Transmission fluid and other problems

[Quick]

I thought I'd run this one by you guys -- my brother-in-law recommended that I do not flush out my transmission fluid (2003 XLT V8 with 93,000 miles) since I've actually never done it. He claims this will flush out all the built up metal shaving and allow the gears to wear even more. He said to just add more when it gets lower. Has anyone heard this or is he blowing smoke up my butt?

Like I said, I never changed it and it is really dark. *knock on wood* I'm having no problems with the transmission. It shifts smoothly and the last few years I've put 2000-3000 miles a year on it.

Also, my Explorer has this sound coming from the front-right wheel. It makes it rather loud in my car. It sounds like "voom voom voom" and its rhythmic. Also how quick the sound repeats depends on how fast I'm going. I know it's hard to diagnoise over the interweb, but I thought you guys might know.

I'm a little ashamed, I haven't treated my Explorer all that well and now that she's paid off, I feel I should invest some money in her. Except for oil changes and the occassional bath, I haven't done much else (recently had the rear diff fluid changed).

 

[rocco123]

I have heard on the forum before that a few people said a flush is not good for high miles explorers. Myself, i just changed fluid & filter (was not dark). For some reason the thing picked up a couple MPG for this. As far as the noise.... wheel bearing are common. Replaced all but the left rear on my 02 Limited (replaced right rear twice) due to growling sound. I have another wearing now but waiting 'till it gets worse.

 

[imp]

"Darkened" Fluid?

First thing a tech. does is look at, and smell, the transmission fluid, be there trouble already or not.

Dark, burnt fluid indicates high-heat build-up, which can arise from many factors, but real often, from towing heavy loads, or severely harsh driving. Other causes include failing parts within the transmission (bands and/or clutches slipping).

I would change the fluid, if it were mine, and give the thing a little prayer afterwards. Be sure to use the recommended fluid type, NO OTHER.

Just my opinion.

imp

 

[Mettler]

I worked for a lube shop up until recently. I will tell you, yes it is time to change that fluid. Your at the golden mark (mileage wise) to get that fluid flushed out before you cause catastrophic damage. Ford says they're transmissions in these later models don't need service for 100k.
Your at your service interval.
Don't listen to that brother in law. He will be the guy with a dead tranny.
Also, take it to a lube shop that does these regularly. Figure on spending around 100 bucks on the flush alone. At the shop I worked at, the tranny flush was $119. Your vehicle requires Mercon V. Nothing else! I have seen internal damage occur from the use of Dexron with a friction modifier. I had to replace my trans because of it.

The front wheel noise is most defiantly a bad wheel bearing. It must be fixed immediatly. You don't want that to leave you broken on the side of the road some where when it wasn't that hard of a job to fix.

P.S. With these later model Exlporers you do not need to replace the trans filter at the time of service.
I wouldn't worry about that till 200k. Like I said, your at the manufacturer recamended service interval. Do it now and you'll be fine. Wait another 50k and you wont be.

 

[miker104]

There seem to be two schools of thought with regards to Flushing Auto Trans fluid.

One is to do it at the recommended interval specified by the manufacturer. There are some anecdotal reports of people who have vehicles with high mileage (100k +) experiencing the transmission dying after having had the transmission flushed. I'm certain that it will not occur in every case.

The other school of thought is to drain and replace the fluid (you only get 1/3 to 1/2 of the fluid out by draining it) a number of times (say 3 or 4) within a short period of time. Drain, refill drive for a few miles and repeat a number of times.

Each option has its supporters and opponents. You get to choose.

Leaving transmission fluid as is for 100k miles is a great idea if you buy a new car every 4 or so years. If you are going to keep it for a long time without having to replace the transmission, maintenance with the proper fluid is a good idea.

 

[TheFlyingTurkey]

I just picked up a 2002 Eddie Bauer with the V8 from a relative. It's got 93,000 miles and the tranny fluid has never been changed. I've been debating doing a flush myself and I was going to go ahead with it until I read about all the tranny problems people were having with Explorers of this time period.

