Transmission help 4 tomorrow.

[wellcraft]

Hey guys, I have a 1999 explore 4x4, v6 soch with 130k miles on it and it's mixing coolant with transmission fluid, the transmission still feels as good as always and I want to flush the heck out of it. I just bought a new radiator, new filter with gasket, cases of fluid.

I'll be working on this tomorrow and my idea was to put the new filter and put new fluid, run the exp and do oil changes as necessary until everything looks red again but I'm not sure if that is the best way. I have found a few diy but didn't find one specific for our explorers.

The radiator is out, transmission pan, filter are out and will be adding a drain to the pan.

Is there a write up on how to do it?
Anyway I can drain the converter?

Can you guys point me in the right direction please .

Thanks in advance .

 

[koda2000]

While I'm not a fan of doing full transmission flushes, in your case it might be the easiest and best thing to do. From what I understand you want to fill a pail with 5 gallons of clean ATF, disconnect the 2 trans lines at the radiator and using some rubber hose (3/8" I imagine) you suck the clean fluid from the pail and ex-spell the contaminated fluid into another 5 gallon pail. This requires the trans pan and filter to be in place. As soon as the engine is started the trans pump will move the fluid through the system. You'll also need the radiator in place so that you have coolant running into the engine.

I do not know which trans line is the transmission output and which is the return, but that shouldn't be too hard to determine. I do not think there is a drain for the 5r55e's torque converter.

There may be a write-up on the procedure. I recall reading it once.

 

[wellcraft]

My exp calls for mercon fluid and I bought this case https://m.samsclub.com/ip/certified-dexron-iii-mercon-12-1-qt-btls/160463 just for the flush and was wondering if it's ok. after I flush it I'll be putting a good oil.

 

[wellcraft]

While I'm not a fan of doing full transmission flushes, in your case it might be the easiest and best thing to do. From what I understand you want to fill a pail with 5 gallons of clean ATF, disconnect the 2 trans lines at the radiator and using some rubber hose (3/8" I imagine) you suck the clean fluid from the pail and ex-spell the contaminated fluid into another 5 gallon pail. This requires the trans pan and filter to be in place. As soon as the engine is started the trans pump will move the fluid through the system. You'll also need the radiator in place so that you have coolant running into the engine.

I do not know which trans line is the transmission output and which is the return, but that shouldn't be too hard to determine. I do not think there is a drain for the 5r55e's torque converter.

There may be a write-up on the procedure. I recall reading it once.

Thank u so much for the info. I never been a fan either but it needs to be done in this case.

 

[koda2000]

Current Ford ATF spec is Mercon V. It's expensive though and I'd hate to use it just for a flush. I think Dex/Merc would be fine to use for flushing, then replace it with Mercon V.

 

[wellcraft]

Current Ford ATF spec is Mercon V. It's expensive though and I'd hate to use it just for a flush. I think Dex/Merc would be fine to use for flushing, then replace it with Mercon V.

Great man, that's what I was hoping to hear as I know I need a lot to properly flush it and didn't want to spend a fortune. after the flush I'll put mercon v.

Is this the write up u were talking about http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/at1.html

 

[koda2000]

Great man, that's what I was hoping to hear as I know I need a lot to properly flush it and didn't want to spend a fortune. after the flush I'll put mercon v.

Is this the write up u were talking about http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/at1.html

It's not the same write-up I recall reading, buy yes that's the jest of the procedure. If your truck is equipped with the trans cooler that would be a good spot to tie-in your drain hose. Good luck!

 

[wellcraft]

It's not the same write-up I recall reading, buy yes that's the jest of the procedure. If your truck is equipped with the trans cooler that would be a good spot to tie-in your drain hose. Good luck!

Thanks, found this other write up using 2 buckets http://www.ranger-forums.com/how-diy-submissions-59/diy-gentle-transmission-fluid-flush-137565/ think I'm going this route as I work alone.

But wonder since I have a new radiator if I should hook up the 2 lines on the drivers side or just live them disconected, don't want any bad oil get into the the radiator.

What do u think, I have no idea what those 2 lines are for, I know they are for the transmission for sure.

 

[koda2000]

Thanks, found this other write up using 2 buckets http://www.ranger-forums.com/how-diy-submissions-59/diy-gentle-transmission-fluid-flush-137565/ think I'm going this route as I work alone.

But wonder since I have a new radiator if I should hook up the 2 lines on the drivers side or just live them disconected, don't want any bad oil get into the the radiator.

What do u think, I have no idea what those 2 lines are for, I know they are for the transmission for sure.

There's a small tank inside the driver's side of the radiator. It helps to cool the trans fluid using the coolant in the radiator. I would leave the radiator disconnected. No point on putting contaminated ATF in the rad tank. If you remove the plastic tray under the rad you'll see the hoses connected to the trans cooler. That will be the easiest place to tie in to the trans lines.

 

[wellcraft]

So if I leave those 2 lines disconected I wouldn't have any leaks from those 2 lines? Can't really understand how the lines work. I have those 2 lines on the ds and 2 more in the bottom pass side which are already disconnected, how's the flow works here. For obvious reason I don't want to contaminate the new radiator but I can't see the ds lines not leaking.

My guess is that in the drivers side one is a supply and the other is a return so I might just jump the lines somehow so that way I don't get any leaks.

Does that make sense?

 

[wellcraft]

Cleaned the transmission pan and added a drain plug to it, clean the filter an gasket and put everything back but after I do the flush I'll replace the old filter with a new one and a new gasket. I was planning on doing everything today but I'm getting the rest done tomorrow as I want to make sure what I'm doing as I want to do it the best way possible.

Since I'm trying to avoid contamination on the new radiator what would be best way to address this, I did confirm that I do have 2 lines that goes to the drivers side of the radiator. 1 comes from the trans to the remote oil cooler then from the oil cooler to the radiator and from the radiator to the transmission. How's the flow here, how should I hook up the supply and return hose that I'll be using to flush from 2 5gal buckets (1 with fluid and the other for return).

If I can't figure out I'll just going to put the new radiator and hook it up and flush it. I have 36 qts of mercon fluid from sams here to do the flush and I still need to buy the good brand which would be the final flush.

 

[koda2000]

I would guess that the line that goes from the trans to the oil cooler is the feed line from the trans (that's just a guess, but it seems logical) then the line from the output of the oil cooler to the rad is also the feed line. That would make the other line from the rad the return to the transmission. Hope that helps you.

 

[drdoom]

The return line is the upper most one entering the transmission IIRC.

 

[drdoom]

The fluid will pump out of the transmission into the radiator and out into the cooler, and then return to the transmission.

 

[wellcraft]

Thank guys, so by using hoses I can jump the lines as the is 4 lines in total to avoid the radiator during the flushing process ?

If that is the case it would be
Top drivers side with lower on passenger side (left or right line) ????
Lower drivers side with lower on passenger side (left or right line) ?????