Secondary Transmission Filter Installed (Feedback)

[Hank]

Mine has been fantastic, no problems and shifts improved within 50 miles.

Unlike Al, who washes his tranny and engine compartment with a toothbrush , I put my filter setup on a nice used un/dealer-maintained tranny that had a fair amount of shavings on the pan magnet.


I have noticed no pressure drop or performance loss at all with this setup. In fact Ford does offer an in-line filter kit just for this purpose. Although it is basically a big fuel filter setup.

 

[Ross-N-Chicago]

FYI,

I installed my filter over the weekend and am very happy with it for the past few days. My shifts are quicker and smoother than before (and they were good then). The X just feels better and more quiet if you can believe it (but I also just changed diff oil to synthetic and swapped 5-30 for 0-40 synth too).

Well worth it and I will let you know in a couple hundred more miles what the filter collected.

 

[Hank]

Power steering filter setup update

Well, it works... works too good.


Shame on me but I never changed the filter on the power steering line. Remember I used a large, soda can sized filter, in line on the return hose...

Well.... today during some TLC/tune up the filter filtered out all the crap in the system plugged up and blew the end right off. Fortunatly the wife just got back home with it.

The concept works great but I think I need to cut it over to the same style filter as the secondary trans unit.

IF you have not done so already, change the ps pump filter. Especially if you used the same style I did...

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Too bad about the hose coming off. At least it sounds like no permanent damage was done.

What style filter were you using? Is it the magnetic transmission filter type; brand name "Magnafine"?

 

[William Schumacher]

Hank.....

I had a few questions on my secondary tranny filter setup.

the system has been working great for me since I installed it some months back.

however,I changed the filter the other day,I used the same Amsoil filter that I took off {sdf-57}.
it seems my filter isn't getting warm anymore ?,
also my fluid level is reading high on the stick ?,it was at the correct level 2 weeks ago when everything was fine.
my gauge is also reading low,it never got higher than 44 since changing the filter? {it's been very cold here in NY lately}
I thought maybe it's a bad filter....and put another new one on but there was no change.

you once told me that I would know right away if the lines weren't routed properly,I'm beginning to serious
concerns about this again,the truck runs OK,but something doesn't seem right.
what would happen if they were not routed properly ?
would I get a code or would the truck not move ?

I had this setup installed by a shop {I was still recovering from surgery back then} I guess I should have waited and did it myself.
I'm not sure if they undid the cooler lines but would that make a difference in the direction of fluid going through the cooler,or anything other than the filter and tranny itself.

 

[Hank]

William, Re: you once told me that I would know right away if the lines weren't routed properly,I'm beginning to serious
concerns about this again,the truck runs OK,but something doesn't seem right.
what would happen if they were not routed properly ?
would I get a code or would the truck not move ?


Trust me you would know, lines would blow, big bad noises, etc.. If the lines were hooked up wrong there would be no flow. If the tranny is reading high, it is probably overfilled. NY in winter... nothing is going to get warm.. Cold days in FL, 40f my filter is barely warm to the touch.


Runnin'OnEmpty RE: Too bad about the hose coming off. At least it sounds like no permanent damage was done.

Hank: No damage, just messy...

What style filter were you using? Is it the magnetic transmission filter type; brand name "Magnafine

Hank: Autozone large fuel filter with 3/8" hose fittings. Going to replace it with the same setup as the tranny filter. More filter surface area..


You should see the bad filter. Looks like a coke can in the freezer. Flat top puffed out round about 1/2" and split.. What a mess.. Concept works fine, first implementation was flawed by user error not changing filter in 12000 miles. DUH...

 

[aldive]

Hank, how do you figuer the filter is getting so much crud toi plug it up?

 

[Hank]

Old truck for starters, plus I'm sure the previous owner never flushed the system. Could also have something to do with going under water/mud with the previous pump that was leaking..

 

[Ross-N-Chicago]

I just installed a new PS pump and it is still a little noisy even after bleeding (maybe didn't get all the air). Would a PS filter possibly eliminate the whine or do I live with it?

 

[Hank]

Probably not, mine/they all whine...

 

[William Schumacher]

Hank....

I'm going to check the cooler tomorrow for a possible clog ?,still not sure why the system would now read high,when 2 weeks ago it was at the correct level and the temp gauge was reading between 80-101 in this NY winter ?,all I did was change the filters,and tighten up 2 loose hose clamps that started to drip after the filter change,I lost fluid from 2 filter changes and a dripping hose,yet it reads higher than a few weeks ago and the temp gauge does not go higher than 44,and as I drive it drops to 38 ?

my truck has 53k,and the entire system has been flushed twice at jiffy-lube {T-tech machine},once at 20k,then again a few days before putting the secondary filter on ?

when the fluid leaves the tranny,then enters the filter,then to the cooler,does it then go to the radiator ??before going back to the tranny ?I had this work done for me by a shop.

also....would it make a difference what direction the fluid goes through the cooler/radiator ??????

 

[Hank]

William, see below:

I'm going to check the cooler tomorrow for a possible clog ?

hg: Doubt it's clogged as it would blow if it was.


,still not sure why the system would now read high,when 2 weeks ago it was at the correct level and the temp gauge was reading between 80-101 in this NY winter ?

hg: sure you did not overfill a bit? Are you checking the fluid while the car is warm and running.

