Trans Flush

[harringtondav]

My Ranger is the same year and nearly the same mileage yours, and my ESP expires Dec '26.
If I'm denied transmission warranty because of the Fitzstick I'll raise the issue to the highest levels at Ford based on complete irrelevance. If it leaked and caused a trans failure it would be on me. But I'd notice the mess on the garage floor before that happened. I kept the original mini stick and cover. Worst case I'd remove the Fitzstick and put the OEM back on before a warranty visit.
..no offense, but your service manager sounds like a knot head.

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[Grumpaw]

I checked with my 's service manager dealer if installing a Fitz Stick would void the warranty and he said it would. Since I have an extended warranty, I decide not to install a Fitz Stick since I have 35950 miles on my 2019 Ranger and the transmission is still running fine.

Horse patooters.....it is an add on part that does nothing but check fluid capacity. A dealer would have to prove that adding the Fitzstick caused the problem,
Checked with my dealer back when I first got mine (proud buyer of Stick #24) and was told, if anything, the tech's would love it due to ease of checking fluid.
Obviously here in Virginia we have more open minded service personnel than you do in Colorado.

 

[ctechbob]

30k is a reasonable interval for fluid changes on a lightly worked vehicle. And by fluid change I mean just like @Grumpaw said, suck and refill.

If you want to drop the pan, it isn't a big deal, you'll get a little more fluid out. Not sure why the dealers aren't reusing the pan, there's no reason you can't except the FSM calls for damn near everything you ever take off a Ford vehicle be replaced.

If you want to have it done by machine, I don't see why not. Still important to get new fluid in there. There aren't going to be any massive 'chunks' of material that it will dislodge.

As for filters, 60 or 90 k would probably be fine, they're a good filter and will hold quite a bit of debris.

The biggest thing is getting the particles out of the transmission that the filter doesn't catch. The valves in the valve body are steel and the casing is aluminum, over time they wear on each other and start hanging up causing issues. Keeping anything abrasive out of there is key to long(er) life.

That's also where I believe the Lubegard Platinum helps out. It helps keep things clean and ads just a little bit of extra slip to the valve body to keep it moving well.

I've already put the LG in my new F150. Did it with under 1000 miles on the clock and will continue to do it through my ownership.

 

[RAYJAY]

They used the BG flush machine.

your one lucky person ......... seen bad thing happen when flushed .......

 

[got3fords]

your one lucky person ......... seen bad thing happen when flushed .......

No, it's a pretty common procedure nowadays.

 

[ctechbob]

No, it's a pretty common procedure nowadays.

This.

Also, a lot of those 'failures' came from people that were starting to have problems with their transmissions (IE they were already on the way out the door) and figured a fluid flush/change would cure them, or it was tried as a last ditch effort to save the vehicle.

Then the trans died anyways and it was the 'fault' of the change/flush.

Same place the 'don't change old transmission fluid' thing came from. If a fluid change kills the trans it was already on its way to the graveyard.

 

[PapaBill]

My 2021 Ranger now has 20,500 miles on it. No noticeable problems with the transmission, but want to stay off any so planned to have fluid changed at 20,000.
So which are you all having done, a Flush or just Fluid Change? Also, what is the name of that stuff you all recommend adding .... Lubragard or something sounded like that?

I understand that just a "Fluid Change" doesn't drain all the existing fluid.
It's time for me to make my appointment to take it in for its 5,000 mile oil change & 20,000 miles servicing so want to get it done at the same time.

We have always done a fluid change & filter change @30K mi. vs. flush. Fords, Chevys, Audis, M.B.
all turned out with no problems at all.

Working in the chemical industry for 30 yrs, we would change lubes on the fly by draining 1/2 out and then refill. 2 or 3X. In the long run and short term, a lot more $$ efficient, rather than shutting down equipment (pumps, compressors, extruders, gear boxes) for many hours at a time. Then recycled the lube went to the oil fired boilers for energy or to the re-refiners.

I used to love when we first started, " It ain;t gonna work 'cause we ain't never done it this way before, and that's not the way we always done it . "
Bulls**t! It worked~!!

Semper Fi.
Bill

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I checked with my 's service manager dealer if installing a Fitz Stick would void the warranty and he said it would. Since I have an extended warranty, I decide not to install a Fitz Stick since I have 35950 miles on my 2019 Ranger and the transmission is still running fine.

I checked with my 's service manager dealer if installing a Fitz Stick would void the warranty and he said it would. Since I have an extended warranty, I decide not to install a Fitz Stick since I have 35950 miles on my 2019 Ranger and the transmission is still running fine.

My dealer installed my Fitzstick on the new warranty replacement transmission they installed. They first confirmed proper fluid level with the OEM stick and then reconfirmed with the Fitzstick. Was told that it would have no effect on the warranty. All noted on the repair order.

 

[harringtondav]

Bit of info on Ranger flushes. My Ford service manual shows the process. The engine mounted trans fluid cooler is removed with a few cap screws and pulls out to the left. O ring tubes do the sealing. Then an adapter with two male compression nipples is put in its place. The flushing machine's hoses are connected to the nipples.
Point is Ford supports flushing.
I Googled the p/n for the flushing adapter and found a few at a reasonable cost. I was considering trying it myself. But when I installed my PPE aluminum pan I saw the oil cooler, and said 'no thanks'.
I work under jack stands and the working room was a nonstarter. If I had access to a lift or pit I may consider it.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I drained and changed my filter on mine at 10k miles and let it drain for a couple days. I also added a standard depth PPE transmission pan so I can easily drain later.

I also found a piece of hose in my OEM pan.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I drained and changed my filter on mine at 10k miles and let it drain for a couple days. I also added a standard depth PPE transmission pan so I can easily drain later.

I also found a piece of hose in my OEM pan.

 

[underwhelmed]

Oh I know the $400 didn't include the oil change or any other service. I'm wondering if the around $400 estimate was for just a "fluid change" vs. a "fluid flush".

That’s a bargain if they include fluid. My dealer did a drain and fill plus filter and it was $710,

 

[TechEditor]

Dropped pan and filter change with Lube-Guard @ 30K. Smoothed out the shifting.

 

[Ranger_Pawl]

Edit: Never mind, I found the answers in the fitzstick instructions.

Hello all. Just got home from getting my fitzstick installed and lubegard added. I'm having a hard time finding the process for checking the fluid level. I'm sure it's in one of these conversations, but I thought someone could save me the search and give a quick tutorial. Should the fluids be warmed up, or should I check when cooled down? Besides level ground, anything else? Thanks in advance. Paul

 

[dtech]

It screwed up my solenoids so bad it runs great. Some misinformation here.

yep - you can find a you tube video on how a Ford authorized flushing machine works - it is done with the engine running and it's using the tranny pump - same pump action as when driving the vehicle. The flushing machine's job is mostly to measure/regulate the in/out fluid - it's not the reverse direction power flush machine of yesterday that strikes fear and did cause failures in trannies that were usually on their way out anyways.

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