Preventive Maintenance on the 5R55E | Ford Explorer Forums

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Preventive Maintenance on the 5R55E

gijoecam

Village Idiot
Joined
May 31, 1999
Messages
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City, State
Trenton, MI
Year, Model & Trim Level
98 ExSport, '00 F-150
Just wondering.... aside from regular fluid and filter changes, is there anything you guys would recommend I try to maximize the life of the trans? I've heard that there is a solenoid that is only good for about 150k, and with any luck, I'll have this one long past that. She's running on 114k currently. Is it too late to try anything?

I'm not a heavy-footed driver, and use the cruise for probably 90% of my commute, so the TC isn't locking an unlocking constantly. Any other suggestions to make her live a little longer?
 



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The solenoid you are referring to is called the EPC. You could add an external cooler, and a remote filter. Avoid towing whenever possible. Use Mercon V ATF fluid. You could occasionally adjust your bands, and retorque your valve body bolts.
 


















we use some BG products at work when we do flushes and for the trans they have a cleaner and then a conditioner. You put the cleaner in, run it warm for a few minutes then flush the fluid and then add the conditioner ( it's probably the same as the lubeguard as posted above). It comes in a package so it's a good deal!

-Drew
 






A VB shift improvement kit would be my suggestion. That plus regular fluid changes and everything else suggested is about all you can do.
 






Just have it serviced at the proper intervals, if your at 114K with no problems.
No need to get radical.
 






I just have a tranny secondary filter and a cooler. Change the filter every 3k so the tranny is always seeing a quart of new fluid. I also add lucas trans-slip to keep it happy
 






a trans filter at every 3k miles? geez - they recommend only at 60k intervals

-Drew
 






ExplorerDMB said:
a trans filter at every 3k miles? geez - they recommend only at 60k intervals

-Drew

Ouch im sorry! On my secondary filter kit (uses spin on oil filter) I change every 3k miles when I change my oil
 






So...
My 1998 4.0L SOHC, 5R55E 2wd sport with 86,000 (used), after searching it looks like the standard procedure is: band adjustment, filter change, VB gasket/separator and fresh fluid.
It's mainly used by the wife, almost no towing, 20 mile daily commute, some mild fire-road/trail driving.

Thoughts?
 






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