Comparability of motorcraft and valvoline ULV

[ctechbob]

Hey all, thought I'd 'contribute' to the debate. I was headed out of town but was just past my oil change date and I couldn't get in to the dealership so I went to a quick change place - a total disappointment and not germane here.

One of the 'services' included in the oil change was 'topping off' transmission fluid... which couldn't have happened if I didn't have the MBS dipstick. The shop was about two miles from my house and when they pulled the dipstick they saw no fluid they added some before I could stop them. I asked them what brand/type went in and they showed me (to my horror) a bottle of DuraMax synthetic universal DEXRON. Not sure how much went in, it's been days and their manager was supposed to call me.

I just had the filter and fluid changed at the dealership last July, now I'm contemplating paying some other shop to swap out the fluid so Ford doesn't get wind of it and if/when my transmission fails they deny my extended warranty.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. They probably didn't add much.

I would still be pissed and try to get them to buy me 8 quarts of ULV so I could do a D&F.

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[Stevedbvik1]

Hey all, thought I'd 'contribute' to the debate. I was headed out of town but was just past my oil change date and I couldn't get in to the dealership so I went to a quick change place - a total disappointment and not germane here.

One of the 'services' included in the oil change was 'topping off' transmission fluid... which couldn't have happened if I didn't have the MBS dipstick. The shop was about two miles from my house and when they pulled the dipstick they saw no fluid they added some before I could stop them. I asked them what brand/type went in and they showed me (to my horror) a bottle of DuraMax synthetic universal DEXRON. Not sure how much went in, it's been days and their manager was supposed to call me.

I just had the filter and fluid changed at the dealership last July, now I'm contemplating paying some other shop to swap out the fluid so Ford doesn't get wind of it and if/when my transmission fails they deny my extended warranty.

MBS dipstick says use Mercon ULV on it. How did they miss that?

 

[Racket]

MBS dipstick says use Mercon ULV on it. How did they miss that?

Labor pool.

 

[JimG_AZ]

I am getting ready to do the transmission filter change. Will I be able to reinstall the plastic transmission pan and reuse the gasket? I have found a lot of info that the gasket should be reusable, but I have not found o lot of information on reusing the plastic pan. I am not opposed to switching over to the PPE aluminum pan, but I do have a 100k Ford ESP on the truck and I am concerned about a potential fight with Ford if I have transmission problems down the road. I have 45k miles on my truck so there are a lot of years and miles left on the ESP.

 

[ctechbob]

I am getting ready to do the transmission filter change. Will I be able to reinstall the plastic transmission pan and reuse the gasket? I have found a lot of info that the gasket should be reusable, but I have not found o lot of information on reusing the plastic pan. I am not opposed to switching over to the PPE aluminum pan, but I do have a 100k Ford ESP on the truck and I am concerned about a potential fight with Ford if I have transmission problems down the road. I have 45k miles on my truck so there are a lot of years and miles left on the ESP.

Yes, you can reuse them both.

Don't forget to replace the rubber oring that goes on the filter. The new filter doesn't come with it, you'll have to pick it up at the dealer. They're $5 or so.

 

[JimG_AZ]

Yes, you can reuse them both.

Don't forget to replace the rubber oring that goes on the filter. The new filter doesn't come with it, you'll have to pick it up at the dealer. They're $5 or so.

Thanks for the info. The rubber o-ring has already arrived in the mail and the Motorcraft filter is on its way. I figure I should be good on the ULV ATF. I have 6 qts of Valvoline and 2 quarts of Motorcraft Mercon ULV.

 

[JimG_AZ]

The transmission filter has been changed. Also, I did end up installing the standard PPE pan. It took me @ 3 hours to do the complete job, which was longer than I expected. I pumped out 5.5 qts from the pan through my Fitzstick. Then got another 2.3 qts when I dropped the pan and filter. Pumping the fluid of the pan made the job easier and surprisingly I didn't make a mess when I dropped the trans pan. To refill, I ended up using 8 quarts of ULV fluid and added 8 oz on LubeGuard Platinum. With the transmission hot, the Fitzstick is reading between 5 and 4.

This is not a difficult job. I didn't even have to jack my Ranger up to do it. The tools I used were a 1/4" metric socket set, a 3/8" metric socket set and torque wrench. Also, I used a plastic cement mixing pan from Lowes to catch all the fluid when I dropped the pan.

 

[got3fords]

This is not a difficult job. I didn't even have to jack my Ranger up to do it. The tools I used were a 1/4" metric socket set, a 3/8" metric socket set and torque wrench. Also, I used a plastic cement mixing pan from Lowes to catch all the fluid when I dropped the pan.

1/4" metric socket? 3/8" metric socket? Huh?

 

[Stevedbvik1]

1/4" metric socket? 3/8" metric socket? Huh?

1/4” drive and 3/8” drive metric sets

 

[got3fords]

1/4” drive and 3/8” drive metric sets

Thanks, that makes more sense.

 

[JimG_AZ]

1/4" metric socket? 3/8" metric socket? Huh?

Sorry to offend you. I was just trying to point out you could do this with very basic tools. As I recall, I used the 8mm and 13mm sockets. My quarter inch drive set only went up to 12mm.

 

[got3fords]

Sorry to offend you. I was just trying to point out you could do this with very basic tools. As I recall, I used the 8mm and 13mm sockets. My quarter inch drive set only went up to 12mm.

Why do you say I am offended? A little confused at the mix of SI and imperial, but not offended. I get the gist of it.

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