2010 4.6 Transmission Whine

[Trainmaster]

My 8 cylinder 2010 is whining. The whine is only while moving down the road and disappears when it shifts into 4th gear or so. It increases in pitch with speed, and isn't there while idling. It's not normal, but I could live with it. These 6R80's or whatever are usually pretty quiet.

The truck has 120K miles and shifts fine. I'm going to drop the pan and replace the seven quarts or so of LV fluid. Who knows what the dealer put in there years ago when they replaced the bulkhead connector O rings under warranty.

Any thoughts on this? The truck has a Ford warranty that's still in effect, but I know any dealer will say the whine is just fine.

Thanks for the help!

 

[94Eddie]

I would check the fluid level, clear the learned data by disconnecting the battery for 30-60 minutes and maybe see if there is updated programming for operating the transmission. If it stops when shifting into 5th and 6th gears this is when direct drive engages and it might be a sign the noise might be coming from the torque convertor. I know from experience that the 6R60/80 transmissions are picky about having the proper level of transmission fluid. A drain and refill might solve the problem if it is low on fluid. You should change the filter too.

 

[Trainmaster]

Thanks, Eddie. Changing the fluid and filter this week. Seems the "lockup button" doesn't make a difference in the sound, but I know the converters are a source for whining sometimes...

 

[94Eddie]

My 2002 Explorer had the rattling torque convertor issue when I bought it. It sounded like some small rocks were rattling around in it. It would stop when the convertor locked up. I took it to a transmission guy and he checked it out and told me this was a common issue for the 2002 models. He said it wasn't hurting anything and recommended I just drive it unless I couldn't stand the rattling on occasion. I told him is wasn't bad enough to spend over $2k for an annoying rattle that I could only hear when the windows was down and driving next to a guard rail, traffic barrier or sitting in a drive through. He was right because I drove it for 70k miles before I sold it and the transmission never gave me a moment of trouble.

When you press the transmission overdrive lockout button this prevents the torque convertor from locking up and it should whine all the time if the issue is related to the convertor. Does the pitch of the whining change when the gears shift and the RPM drops or raises when the noise happens?

 

[Trainmaster]

The sound is constant, raising in pitch with the speed. It doesn't change at all with the lower shift points or engine speed, but it stops if I take my foot off the gas. When it shifts up at about 30mph it stops. With the lock up button in or out it behaves the same. Sounds a lot like planetary gear noise. Bearing in the front pump perhaps? But that would be an angry noise...

Really sounds like a gear whine.

I would gladly live with this forever, but I have a Ford warranty that expires in 15K miles, so if it's gonna blow up I wish it wouldn't wait for another 16K miles. I've been driving it like I stole it for a few years and it's only getting very slightly louder. So I figure I'll change the fluid and filter and triple check the level. I've checked the level before and think it's good.

 

[boominXplorer]

I'd check the rear end fill plug for excess metal

 

[94Eddie]

I am starting to think you are hearing gears whining in the differential. It could be the rear or the front if you have 4WD or AWD. I second Boomer's suggestion of draining and filling the differential(s) and check for metallic particles in the oil. Some differentials just develop a whine and can run for a long time this way. Regardless, I would do a drain, refill and inspect the oil for metal particles. It is not uncommon for the magnet to collect a lot of fine metal particles over 120k miles of driving. Just like the transmission magnet will collect a lot of fine particles. If metal particles show up in the oil then you probably have excess wear issues. While you are servicing the transmission it is a good idea to also drain and refill the transfer case if you have one. It is very easy to do and only takes about a quart of fluid.

 

[Trainmaster]

As I was describing this above, it occurred to me to check the differentials. Thanks. But it quickly goes away after the 4th shift. Differential wouldn't do that.

I'll get on it at speed and see if it growls.

 

[Littleant]

Not saying this is your problem but back in the 60's and 70's when I did auto repair a whine in the trans was 99 percent the front pump. Today's transmissions are way more complicated but not way more reliable.

 

[Trainmaster]

Not saying this is your problem but back in the 60's and 70's when I did auto repair a whine in the trans was 99 percent the front pump. Today's transmissions are way more complicated but not way more reliable.

Just what I was thinking too. But I believe the front pump whine wouldn't cut out after the high shift. That's usually what whines, and the earlier 6R75 had roller bearings in the pump rather than a bushing.

 

[Trainmaster]

Changed the rear end grease today and it was clean. Moving on to the tranny fluid later this week.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Changed the rear end grease today and it was clean. Moving on to the tranny fluid later this week.

you changed it, but were there any metallic flakes? how were the front/rear ring and pinion gears, sometimes they make noise if not thougoughly engaged together... work out pinion gear or bearings?

 

[Trainmaster]

you changed it, but were there any metallic flakes? how were the front/rear ring and pinion gears, sometimes they make noise if not thougoughly engaged together... work out pinion gear or bearings?

Perfectly clean oil. Nothing on the magnets.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Perfectly clean oil. Nothing on the magnets.

you werent by any chance able to check for wear on pinion gear, correct? how is the transfer case if you have one? soemtimes they can make noise too

 

[Trainmaster]

I pulled the cover and there's no wear to the pinion. I'm going to change the fluid in the transfer case along with the transmission. I'll see what I find in those. It's quite possible the dealer put the wrong fluid in the tranny when he serviced the bulkhead connector.

 

[Bazz270]

Try to disconnect 4x4 module connector.

If whining stopped during the same road condition ,you have to rebuild the transfer.

 

[Trainmaster]

Try to disconnect 4x4 module connector.

This truck has AWD, so the transfer case has nothing activated when normally tooling along. Really no way to isolate it.

Yesterday i changed the transfer case and transmission fluids and filter. The trans fluid was a little dark but not burned. The magnets were very clean with no metal sparkles in the fluid. I used Mercron LV as recommended by Ford. The truck runs a bit better and the transmission is somewhat quieter.

At this point I'm thinking the whirring is just planetary gear noise, though there's no debris to indicate any wear. The sound is not angry or objectionable and I'm sure a dealer, looking at my warranty would call it normal.