5 Daily Habits DESTROYING Your 10-Speed Transmission

[AZ_Stryd3r]

I agree they are smart.. but under the boot of the EPA, they engineer to squeeze .25mpg and not longevity of our investment.

ULV is not a magic potion devoid of wear. 45 years of being the only wrench on all my fords.. I'll defer to the service intervals refined by experience of myself and others, from a time before politics dictated oil/fluid changes.

Your mileage may differ. P-)

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[RedlandRanger]

I agree they are smart.. but under the boot of the EPA, they engineer to squeeze .25mpg and not longevity of our investment.

ULV is not a magic potion devoid of wear. 45 years of being the only wrench on all my fords.. I'll defer to the service intervals refined by experience of myself and others, from a time before politics dictated oil/fluid changes.

Your mileage may differ. P-)

I believe fluid change intervals are most likely influenced a LOT more by the marketing folks than the EPA.

 

[TJC]

His recommendations are correct and I guess by looking at his past videos he's pretty legit and has almost 5,000 subs.


It was in the comments I found that "trick" to reset the adaptive learning that sounds fishy to me.

The 10 Second, 10 Second trick is new to me, as is the spirited driving. Contrary to Ford's procedure, but I don't put much stock in Ford's maintenance protocols either.

I do know the Ford procedure works, it's tedious, but it works, and it makes a point of not stressing the transmission. Gonna go watch the video now.

Update: Just watched the video. I think they are dead center right, esp the lugging. I don't know how much longer the transmission will last but it is longer than not following their advice. Ford really messed up on the shift logic.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

If folks knew what this transmission went through with the extreme testing that Ford does, you would be astounded in my opinion. However, what this video indicates you should do certainly won't hurt except for the 150,000 mile fluid change. If you change as the video suggests, you are probably fine. However if you wait too long, you are heading for potential trouble as new fluid will wash the varnish off the case etc. The particles then potentially can clog passage ways, valves etc.

This was a old strategy by Aamco Transmissions....$10.45 trams fluid change...Washed the varnish and the transmissions started failing and they got the replacement/rebuild business.

Take my comments with a grain of salt or maybe a whole salt shaker....

 

[TxOTRRanger]

If folks knew what this transmission went through with the extreme testing that Ford does, you would be astounded in my opinion. However, what this video indicates you should do certainly won't hurt except for the 150,000 mile fluid change. If you change as the video suggests, you are probably fine. However if you wait too long, you are heading for potential trouble as new fluid will wash the varnish off the case etc. The particles then potentially can clog passage ways, valves etc.

This was a old strategy by Aamco Transmissions....$10.45 trams fluid change...Washed the varnish and the transmissions started failing and they got the replacement/rebuild business.

Take my comments with a grain of salt or maybe a whole salt shaker....

Good point and information Phil.

 

[woodworker]

Only YOU can prevent the flaming Ranger.

 

[woodworker]

I give the cold start and more frequent fluid changes some credence. By the time I start the truck, get strapped in and turn off auto start/stop I never have an issue with a hard P-R shift to back out of the garage. By the time I creep down our 30' driveway I have at least a minute on the clock.
I learned to drive on three pedal vehicles, so a rolling R-F shift never became a habit. ...I take care of my clutches.
Lugging has never been an issue, even towing a 4K# boat. The 10 speed is as close to a CVT as you'll get. The PCM finds the perfect gear for most conditions. I climb a 1/4 mi 6% grade when leaving our river house. I can feel a lug downshift coming on, so I tickle the accelerator a bit to force it. When towing up this hill I use the S or tow mode to keep the rpms up. I don't tinker with trans memory or other factory set parameters. Maybe I have too much faith in the Ford engineers, but I'm pretty sure they're smarter than me.

I just turned 151,000 yesterday on my 2021 with absolutely zero transmission issues to date. Transmission flush at 95,000 and had drain and fill at 150,000. I never do the instant cold slam shift but I always shift into neutral as soon as it starts for a minute or two. Anybody that falls for “lifetime“ transmission fluid is, well, pick your favorite word for gullible here. I seldom tow and when I do, two or three times a year maybe, it’s only my little Kubota 2620 backhoe which combined weight is only 3000 pounds. I very seldom let it lug and will shift down manually to keep the RPuM’s up. Just did a 422 mile round trip yesterday, some at 75 on the interstate and some at 25–40 MPH in the hills of NOVA. Some in full auto and some in manual shift. No problem at all even at 151,000 miles. Knock on wood………
I agree with you in that the engineers are more smarterer than me but as I’ve said many times before, I believe how well you take care of the machine determines how well the machine takes care of you.

