Transmission question

[Dakota]

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.

Thank you for the great response
Hopefully I will nothing to worry about, but I do
I have a 2022 I bought new and next month it will be 3 years old and I have almost 9,000 miles on it

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[Maxacceleration]

The shudder is probably your driveshaft.

Common, annoying, but not harmful.

As in an out of balance drive shaft?
Never heard that before at such a low speed.

So why the neutral feel between 1st & 2nd?

 

[ctechbob]

As in an out of balance drive shaft?
Never heard that before at such a low speed.

No, not out of balance. Rangers have issues with pinion angle. Some people solve it by shimming the rear end, some space the carrier bearing down. There's a million page thread on here somewhere about it. Think there's also a TSB about it somewhere.

It's why the 4WD guys pick up the Tom Woods driveshafts. Completely eliminates the issue.

 

[subquark]

Thank you for the great response
Hopefully I will nothing to worry about, but I do
I have a 2022 I bought new and next month it will be 3 years old and I have almost 9,000 miles on it

Mine's also a '22 and built in April, so it doesn’t have the improved tranny.

And I have close to 8,000 miles.

But, I'd sure like this truck to last. I still have my '72 FJ40, but it needs to be restored, rhe brakes have always been an issue, but it was a daily driver from 1975 to the mid '90s. Then I had a little Scion for 17 years and my wife had a Corolla that she put 360K miles on. Never, ever did I give any thought to those trannies.

So, in typical overkill fashion when it comes to Soupie. I've ordered the FitzStick, will possibly get the shallow PPE pan for my birthday, and will probably do a full fluid AND filter change this summer.

However, I'm conflicted on that.

Since I have the 8 or 10 year ESP, part of me wants it to fail in that time. But with my luck it will probably fail right after the ESP runs out. =/

The Cherry Bomb trannies look pretty good too. But, as someone wrote, doing the fluid change is relatively cheap preventative maintenance.

hard to find a good tranny

 

[dozxab]

Mine's also a '22 and built in April, so it doesn’t have the improved tranny.

And I have close to 8,000 miles.

Mine is a 2022 left over as well with 16000 miles. When did they make the transmission change?

 

[subquark]

Mine is a 2022 left over as well with 16000 miles. When did they make the transmission change?

From another forum member (@Stevedbvik1):

Per the TSB vehicles built on or after 8-16-22 have the updated transmission.

 

[dozxab]

From another forum member (@Stevedbvik1):

Per the TSB vehicles built on or after 8-16-22 have the updated transmission.

Nice, mine was 9/22! Thank you!

 

[Dereku]

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.

Considering Ram used to have the worst transmission possible it is ironic how good the ZF is now. Rest of the truck is mediocre to be honest. Unless it has a cummins.

 

[got3fords]

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.

You might have to supply the LG, or add it later.

 

[Maxacceleration]

You might have to supply the LG, or add it later.

I have it in hand and will ask in advance if they will add it.
I consider LG a conditioner and not snake oil.
Like some posi’s use an additive for proper operation, and another fave of mine… StarTron.
A great fuel additive that rejuvenates older fuel & cleans your system.
Years ago I used STP Oil Treatment in my oil and it added 10 psi of oil pressure lol at idle on a tired engine…
Additives have their place.

 

[ctechbob]

I have it in hand and will ask in advance if they will add it.
I consider LG a conditioner and not snake oil.
Like some posi’s use an additive for proper operation, and another fave of mine… StarTron.
A great fuel additive that rejuvenates older fuel & cleans your system.
Years ago I used STP Oil Treatment in my oil and it added 10 psi of oil pressure lol at idle on a tired engine…
Additives have their place.

I'm sure the dealer will claim that your trans will grenade before you leave the parkinglot if you use it.

There's a slim chance they won't...but very slim.

 

[got3fords]

I have it in hand and will ask in advance if they will add it.
I consider LG a conditioner and not snake oil.
Like some posi’s use an additive for proper operation, and another fave of mine… StarTron.
A great fuel additive that rejuvenates older fuel & cleans your system.
Years ago I used STP Oil Treatment in my oil and it added 10 psi of oil pressure lol at idle on a tired engine…
Additives have their place.

Yeah, I did enough research on LG, that I was confident in trying it. I am glad I did.

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