Trans Flush

[paval3]

Ah, no. The first thing you need to do is buy a Fitzstick. It is a true replacement dipstick for the tiny thing they put on the Rangers at the factory. It is well worth the money and is essential for keeping tabs on fluid level.

I did have the transmission fluid level checked when I had it in for an oil change last year (it was fine) and was told they drained a bit and it looked clean. Wonder if the Ford service department will give me a hard time if I ask them to put it on for me. No way can I even try to crawl under my truck, which I won't get into why. LOL

With the Fitzstick, do you still have to look under truck or kneel down to to reach it?

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[got3fords]

I did have the transmission fluid level checked when I had it in for an oil change last year (it was fine) and was told they drained a bit and it looked clean. Wonder if the Ford service department will give me a hard time if I ask them to put it on for me. No way can I even try to crawl under my truck, which I won't get into why. LOL

With the Fitzstick, do you still have to look under truck or kneel down to to reach it?

No, it is a proper dipstick accessible under the hood. It comes with a custom funnel to make refills, adding Lubegard easy.

 

[paval3]

No, it is a proper dipstick accessible under the hood. It comes with a custom funnel to make refills, adding Lubegard easy.

I will have to research to see what it looks like. So it is something I can install under the hood my self? Thanks for being patient with all my questions.

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

I will have to research to see what it looks like. So it is something I can install under the hood my self? Thanks for being patient with all my questions.

Here's a detailed installation video:

How to Install MBS Dipstick in a 2019+ Ford Ranger

 

[Grumpaw]

FYI: Just had a flush on one of my cars at 84K miles. Labor $359, 20 quarts of trans fluid $425... I looked and getting the correct fluid the best I could do was $23 per quart.

So a proper flush is pricy.

Rockauto has Motorcraft ULV....current price is $5.22 a quart.......

 

[Big Blue]

Do you think I'm being ridiculously cautious having it done now at 20,500 miles? Maybe wait until 30,000 for a flush? I asked the service counter guy about cost last time I was at the Ford dealer and off the top of his head, he told me around $400.

Rockauto has Motorcraft ULV....current price is $5.22 a quart.......

The dealer probably quoted you a price for a generic transmission flush using LV fluid. The ULV required is more expensive. And the dealer will charge you their cost for the fluid, not the Rockauto price. And, if you want them to drop the pan and change the filter, which they will tell you is good for 150K. That will cost you more yet.

 

[PltFX4]

Rockauto has Motorcraft ULV....current price is $5.22 a quart.......

I know... Dextron and Motorcraft are rationally priced, but for an Aisin TF-80-SC they want a JWS-3309 spec trans oil... THAT S**T is pricy everywhere. There are alternatives. Mobil ATF 3309 for example, but though better priced, ($14 a quart at Walmart); the shop I took it to is not a bring your own parts shop, so the real official JWS-3309 is used per the owners manual, which is fine with me... was just surprised that it was THAT pricy... though I knew going in that it would a $800+/- job, just not the breakdown of parts vs labor.

 

[Grumpaw]

I know... Dextron and Motorcraft are rationally priced, but for an Aisin TF-80-SC they want a JWS-3309 spec trans oil... THAT S**T is pricy everywhere. There are alternatives. Mobil ATF 3309 for example, but though better priced, ($14 a quart at Walmart); the shop I took it to is not a bring your own parts shop, so the real official JWS-3309 is used per the owners manual, which is fine with me... was just surprised that it was THAT pricy... though I knew going in that it would a $800+/- job, just not the breakdown of parts vs labor.

Sorry....re-read your post...initially thought your were talking about your Ranger and ULV.

 

[dtech]

Do you think I'm being ridiculously cautious having it done now at 20,500 miles? Maybe wait until 30,000 for a flush? I asked the service counter guy about cost last time I was at the Ford dealer and off the top of his head, he told me around $400.

yes I do think you are being overly cautious but many on here do what I consider over maintain. Unless you tow extensively or beat the snot out of your vehicle 20k is pretty early. I've seen a few say their atf fluid was "black" at 20k miles, I looked at mine at 40k and starting to shift from pinkish to tan, I tow so at 45k I'll tend to the atf. ATF is supposed to gradually change color as it picks up wear particles but keep in mind compared to decades back friction material (clutches) are much improved and so has the ATF and filters.

 

[dtech]

I know... Dextron and Motorcraft are rationally priced, but for an Aisin TF-80-SC they want a JWS-3309 spec trans oil... THAT S**T is pricy everywhere. There are alternatives. Mobil ATF 3309 for example, but though better priced, ($14 a quart at Walmart); the shop I took it to is not a bring your own parts shop, so the real official JWS-3309 is used per the owners manual, which is fine with me... was just surprised that it was THAT pricy... though I knew going in that it would a $800+/- job, just not the breakdown of parts vs labor.

I used to use Mobil 3309 in my Saabs - Aisin tranny, also would buy Toyota type IV IIRC reasonably priced at some yota dealers and keep in mind Valvoline Maxlife meets or exceeds a lot of ATF specs, IIRC correctly yrs back Mobil 3309 wasn't synthetic.

 

[JohnnyO]

I used to get flushes but on the Lincoln I had like 20 years ago the tranny crapped out right after one of the flushes and doing it several times on my old Sport Trac didn't matter, the tranny crapped out at 132k anyway.
I just made an appointment today for fluid and filter at the shop I use. Guy is primarily a transmission shop but I go there for state inspections or anything I can't do myself. The Ranger is approaching 100k and we're renting a camping trailer for a long weekend in October.
I'm of the opinion that Ford builds good engines but their transmissions are garbage and there's not much point in flushing them or changing the fluid. Change the fluid when it has to be rebuilt sometime between 100k and 150k.

 

[Cmar]

I've previously used Valvoline Max life in both Ford and Hyundai / Kia autos without issue. It's currently in the transfer case in my Ranger where it stopped a weep from the front shaft seal, which was a known problem on Aus build 2011-2015 Px1 series Rangers. Ford changed the seal design for the Px2/3 series (which your Ranger is based on)
When I changed it I found a sponge sitting in the cross member that the previous (original) owner must have put there. Why he didn't just get the leaky seal replaced by the new one under warranty I'll never know. Maybe the dealer put the sponge there, and told him it was fixed!

 

[Cmar]

Flushes can do more harm than good on an older transmission, just do a full oil and filter change and clean out the pan. Probably OK on a newer transmission but then probably no point if it hasn't gotten dirty yet.

 

[paval3]

yes I do think you are being overly cautious but many on here do what I consider over maintain. Unless you tow extensively or beat the snot out of your vehicle 20k is pretty early. I've seen a few say their atf fluid was "black" at 20k miles, I looked at mine at 40k and starting to shift from pinkish to tan, I tow so at 45k I'll tend to the atf. ATF is supposed to gradually change color as it picks up wear particles but keep in mind compared to decades back friction material (clutches) are much improved and so has the ATF and filters.

Thanks for your reply! I think I will hold off until 30,000 miles. The only time I tow is maybe twice a year to go get a load of bulk sawdust for horse bedding. Daily driving is a 15 minute drive to work. Mostly secondary roads driving speed limit 40 mph until I hit the main rount one mile stretch at 55 mph. I put about 4,500 miles on a year.

 

[paval3]

Here's a detailed installation video:

How to Install MBS Dipstick in a 2019+ Ford Ranger

Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, doesn't look like something I could do myself. Not something I would ask my husband to do either at his age and health. I would have to find a shop that would do it.

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