Transmission flush and filter

[wallygetsit]

I am wanting to service the transmission however, I bought the Explorer used and don't think the fluid has ever been changed. It has 79K on it now and I have heard people say not to change it if it has that many miles and never serviced. It might break up some debris that might plug up the lines.

Let me know what you think.

5-speed auto.

 

[Bill Kemp]

For sure change the filter. If the trans is acting odd then get a flush also. At that mileage I would change the filter at least once a year (15,000miles)

 

[wallygetsit]

Thanks for the reply

 

[Robert]

I would definately change all of the fluid and the filter. My '97 Service Guide says to service the 5-speed automatic at 50K miles under severe duty applications. There is no interval mentioned for normal duty because according to Ford the fluid should last 100K miles before service is required. This was the first year of the 5-speed automatic and the semi-synthetic blend. Its odd though that the '98 and up with the same transmission and fluid, call for much shorter change intervals. Maybe Ford was over-confident in 1997? Anyway, go to the "Under the hood" section and look for the thread "quick tranny question" or something like that. I just did a complete fluid and filter change on my '97 and wrote up a lengthy procedure.

 

[Capt Buck]

I've been servicing my 92 XLT every 25,000 miles at the garage with a Trans-tech machine. The mechanic hooks up the machine to the trans cooler lines, then starts the engine and pumps new ATF thru the trans until it runs clean on the return line. After I had it done to the Explorer, I had my 93 Bronco (W/A4OD) done and it competely cured the wierd shifting it used to do. The little piece of junk called a tranny in the Explorer HAS to be service frequently, and does NOT like any form of stress as in towing or running offroad where it might get a little hot. I lunched two trannies in my 91 XL and had the tranny in the 92 XLT pewk its entire fluid guts
out the vent and front shaft seal from offroad activity.

 

[aldive]

Whoever told you not to change the trans fluid is very missinformed. Bt all means change as well as all of your other fluids.

Good luck.

 

[rob54b]

trans-tech

what kind of shop would have this kind of machine....trans-tech.....rob

 

[aldive]

A Jiffy Lube or the like will have the machine to do a complete trans flush and refill.

Have you considered using synthetic fluid?

 

[rob54b]

ive considered it, my 92 ex has 122 thou on it and it was serviced a couple a times, not a complete flush though. i would like to do it this time, what are the pros and cons to synthetic, and how much will the total service run?.....rob