My perfect Ranger with an imperfect transmission...

[RAYJAY]

That we are aware of it might of happenes once. Even then Ford recommends 150K

did mine at 30k , will do sooner if needed

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[Msfitoy]

just curious, at what miles and how many times did you change the trans fluid ?

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/thre...h-an-imperfect-transmission.22991/post-515149

95K

 

[Shoran12]

So guess the moral of the story is this is completely out of our control with the exception preventative maintenance. All we can do at this point. So asking someone with experience with transmissions, what should owners be doing to give us the best odds? I’d like to pass this truck on to my oldest son if that’s possible. That’s 7 years away and I’m guessing I’ll put over 20k a year on this truck mainly commuting to work. And what’s a transmission fluid change cost these days? I don’t mind shelling out a few more bucks to give me better odds if that’s what is necessary. Years ago I would have changed it anywhere but now I have no interest in changing it on the cement in my driveway. So for any experts out there, any preventative maintenance advice for a millwright who doesn’t work on these transmissions?

 

[ccasanova22]

In today’s age of cost cutting, my guess is the 10R80 is built on a budget and therefore should be kept cool, fluid changed every 30k or so, and stock tire size if possible. I know that may seem overkill, but I don’t think these units have the overbuilding the old Powerglide and TH400’s had of yesteryear. Stock wheels/tires and highway driving should yield 160k+, which has been my experience. Only ever rebuilt a modern trans due to clutch wear, it didn’t fail, but wanted it to shift like new again.

 

[Langwilliams]

I was going to have mine serviced at 50K I'm almost to 40 an might do it now

 

[Msfitoy]

So guess the moral of the story is this is completely out of our control with the exception preventative maintenance. All we can do at this point. So asking someone with experience with transmissions, what should owners be doing to give us the best odds? I’d like to pass this truck on to my oldest son if that’s possible. That’s 7 years away and I’m guessing I’ll put over 20k a year on this truck mainly commuting to work. And what’s a transmission fluid change cost these days? I don’t mind shelling out a few more bucks to give me better odds if that’s what is necessary. Years ago I would have changed it anywhere but now I have no interest in changing it on the cement in my driveway. So for any experts out there, any preventative maintenance advice for a millwright who doesn’t work on these transmissions?

Ford's maintenance transmission fluid change is 150,000 miles...my transmission failed at 95,000 miles...before it completely failed, I did a fluid + filter change...my bet is that it had little if anything to do with the fluid...if so, Ford's is in big doo for recommending change at 150K...

 

[TJC]

How can you be sure?

Tony

 

[CB750F]

All speculation, let's see what Sid says once Ford gets back to him. We all know shit happens. My brakes failed before
I hit 3k km! Has worked flawlessly since.

 

[Rocketeer61]

This is what happens when you design a transmission to answer a question no one was asking...

 

[Blmpkn]

All speculation, let's see what Sid says once Ford gets back to him. We all know shit happens. My brakes failed before
I hit 3k km! Has worked flawlessly since.

This

Everyone is way too quick with the doom and gloom.

 

[ctechbob]

FWIW, I would in no way follow Ford's 150k fluid change recommendation in any 10R80 (Or ANY automatic box for that matter). These things are too complicated, with too many clutches, small passages, and solenoids to let the fluid go that long. Yes, the ULV is a good fluid, but..... You've still got clutch material and wear particles contaminating the fluid and filter, and getting that out of the transmission can do nothing but good, even with the fairly nice filter they use in this box.

Not saying it would have saved the OP in this case, but more of a cautionary tale.

And no, I do not want to hear 'the engineers know best'.

The same engineers that designed the AWD PTU's that were filled for 'lifetime' that now not only carry a 30k fluid change interval, but have been modified to hold more oil, have air ducted to them, and now have drain plugs, after they were burning up left and right, to the point that even Dorman makes a replacement for them.

There are tons of examples of engineers screwing things up. And that is before the marketing people get hold of the vehicles. 'Can we extend this (name the maintenance item here) and the truck still make it out of warranty?'

Yes? Ok, then we can claim 'low cost of ownership' and still have an acceptable number of warranty claims.

Of course, it's your vehicle(s), and you can do what you want. Me? I'm following a much more aggressive schedule for D&F's and filter replacements on my 10R80. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, time will tell.

