What did you do to your Ranger today?

[Big Blue]

Transmission fluid and filter and added PPE trans pan. Impressive how dirty the fluid was at 14,830 mi. I sure does shift smoother and no more shuddering under light acceleration.

If you were judging how dirty the fluid was based on its color, don't. The Mercon ULV is known to darken in color rather rapidly. Has to do with the higher temperatures it runs at. Did you have any/much buildup in the bottom of the pan or on the magnet? The newer fluid you can not judge by color likely the old ones.

Sponsored

 

[Big Blue]

Do you drive in the mud or under any kind of excess as far as dirty conditions?

I haven’t really been able to get to any trails or anything to get the truck overly dirty for any long period of time. Trying to decide whether I should be changing my transmission fluid.
I just feel like anything that will make that transmission run better is a good move.

******************
Is there a synthetic or essentially a best in class transmission fluid that is recommended?
******************

This is definitely not my area of expertise let alone very much knowledge. I really should learn a little more on this area.

I mean geez, I change my engine oil with synthetic every 3000 miles… Damn that number moves quickly lol)

The beauty about synthetic is that over the years, the price increase has not been as much has oil technically getting a good bang for your buck! Just my thoughts.

OK, I will give you my thoughts on you multiple questions.

My plan is to replace my OEM pan with a increased capacity PPE Pan with a drain plug at 35K. This will include a new filter. After that a drain and fill every 30K and a filter every 60K. I do occasionally tow a 4500 lb TT.

As far as fluid, I plan on using the Ford recommended Motocraft ULV fluid. Since a drain and fill only changes about half the fluid, I am not one for mixing different brands of fluids. That's just me. Any ULV fluid that meets Ford's specs is probably find. It just MUST be ULV.

As far as your changing your synthetic motor oil at 3K, I think that is a bit excessive. I change mine at 5K, and that many would say is excessive. Many would say wait for the Oil Life meter to tell you.

 

[Doc]

Spa days, inside & out top to bottom. Polished my Roll-N-Lock cover. Other forum members have mentioned moving their key less pad to inside the gas filler lid, so I did that mod. Mine was on there when I bought it so I'd never seen the door without it. I like the clean look but I'm getting those "that truck looks like yours but it's not" vibes.

Nice !

 

[9zero1790]

So, I picked up one of those cheap $275-350 Ebay LED brake replacements... and besides for it lacking the "ranger" emboss on the inside of the metallic part inside the lens, it is a perfect fit and replacement! I may grab another just to have the other side match lacking the little "ranger" letters inside. Figure I'd mention it as a follow up for those curious on those ebay tail lights.

Transmission fluid and filter and added PPE trans pan. Impressive how dirty the fluid was at 14,830 mi. I sure does shift smoother and no more shuddering under light acceleration.

just imagine - ford says it does not need to be checked or changed for thousands and thousands of miles lol.

 

[LowKeyTremor]

OK, I will give you my thoughts on you multiple questions.
My plan is to replace my OEM pan with a increased capacity PPE Pan with a drain plug at 35K. This will include a new filter. After that a drain and fill every 30K and a filter every 60K. I do occasionally tow a 4500 lb TT.

As far as fluid, I plan on using the Ford recommended Motocraft ULV fluid. Since a drain and fill only changes about half the fluid, I am not one for mixing different brands of fluids. That's just me. Any ULV fluid that meets Ford's specs is probably find. It just MUST be ULV.

As far as your changing your synthetic motor oil at 3K, I think that is a bit excessive. I change mine at 5K, and that many would say is excessive. Many would say wait for the Oil Life meter to tell you.

*****
Thank you!!

It was enlightening to see your plan and your strategy. I’ll be evaluating something similar for myself, so thanks for shedding light on your rationale!

I also appreciate that you mentioned my high frequency on the oil changes. Believe me, it has certainly crossed my mind many times! I feel it’s extremely careful except for it’s to the point where it’s over the top.

Any gains from changing the intervals to 5000 from 3000 are going to be minimal or nonexistent, or even a fluke. I mean that 3000 miles comes fast!

There’s so many people who believe 5000 is a little extensive. So I’m gonna go with 5000 because I’ve thought about that before and I think I just needed a little nudge combined with rationale so I can keep it logical. Thank you for giving me that and really saving me money for probably something that didn’t benefit me

It was also a little bizarre because my prior car was a 2018 BMW 440i Gran Coupé (looks like a Coupé due to the sporty nature of it, and how low it is, but it is a sedan with extremely sporty lines, and from the behind you think it’s a coupe OK. I recommended over the three series. I love that car and the uniqueness! Anyways, they didn’t want you changing your fluid except for every 15,000 miles! These modern cars… I think that is the main reason and probably just better fluids and what not.

** To Big Blue:

First of all, sorry, I have to say it ?
“You’re my boy, Blue, you’re my boy!”
That movie, Old School, came out when I was a sophomore at UC Santa Barbara. We were already crazy as heck and brought a group of 20, but of course, with the theater being the closest and it being a Wednesday night, this party school seem to have sent everyone to that screening so it was probably more like 90% of people, I knew one way or the other. Sorry, that’s way off-topic!

 

[Cg32]

Finally got my bushwacker oe style fender flares installed! Had them body match painted around Thanksgiving and they have been sitting in a box since then. The wheels are 17x8.5 with 0 offset and they cover everything perfect! Not too much to look off, but enough to help keep from throwing water, mud and rocks all over the side of the truck.

 

[Doc]

Finally got my bushwacker oe style fender flares installed! Had them body match painted around Thanksgiving and they have been sitting in a box since then. The wheels are 17x8.5 with 0 offset and they cover everything perfect! Not too much to look off, but enough to help keep from throwing water, mud and rocks all over the side of the truck.

Looks Good !

 

[9zero1790]

ok i didnt do it to my ranger. but it looks cool. very retro

 

[IdahoRanger]

ok i didnt do it to my ranger. but it looks cool. very retro

Not my thing.

 

[9zero1790]

Not my thing.

i think the right color combo makes a big difference. i was thinking that the sport package magnetic grey would look pretty sharp on a black 5g with the sport package wheels and trim.

 

[pismo1]

ok i didnt do it to my ranger. but it looks cool. very retro

I like the wheels,but they do poke too much.Wonder what the offset is on those?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

ok i didnt do it to my ranger. but it looks cool. very retro

I’d drive it.

 

[9zero1790]

I’d drive it.

that sounds familiar ! I think i would too. having a fake two tone may cover up a lot of my trail rash. wonder what it costs.

 

[subquark]

In case my riding buddy, Cheech, ever needs to be extracated from a locked burning building, or pried out from under a dump collapse, Soupie's now equipped!

nice early spring day at 53 degrees

 

[9zero1790]

In case my riding buddy, Cheech, ever needs to be extracated from a locked burning building, or pried out from under a dump collapse, Soupie's now equipped!

nice early spring day at 53 degrees

nice work! i bet it comes in handy one day. When i was buying some new combination wrenches I was eyeballing a 1 -5/8 bruiser size nearly two feet long. my brother said dont waste your money you will never use that thing. get a monkey wrench. he was kinda correct. he has borrowed it twice lol.

Sponsored