I've changed the drive belt, spark plugs, engine oil/filter, air filter, fuel filter, and I'll be doing a differential service soon. But I'm nervous about doing the flush as the tranny shifts fine.

 

[Mettler]

All fluids used in a vehicle lose they're viscosity and anti foaming agents over time. Transmission fluid is one of those. Heat cycles are they're worst enemy. When you smell new trans fluid and compare its color and smell to your used fluid you will see a major difference. If you pull your dipstick and see any bubbles in the fluid or its dirty or brown, or it smells burnt, then its time to change it. Period. Gear box fluids are the worst neglected fluids in all vehicles. They are just as important as engine oil. Change them just as regularly.

Im preaching....

sorry.

 

[94Eddie]

I don't think changing the fluid in an other well running transmission is ever a bad idea. If you don't change then you are dancing with the Devil, IMO.

 

[sallychattin]

Brown tranny fluid, 3X in 3 years

The transmission fluid in my 94 Explorer 4WD has been changed three times in three years because it was brown, now it's brown again. The mechanic said he thought it was the torque converter and I needed a rebuild, I said no way do I have $1100.

A friend said he hadn't seen too many torque converters go out.

The car has 77200 original miles. I don't drive it a lot and it's mostly freeway not stop and go. It doesn't slip the only thing it does is shift a little hard for the first few miles.

But I'm fixin to drive 1100 miles and don't want to get stranded.

Any thoughts anybody?

 

[2002GreyHD150]

^^ your '94 has a totally different transmission than the 02-04 Expl/Monty. the 02-04 transmissions are notoriously temperamental and a total crap shoot on any given day. My wife's '04 Monty has never shifted correctly since the day we drove it off the dealer lot.

the Monty now has 180K. I had the trans serviced, under warranty 4 times in the first 2.5 years of ownership. So I am knocking on that 100K interval myself and am leery of both opinions on flushing.

Around here (Dallas, TX) its $185 for a full service at the Dealer and $140-185 at the private shops.

On the topic of converters going bad.... they do and more frequently than you might imagine.

Rob

 

[Milwaukee]

The transmission fluid in my 94 Explorer 4WD has been changed three times in three years because it was brown, now it's brown again. The mechanic said he thought it was the torque converter and I needed a rebuild, I said no way do I have $1100.

A friend said he hadn't seen too many torque converters go out.

The car has 77200 original miles. I don't drive it a lot and it's mostly freeway not stop and go. It doesn't slip the only thing it does is shift a little hard for the first few miles.

But I'm fixin to drive 1100 miles and don't want to get stranded.

Any thoughts anybody?

Ford is idiot for put small transmission cooler on that 1 gen explorer? I had exact issues you describle. When I test after drive hard in city. I put my finger on tran cooler in front end. It BURN my finger. Next day I bought biggest tran cooler I could find to fit in Explorer. It never ever get hot anymore. It drove best.


For Fluid. How I do. NO FLUSH. I drain pan whole fluid, change filter then drain torque convertor if it had plug. If no then unhook cooler line then refill tran with new fluid then run until you see bubble in fluid then stop. Do these for couple times until you see fresh RED fluid come out.

I never have problem with transmissions yet expect 01 F250 that was previous concrete company so it was broke when I got. Slipping in Reverse.

 

[D Hook]

All fluids used in a vehicle lose they're viscosity and anti foaming agents over time. Transmission fluid is one of those. Heat cycles are they're worst enemy. When you smell new trans fluid and compare its color and smell to your used fluid you will see a major difference. If you pull your dipstick and see any bubbles in the fluid or its dirty or brown, or it smells burnt, then its time to change it. Period. Gear box fluids are the worst neglected fluids in all vehicles. They are just as important as engine oil. Change them just as regularly.

Im preaching....

sorry.

No dipsticks in the 3rd gen. That's what makes it such a crapshoot because if you're going to drop the pan to inspect the fluid, you may as well do new fluid. I'd like to find the guy who said "we don't need no stinkin' dip stick!"