PPE pan and dipstick today! Felt brave after reading through some of the posts on here and am finally going to dive in. I'm at 55k miles on my 2022 Ranger and have yet to have any major transmission problems, other than the occasional (wth was that jerk) sensation. However, I keep vehicles for a LONG time and she's paid off and out of warranty, so I figured it was time to get that filter and pan changed out...and add the dipstick while I'm at it. Did you go wit the 'deep' or 'shallow' pan?

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[NvrFinished]

I just ordered my PPE pan and dipstick today! Felt brave after reading through some of the posts on here and am finally going to dive in. I'm at 55k miles on my 2022 Ranger and have yet to have any major transmission problems, other than the occasional (wth was that jerk) sensation. However, I keep vehicles for a LONG time and she's paid off and out of warranty, so I figured it was time to get that filter and pan changed out...and add the dipstick while I'm at it. Did you go wit the 'deep' or 'shallow' pan?

I went with the deep pan since I found it slightly cheaper than the standard depth. I have the same mileage on my 2020 and am making the upgrade for the same reasons.

FYI, RockAuto had the best price on Mercon ULV that I could find (as of last week). I checked my local auto parts stores. They wanted as much as $17.97 a quart!

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I just ordered my PPE pan and dipstick today! Felt brave after reading through some of the posts on here and am finally going to dive in. I'm at 55k miles on my 2022 Ranger and have yet to have any major transmission problems, other than the occasional (wth was that jerk) sensation. However, I keep vehicles for a LONG time and she's paid off and out of warranty, so I figured it was time to get that filter and pan changed out...and add the dipstick while I'm at it. Did you go wit the 'deep' or 'shallow' pan?

How can you be out of the 5/60 powertrain warranty?

 

[Warrant]

How can you be out of the 5/60 powertrain warranty?

I stand corrected...almost out of warranty. Thanks! Had my last truck for 20 years, so I get mixed up easily. Don't worry, this one will go out of warranty under my watch, friend. ;-)

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I stand corrected...almost out of warranty. Thanks! Had my last truck for 20 years, so I get mixed up easily. Don't worry, this one will go out of warranty under my watch, friend. ;-)

Or maybe you’ll get “lucky “ and it will fail before the next 5K. Hope not though.

 

[Warrant]

Or maybe you’ll get “lucky “ and it will fail before the next 5K. Hope not though.

Oh, I hope not. That is the kind of luck I'd prefer not to have.

 

[HeatXfer]

Just got back from a trip to Yellowstone. Temperatures were in the 90's in Nevada, Idaho, Montana & Wyoming. I was carrying less than 400# of gear and passengers, drove from 75mph up to 85mph (not including passing) nearly the whole way and the trans temp was always between 192° to 198°. I checked my trans fluid level every time I stopped for gas, and It was consistently right at 4½ on the FitzStick. I got lucky on the level when changing the fluid last time, but talk about peace of mind! (Another subtle reminder to get an MBS FitzStick)

 

[TJC]

I've been busy again while offline, crunching a few numbers to assist those who change their transmission fluids using the MBS dipstick. Put the numbers in a spreadsheet for clarity's sake.

When you change your fluid yourself, there is a very good reason to change it multiple times in a short time frame, and it is all about getting to a +90% new fluid mix.

I have changed my fluid numerous times (and some of y'all think I 'm crazy ).

Here is why I do it. Lot of folks only get 5 qts out.... not good enough.... I wait 2-3 days (3 days really, with truck parked on level ground where I'm going to do the procedure), and routinely pull 7.5 qts out.

With only one change of 7.5 qts, you are leaving ~42% of the dirty fluid in the transmission. And that is if you have a standard ford pan. A 2nd change will get you to ~83%, but I go for 3 changes to get me well over 90% new fluid. Sure it costs more, but it is a LOT less than a new transmission.

BTW, 3 changes takes about 22.5 qts for the standard pan and 27.75 qts for the PPE deep pan. I add a bottle of LubeGard Platinum at each change too. I spaced the 3 changes out at 1K mile intervals. I can change the fluid and refill the transmission in about 45 minutes. Raise the hood, insert tube and let the transfer pump do its job. Never spill a drop going in or coming out. I know exactly where the fill level is for a cold start accurate fill. I put in exactly what I take out, then check the level with my Fitzstick. Here is how I do it

- Start the truck and run it through the gears at 5 second intervals, ending up in Park,
- Immediately check the fluid. Should be just touching the dip stick tip - 1/8 is tops, 1/4" is too much.

Time is your enemy, the fluid quickly heats.. so don't expect an accurate reading if you are taking more than a minute of two. The sooner you check the more accurate your reading.
I've published this before, but I think it is important enough to post it again here.

