Transmission question

[Cabose-1]

The more dump runs you make, or the more you tow, the less problems you have with transmission.

I dont see a thread, saying"went on a dump run and transmission took a dump"
"Towed my kabota tractor and my trailer took a dump"

Just saying. And i cross my fingers.

Sponsored

 

[Tom_C]

2020 Oct build, 25K miles. My trans has been fine for the most part. A few times I think "was that strange? Did that shift hesitate?" but all-in-all it's fine.

But, I thought why temp fate, so I just ordered some stuff:

Fitz stick, <$200
19MM flex-ratchet wrench and wide mouth crescent. $50
Oil pump to drain oil, $20 from the amazonians.
7 quarts of Mercon ULV, $50
15oz Lubguard Platinum, $15

From what I've read, it's $350 well spent to stave off the demons.

 

[Reaper_Less]

We shouldn't have so many posts about transmission problems on trucks under 100k miles but here we are. Doesn't matter how many times you drain n fill, it has nothing to do with faulty valve bodies and CDF drums.

 

[ctechbob]

We shouldn't have so many posts about transmission problems on trucks under 100k miles but here we are. Doesn't matter how many times you drain n fill, it has nothing to do with faulty valve bodies and CDF drums.

I don't think the valve body is necessarily 'faulty' in the strict sense of the word. I think is is massively oversensitive to contamination and Fords recommended maintenance schedule is completely out to lunch.

Like has been said, there are tons of trucks running around with no problems, so why do some people have problems with their valve bodies?

Couple theories.

Manufacturing tolerance stackup that makes certain valves more prone to sticking? Or being affected by contamination?

People with no problems might have been blessed with a VB on the 'loose' side of the curve that doesn't get jammed up as easy.

Then you have different driving styles, climates, use cases, etc. Someone putting on highway miles is probably going to be easier on the trans than someone sitting in Atlanta traffic all day.

Maybe there is something to shifting through all the gears in Tow/Haul or with a tune keeps certain areas of the VB cleaner as opposed to people who let the trans skip shifts. Maybe by skipping a shift crud can collect in spots and cause problems.

I dunno, this is all just me spitballing things as to why some people have problems and others don't.

I still think it is a very worthwhile exercise to change fluid early and often, and use the LG as an additive. According to LG's testing (Take that for what its worth) the Platinum enhances the wear protection of ULV slightly, so perhaps that will be enough to keep things sliding properly.

https://lubegard.com/viscosity-in-depth-review/

Yes, the article is about viscosity, but they also ran a wear test.

 

[got3fords]

Ok, too lazy to do the math, what is 3.125% of the capacity of our rangers? How did they come up with that number? Don't get me wrong, I think the LG Platinum is a worthy product.

 

[Dereku]

Its hit or miss, but its the mileage that does it. Greater than 70k and it seems more of a sure fire thing it will have problems. Mine was great until the last 300 miles around 75k. Then no more forward motion. 2022.5 and up seem better tho.

 

[Dereku]

Just rub it in the meantime.

Not in public. Thats frowned upon. Woke culture nonsense.

 

[ctechbob]

Ok, too lazy to do the math, what is 3.125% of the capacity of our rangers? How did they come up with that number? Don't get me wrong, I think the LG Platinum is a worthy product.

Lol, I think in the article they say 'recommended dose' which I guess is 3.125% or 1oz per qt.

32oz in a quart 1 oz, so I guess that works out to 3.125%. I'm really stupid when it comes to math, I didn't get that part of the Autism spectrum.....

 

[got3fords]

Lol, I think in the article they say 'recommended dose' which I guess is 3.125% or 1oz per qt.

32oz in a quart 1 oz, so I guess that works out to 3.125%. I'm really stupid when it comes to math, I didn't get that part of the Autism spectrum.....

I'll buy that!

 

[ctechbob]

Its hit or miss, but its the mileage that does it. Greater than 70k and it seems more of a sure fire thing it will have problems. Mine was great until the last 300 miles around 75k. Then no more forward motion. 2022.5 and up seem better tho.

Sure. Lots of things happen at higher mileage. Seals bypass more fluid meaning the TCM has to adapt by raising line pressures and extending out shift timing. If you have a trans that is walking the line between 'works fine' and 'bucket of shit' later on in life is where that is going to manifest itself.

Clutches are more worn, so apply pistons have to move further and it takes more fluid to fill the piston....

Etc.

 

[Dereku]

Sure. Lots of things happen at higher mileage. Seals bypass more fluid meaning the TCM has to adapt by raising line pressures and extending out shift timing. If you have a trans that is walking the line between 'works fine' and 'bucket of shit' later on in life is where that is going to manifest itself.

Clutches are more worn, so apply pistons have to move further and it takes more fluid to fill the piston....

Etc.

No doubt, but I have had a lot of ford trucks that lead very truck like lifestyles. My E4OD lasted longer behind a diesel between rebuilds and that isn’t saying much. 4r100 was better, 5r100 was amazing with 200k of abuse.

4r70w in my f150 did 268k with zero issues. I over loaded it in every way. Every day I floored it too because it was slow.

clutch wear should be able to be over come with adaptive tuning to an extent. But the soft valve body we have seems to accelerate the breakdowns. Shifts get sluggish and line pressure drops. Our trans is capable of 300+ psi. Thats bonkers, so leaks will never be small internally with that much pressure.

Its a great slush box overall and post replacement its better than ever. I have faith the newer CDF drum and other various improvements will make it better. But it will never be bulletproof proof in my mind.

 

[subquark]

2020 Oct build, 25K miles. My trans has been fine for the most part. A few times I think "was that strange? Did that shift hesitate?" but all-in-all it's fine.

But, I thought why temp fate, so I just ordered some stuff:

Fitz stick, <$200
19MM flex-ratchet wrench and wide mouth crescent. $50
Oil pump to drain oil, $20 from the amazonians.
7 quarts of Mercon ULV, $50
15oz Lubguard Platinum, $15

From what I've read, it's $350 well spent to stave off the demons.

Thanks for the list, I forgot about that stubby crescent and I guess a flex-head 19mm ratcheting box wrench wouldn't be so horrible to get (you know me and my hardened steel self-control). =D

hmm, maybe an entire long panel set?

 

[ctechbob]

Its a great slush box overall and post replacement its better than ever. I have faith the newer CDF drum and other various improvements will make it better. But it will never be bulletproof proof in my mind.

I think it will be, but via the aftermarket and not from the OEM's.

Well, unless they get ZF to redesign it for them.

I got to drive my friends Ram this weekend and was reminded again at how absolutely fantastic that damn ZF8 is, bar none, best transmission currently built.

 

[Maxacceleration]

I just purchased my ‘20 XLT with 35k on it 2 months ago. It now has 36k on it.
I feel it shudders in 1st accelerating into traffic.
When cold it feels like it goes into ‘neutral’ shifting from 1st to 2nd unless I really soft pedal it.
I am getting the trans flushed on Friday. They are going to flash it & it will relearn also.
I hope they will add the LG Platinum 1oz per qt.
Hoping the shudder goes away.

 

[ctechbob]

I just purchased my ‘20 XLT with 35k on it 2 months ago. It now has 36k on it.
I feel it shudders in 1st accelerating into traffic.
When cold it feels like it goes into ‘neutral’ shifting from 1st to 2nd unless I really soft pedal it.
I am getting the trans flushed on Friday. They are going to flash it & it will relearn also.
I hope they will add the LG Platinum 1oz per qt.
I hope the shudder goes away.

The shudder is probably your driveshaft.

Common, annoying, but not harmful.

Sponsored