 

[got3fords]

I just turned 151,000 yesterday on my 2021 with absolutely zero transmission issues to date. Transmission flush at 95,000 and had drain and fill at 150,000. I never do the instant cold slam shift but I always shift into neutral as soon as it starts for a minute or two. Anybody that falls for “lifetime“ transmission fluid is, well, pick your favorite word for gullible here. I seldom tow and when I do, two or three times a year maybe, it’s only my little Kubota 2620 backhoe which combined weight is only 3000 pounds. I very seldom let it lug and will shift down manually to keep the RPuM’s up. Just did a 422 mile round trip yesterday, some at 75 on the interstate and some at 25–40 MPH in the hills of NOVA. Some in full auto and some in manual shift. No problem at all even at 151,000 miles. Knock on wood………
I agree with you in that the engineers are more smarterer than me but as I’ve said many times before, I believe how well you take care of the machine determines how well the machine takes care of you.

Have you ever replaced your DPFE sensor, or the rubber hose on the fan clutch?

 

[harringtondav]

I agree with you in that the engineers are more smarterer than me but as I’ve said many times before, I believe how well you take care of the machine determines how well the machine takes care of you.

This is the most important point in my mind. I did a ULV and filter change last yr around 32K miles, along with the PPE pan and Fitzstick and a dose of Lubegard.
I started boat towing with a '95 Caravan 3.3L auto with 3K# on the hitch. I accelerated with 'up pedal' shifting, allowing the torque differential between engine and trans to drop when shifts occurred to save the clutch packs. This has become a habit with the five auto trans vehicles I've owned since, including the Ranger, with normal driving. The last two vehicles I sold were 21 yrs old. A bit rough from rust, but solid mechanically.
I've always said regular maintenance, cleaning interior and exterior, and driving like you want the vehicle to last is the key to a long life.

 

[TJC]

If folks knew what this transmission went through with the extreme testing that Ford does, you would be astounded in my opinion. However, what this video indicates you should do certainly won't hurt except for the 150,000 mile fluid change. If you change as the video suggests, you are probably fine. However if you wait too long, you are heading for potential trouble as new fluid will wash the varnish off the case etc. The particles then potentially can clog passage ways, valves etc.

This was a old strategy by Aamco Transmissions....$10.45 trams fluid change...Washed the varnish and the transmissions started failing and they got the replacement/rebuild business.

Take my comments with a grain of salt or maybe a whole salt shaker....

You may very well be correct about Ford's Extreme testing, but Ford missed the mark. I have no idea how exhaustive their testing is. But based upon warranty service losses in the Billions of $$, Ford missed the mark. And Farley so much as said so.

On a personal note, It doesn't matter to me. What matters most to me is reliability - above all else in automotive engineering.

It can be fast. It can be pretty. But nothing trumps reliability.

And it seems manufacturers across this industrial sector are all failing - GM, Ford, RAM, Rivian, Nissan and Toyota are all failing. Drive trains failing before 10K miles is simply unacceptable.

 

[woodworker]

Have you ever replaced your DPFE sensor, or the rubber hose on the fan clutch?

Neither

 

[got3fords]

Neither

I have 2021 also, maybe I'll get lucky like you.

 

[woodworker]

I have 2021 also, maybe I'll get lucky like you.

What are the two parts you mentioned?
I don’t even know what’s under that hood cause I don’t touch it. The only reason I ever open the hood is to add washer solvent or change the air filter (because Ford wants $80 to change out a $17 filter).

 

[got3fords]

What are the two parts you mentioned?
I don’t even know what’s under that hood cause I don’t touch it. The only reason I ever open the hood is to add washer solvent or change the air filter (because Ford wants $80 to change out a $17 filter).

The DPFE sensor is an emission sensor that can cause drivability issues, a lot of people think their trans is failing. Some people change it routinely as prevention.
The fan clutch hose is small piece of rubber hose that holds the wires leading to the fan clutch. The have worn through and failed for some people, some with some pretty gnarly results. Some people have replaced them or reinforced them as prevention.
I have not done either, though I do have a DPFE sensor on hand.

 

[woodworker]

The DPFE sensor is an emission sensor that can cause drivability issues, a lot of people think their trans is failing. Some people change it routinely as prevention.
The fan clutch hose is small piece of rubber hose that holds the wires leading to the fan clutch. The have worn through and failed for some people, some with some pretty gnarly results. Some people have replaced them or reinforced them as prevention.
I have not done either, though I do have a DPFE sensor on hand.

Where is that sensor and how hard is it to change out.?

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