,all I did was change the filters,and tighten up 2 loose hose clamps that started to drip after the filter change,I lost fluid from 2 filter changes and a dripping hose,yet it reads higher than a few weeks ago and the temp gauge does not go higher than 44,and as I drive it drops to 38 ?

hg: Something does not make sense. Was it reading 80-100 before the filter change? If yes, start by changing the filter.


when the fluid leaves the tranny,then enters the filter,then to the cooler,does it then go to the radiator ??before going back to the tranny ?I had this work done for me by a shop.

Mine goes in at the top of the radiator, out the bottom, to the cooler to the filter then back to the trans.




also....would it make a difference what direction the fluid goes through the cooler/radiator

No, but it can only go the way the factory hoses run.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Bill, as Hank says, all transmission radiator coolers have the input at the top of the radiator (at least all I've ever seen). Then you can follow the rest of the lines to determine the flow direction. If you have a Perma-Cool adapter, it should have an "in" and "out" port marked, or an arrow to show the flow direction through it. I would eyeball the flow direction to make sure it's correct, especially since someone else did the install......

When you changed filters, did you by any chance change brands or types?

Oil filters have an anti-drainback valve and a bypass valve inside. If the flow is in the wrong direction, the filter might still flow, but it would be restricted.

 

[Hank]

"Oil filters have an anti-drainback valve and a bypass valve inside. If the flow is in the wrong direction, the filter would still flow, but it would be restricted"


I tend to agree with you on this but I think "restricted" would be an understatement. I pulled 30 inches of vacuum, the max on my manual pump, on the Purolator Pure-One filter.. Say nite-nite to your tranny on that one...


However this could be what William is running into. Bottom line I would head straight back to the shop that installed it. I know for a fact the el-cheepo filter that came with the kit DID NOT have a anti-siphon valve on it. I spent a bunch of extra time double checking, ala plastic bag on each hose, and confirming what was flow and what was return....

 

[aldive]

My problem with installation idea is that it previously worked.

 

[Hank]

Before, filter with no valve
After filter with valve ??


I agree Al, Something changed in the equation and it sounds like the filter. I'd change the filter or bypass the setup completly and haul it back to the shop.

Or do the mess test.... Pop off the filter and crank the motor for a second. Fluid should come out of the side not the threaded shaft...

 

[aldive]

I agree, its time to get messy and "see" whats happening with the flow.

Bill, what filters are you using?

 

[William Schumacher]

my feeling is I have a clog somewhere ?

I changed the filter to the same Amsoil one that was on there {sdf-57}a shorty narrower filter then the kit filter},I also didn't add any fluid at that time,that's when this started.

I then noticed that the hoses started to drip at the cooler,I fixed that,checked the fluid level when hot,and in park with engine running,it read overfilled,and my new filter does not get hot,or even warm nor does the hoses going to and leaving the filter {they always used to get warm}.and of course the temp gauge reads low,

it sounds like a clog.

I'm busy with work this week,but I'm not using the truck
until this is resolved,
also I can't take the truck to the same shop due to the gas tanks are all being replaced
and he had to close for a few weeks.

I'm going to order 13 more quarts of atf from Amsoil,
and flush the entire system....again ?,
I have to take it to a shop again due to no garage to work in,and lots of snow on the ground and another 4-5" on the way tomorrow

I'll oversee the shop when they route the hoses.
tranny to filter,to radiator,to cooler and back to tranny.

I'll keep you guy's posted on everything !

thanks for all the input....
you guy's are the BEST !!!!!

 

[SteveVB]

Before you flush it again verifiy what you have- flushing isnt going to do any good if the filter is wrong, or your trans has a cooler shut-off valve. I dont know enough about the later model trannies to know, but it may have a cooler circuit valve - It may be computer or temperature controlled. The 99 FSM should have some info on the cooler circuit and how to check it. If Im reading my diagrams correctly the early model tranny the cooler gets fluid from different passages depending on TC status- if its locked up it comes from the main pressure passage, and if hot then it gets it from the TC passage.

Even if fluid isnt flowing through the cooler it isnt going to damage the trans immediately- the trans still gets fluid. Any other symptoms -poor shifting etc.

I would pull the filter like hank suggested and check the flow out of the adapter. Just put some paper down or a plastic bag and spin the filter off- put a catch pan down and a clear plastic bag over the adapter to guide the mess into the pan. See what happens . Check with Amsoil about the filter- maybe they changed the design on the filter but not the part number?

You said you replaced the filter and did NOT add any fluid and it is still reading high when warmed up? That doesnt make much sense. Did you prefill the filter?

I doubt the line and or adapter is clogged - esp since you have flushed and filled your tranny so many times. There just isnt anything in the trans that would clog things, that wouldnt show up elsewhere while driving.

Good Luck

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I agree, there would be nothing to create a clog. Except maybe parts of the filter valves or media. That's why I would look closely at the flow direction through the filter. If it is wrong, maybe the pressure blew the first filters valves enough for it to flow OK (backflow). Then the second filter's valves held, so there was no flow through it.....???

That would explain why leaks appeared at the hose ends, and the clamps needed to be tightened.

It would also explain the higher fluid level. Maybe the fluid in the cooler and lines drained back into the pan. This would give a higher level, if new fluid wasn't being pumped back into the cooler.