 

[RAYJAY]

FWIW, I would in no way follow Ford's 150k fluid change recommendation in any 10R80 (Or ANY automatic box for that matter). These things are too complicated, with too many clutches, small passages, and solenoids to let the fluid go that long. Yes, the ULV is a good fluid, but..... You've still got clutch material and wear particles contaminating the fluid and filter, and getting that out of the transmission can do nothing but good, even with the fairly nice filter they use in this box.

Not saying it would have saved the OP in this case, but more of a cautionary tale.

And no, I do not want to hear 'the engineers know best'.

The same engineers that designed the AWD PTU's that were filled for 'lifetime' that now not only carry a 30k fluid change interval, but have been modified to hold more oil, have air ducted to them, and now have drain plugs, after they were burning up left and right, to the point that even Dorman makes a replacement for them.

There are tons of examples of engineers screwing things up. And that is before the marketing people get hold of the vehicles. 'Can we extend this (name the maintenance item here) and the truck still make it out of warranty?'

Yes? Ok, then we can claim 'low cost of ownership' and still have an acceptable number of warranty claims.

Of course, it's your vehicle(s), and you can do what you want. Me? I'm following a much more aggressive schedule for D&F's and filter replacements on my 10R80. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, time will tell.

coming from the the SHO i know all about the PTU problems ..... also ford was so great on that motor with the water pump location...

Ford made it even harder on us to do fluid changes due to no dipstick, also are you going to change the pan to the after market one? and as for fluid staying with motorcraft or is there better fluid on the market, and finally.
what is your swap out mileage on the trans fluid ??

 

[ctechbob]

coming from the the SHO i know all about the PTU problems ..... also ford was so great on that motor with the water pump location...

Ford made it even harder on us to do fluid changes due to no dipstick, also are you going to change the pan to the after market one? and as for fluid staying with motorcraft or is there better fluid on the market, and finally.
what is your swap out mileage on the trans fluid ??

I plan on doing the aluminum pan, sometime around 60k, which is when I'll do the filter, unless I get froggy before then.

I started at 10k with pumping out the fluid and refilling. I've done it 3 times now since I'm at 30k+.

I've been using the Valvoline ULV, but just stocked up on some Mercon ULV as well since the Valvoline shot up in price and I don't think it's that much better to justify the cost.

Phillips/Kendall also has a ULV out now, and I've got my eye out for it to see where it sits price-wise. Phillips already makes the Dexron ULV, so it's not a big stretch for them to do a ULV fluid. Dex/Merc should be almost identical.

 

[RAYJAY]

I plan on doing the aluminum pan, sometime around 60k, which is when I'll do the filter, unless I get froggy before then.

I started at 10k with pumping out the fluid and refilling. I've done it 3 times now since I'm at 30k+.

I've been using the Valvoline ULV, but just stocked up on some Mercon ULV as well since the Valvoline shot up in price and I don't think it's that much better to justify the cost.

Phillips/Kendall also has a ULV out now, and I've got my eye out for it to see where it sits price-wise. Phillips already makes the Dexron ULV, so it's not a big stretch for them to do a ULV fluid. Dex/Merc should be almost identical.

what are you using to pump out the fluid with ? and how much fluid are you doing on the swap ?

 

[ctechbob]

what are you using to pump out the fluid with ? and how much fluid are you doing on the swap ?

I have a little 12v electric pump and a tool that I made to suck it out. Ford actually has an 'official' 10R80 tool that is completely laughable. It is something like $100 and is a hook-shaped piece of tubing. I went to the local Home Depot, bought a metal toilet standpipe, filled it with sand (to keep the pipe from crimping) heated, and bent it.

As far as the amount of fluid? Umm, I don't remember off the top of my head, but somewhere in the 4-5 quart range? I don't recall filling up the gallon jug I had to catch the output of the pump, but my memory is foggy on that.

I did just stumble across this thing, which is the first I've seen it and it actually looks damn cool, and would eliminate the guesswork:

https://fordspecialtools.service-solutions.com/en-US/Pages/ItemDetail.aspx?itemID=122824

It is a Euro tool, but they're stating for the 10r80's. I'll have to look into it a little more, but it would be awesome for refilling and getting the level right. (watch the video to see how it works)

--Edit--

If you want to see the 'official' Ford tool and have a good laugh, the part number is 307-570, and it goes online from between $100-199. IT IS A BENT PIECE OF TUBING!!!! Whoever makes them is laughing all the way to the bank. I don't think even Sna-On could make something like it and justify that price.

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