Within 11 1/2 minutes your fluid level will rise to 120F (from 77.4F fluid temp), and your fluid level will be in the middle of the first diamond on the dipstick.

I intentionally targeted the dead center of the fluid range while at the top of the temperature range of 215F. This gives a lot of latitude in temp readings, but don't take it for granted. The fluid expands almost twice as fast at cooler temps than at the hot temps. As a rule from ambient up to 180F, each 40F rise in fluid temps will increase the level by 1 number - example 6 to 5, or diamond to diamond. Above 180F the expansion slows just a bit.

Also note it took 11.5 minutes to go from 77.4F to 120F, and almost 20 minutes to go from 140F - 180F.

2 years ago I was ready to unload my Ranger due t severe transmission issues. I'm 5K miles since the 3rd and last fluid change. My truck is shifting better than when it was new.

I've always wanted to like it. Now I have good reason to like it.

It took $3K dollars, 5 years, and a hell of a lot of work to make it into what I thought I was going to be getting when I purchased it. And it largely sat for ~18 months while I waited and researched for answers. I thank Mike for the MBS dipstick and funnel... and others for their encouragement and knowledge that was given freely.

 

[NvrFinished]

It's done! The new deep pan is installed. I'm posting this again since I was one of the lucky ones who had their posts deleted on the 24th with the server upgrade.

I pulled 4 quarts last Tuesday night through the dipstick. The next morning, I pulled 2 more. On Thursday morning, I pulled the remainder of fluid and then dropped the OE pan along with the old filter. After draining the filter and adding up the contents, I came to a total of 8.75 quarts. I was fairly happy with that.

I had underestimated how many quarts of Mercon ULV I would need when I purchased 8 through RockAuto. This was because I hadn't thought about waiting a couple of days for more fluid to drain. As a result, I had to run to Napa to pick up 3 quarts of Valvoline ULV. I wasn't going to pay $17 a quart for Mercon ULV in my area. In total, I used 10.3 quarts of fluid plus the LubeGard Platinum.

I think I will order a full case of Mercon ULV from RockAuto this time and make another fluid change sometime next week.

 

[TJC]

It's done! The new deep pan is installed.

snip...
snip...

I had underestimated how many quarts of Mercon ULV I would need when I purchased 8 through RockAuto.

snip...
snip...

I used 10.3 quarts of fluid plus the LubeGard Platinum.

I think I will order a full case of Mercon ULV from RockAuto this time and make another fluid change sometime next week.

A thing of beauty! Yep! I order Mercon ULV from RockAuto by the case, and I have plenty of LubeGard Platinum in the garage. The fun for me is seeing how long the new fluid and LubeGard hold up.

At the first sign of trouble I will be changing the fluid again. I'd be very happy with a 20K mile change interval. Seeing as I only got to 12K before things got real serious (had slight indications of trouble starting at 5K miles. I'm already at 5K miles on the new fluid and the transmission is performing better than new.

Fingers Crossed and praying to my @deity that things last a bit longer this time around.

 

[Warrant]

Installed the dipstick today! Went pretty well, other than the FL heat and me likely pulling a pec trying to get the bolt off of the top of transmission loose. I ended up turning the wheels to the left as far as I could and sliding into the wheel well with my back against the wheel and just going at it that way with a 19mm ratcheting wrench. Once that was done, the rest was pretty easy.

Many thanks to Mike for answering some of my questions via email while the 5g site was down for maintenance. Next step is finally installing the PPE pan that is sitting in my garage.

 

[Warrant]

Since the pan is my next project, I'm curious how much LubeGuard most of you guys are adding when doing a pan swap/fluid change? I picked up a 10oz bottle. I've never used it, so figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance. Truly appreciate all of the advice on this forum.

 

[NvrFinished]

Since the pan is my next project, I'm curious how much LubeGuard most of you guys are adding when doing a pan swap/fluid change? I picked up a 10oz bottle. I've never used it, so figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance. Truly appreciate all of the advice on this forum.

I used a 10-oz bottle for my deep pan install. I will use it again when I drain the fluid one more time to remove the majority of the old fluid over the next couple of thousand miles.

 

[quangdog]

I used a 10-oz bottle for my deep pan install. I will use it again when I drain the fluid one more time to remove the majority of the old fluid over the next couple of thousand miles.

I just used a full 10oz bottle as well. Lubegard 63010.

 

[got3fords]

Since the pan is my next project, I'm curious how much LubeGuard most of you guys are adding when doing a pan swap/fluid change? I picked up a 10oz bottle. I've never used it, so figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance. Truly appreciate all of the advice on this forum.

I used the 15oz. bottle. Works great.

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