Transmission Fluid At 40k Miles

[ctechbob]

Not as bad as my parent’s 22 Maverick. Drained and filled it yesterday at 20,000 miles with ULV.

Maybe it is the camera angle or something, but that looks unwell. Especially at 20k.

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[Andrew27]

Maybe it is the camera angle or something, but that looks unwell. Especially at 20k.

No it was pretty dark, I too was shocked! Did the rear diff and ptu as well. Both looked good still, but the tranny was a different story! Never pulls a trailer or abused, still shifts like new. I will stick with 20-25k intervals for it…

 

[Rocketeer61]

It amazes me that more than a century after automobiles were invented the typical automatic trans still doesn't come with a drain plug.

 

[thewhiteranger]

thanks, Im coming up on 40k myself and was considering having mine changed, I think ill let it go till about 50k that fluid looks pretty decent but yes an early change can't hurt anything as long as the right amount gets put back in... Ill have the dealer do mine when I do it just to protect the extended warranty and because its a PIA !! - thanks to the OP for the post

 

[Grumpaw]

I try to keep mine under 230* and for very short times, literally minutes. Other than that 220* or lower. I have trans temp gauges on every other vehicle I own. Ford transmissions are notorious for crapping the bed early in my experience. So taking care of them is pretty crucial.

The hottest trans temp on my 2021 was 219 degrees. This was pulling our 7000 lb travel trailer up the I-26 grade out of Tenn to NC which runs between 5 and 7 degrees grade.
This was with an outside temp or right at 80 degrees. The route up to the top is around 8 miles, and was run both ways, going to and coming from NC.
Trans was locked in 7th gear, and I was running at 50-55 mph. Also, the coolant temps were about 5 degrees lower than the trans temp.
Both were measured on my Scan Gauge 3, and when cresting the top of the mountain, both temps dropped to right around 200 degrees.
Also pulled up and down numerous grades between Asheville and Franklin, NC.
At no time did the Ranger falter, lose power, or give any indication that it was not up to the job.
Possibly out west, where "real" mountains are the norm, the temps might be a bit higher due to longer grades and hotter outside temps, but not to the extent I would be concerned.
Observing the fluid via my "Fitz Stick", the fluid still looks brand new, with 19,000 miles.
Plan on a PPE Pan and fluid swap in spring at around 25,000 miles.

 

[pbethel]

Not as bad as my parent’s 22 Maverick. Drained and filled it yesterday at 20,000 miles with ULV.

Bottom pic looks like water contamination to me. Through the vent or through the cooler.

 

[quangdog]

Bottom pic looks like water contamination to me. Through the vent or through the cooler.

I agree - though that could be a trick of the lighting. Looks suspiciously milky, though.

 

[Roscoe_t]

I used to drive a 1995 BMW 540i with the zF 5hp30 automatic. It's an interesting trans in that it was one of the early models with fully electronic controls and gradual-engagement torque converter clutch. When I got the car it had about 80k on the original fluid, and it was hunting and occasionally going into limp mode.

I started maintaining the fluid regularly (30k). The official zF policy was to use a hard-to-find synthetic blend fluid called Shell LA2634. I went with Dexron III multivehicle ATF and never had a problem with compatibility.

The factory fluid was supposedly lifetime. But the trans developed a common problem that some check balls in the valve body would erode because (IMO) of microabrasive particles that got through the filter. Eventually the eroded check balls would slip through their orifices, which engaged the transmission in forward and reverse at the same time. The result was catastrophic transmission failure.

I still see nice cars for sale from time to time where the seller warns that reverse won't engage. That transmission, a warhorse that can take over 400 pound-feet of torque when it's working right, is toast.

I'm coming up on 30k in my Ranger, and I will have the fluid flushed with the next oil change. Under that regimen, my 5hp30 went 300k miles and was working fine when I got rid of the car.

 

[Roscoe_t]

Oh, and one more thing: When I was trying to address a persistent chatter from the torque converter clutch in the BMW I came across a product called Lubegard. I'm not a big snake-oil enthusiast, but that stuff is the exception. It does wonders.

 

[Andrew27]

I agree - though that could be a trick of the lighting. Looks suspiciously milky, though.

No water, may be the lighting. Was a real dark purplish color.

 

[Zaph]

I changed my at 60k, and it was a lot darker than that. I sent mine to Blackstone for analysis. Came back with signs of ware, but we'll see what happens when I do it again next year at 100k.

That's what I plan on doing for mine also. I'll be hitting that at the end of this winter. I would have a shop do it but the thing is, I'm scared to death of idiot techs botching it. I'm considering requiring them to measure the volume of fluid removed and write down the exact volume of fluid put in. At least it kind of makes a point that i'm concerned what you morons are doing.

What kind of service intervals are you guys doing for front and rear axle fluid?

 

[got3fords]

Are people draining and refilling or flushing?

 

[Zaph]

No it was pretty dark, I too was shocked! Did the rear diff and ptu as well. Both looked good still, but the tranny was a different story! Never pulls a trailer or abused, still shifts like new. I will stick with 20-25k intervals for it…

I haven't seen that color of "chocolate milk" oil since I blew a motorcycle racing engine. Yikes that's pretty concerning.

 

[Stic-o]

The hottest trans temp on my 2021 was 219 degrees. This was pulling our 7000 lb travel trailer up the I-26 grade out of Tenn to NC which runs between 5 and 7 degrees grade.
This was with an outside temp or right at 80 degrees. The route up to the top is around 8 miles, and was run both ways, going to and coming from NC.
Trans was locked in 7th gear, and I was running at 50-55 mph. Also, the coolant temps were about 5 degrees lower than the trans temp.
Both were measured on my Scan Gauge 3, and when cresting the top of the mountain, both temps dropped to right around 200 degrees.
Also pulled up and down numerous grades between Asheville and Franklin, NC.
At no time did the Ranger falter, lose power, or give any indication that it was not up to the job.
Possibly out west, where "real" mountains are the norm, the temps might be a bit higher due to longer grades and hotter outside temps, but not to the extent I would be concerned.
Observing the fluid via my "Fitz Stick", the fluid still looks brand new, with 19,000 miles.
Plan on a PPE Pan and fluid swap in spring at around 25,000 miles.

Trust me, 110-120* outside temps, 6% grade for 6 miles, with 6k+ in tow on 34's. Will do it. ?

 

[Cmar]

Are people draining and refilling or flushing?

I generally just drain and fill, drive it for a week and do it again. Do that ~every 50,000 Km and the fluid always looks freshish. To save taking the pan off every time I bought a suction pump with a long flexible probe I can push down the filler hole almost to the bottom of the pan. Suck out 4 litres, put back 4 litres. Quick easy and no mess.

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