Wanting to change tran and diff fluids on 97 XLT Explorer

[DFGasner]

Ok, so I have recently bought a 1997 Explorer XLT 4x4 with 4.0L SOHC, 5R55E and a little over 200k mile on the truck.

I changed the motor when I bought it so the motor has 84k and my Dad noticed that the tranny had salvage yard stock numbers marked in yellow, so I'm not exactly sure when the tranny was replaced.

Truck was running great ( only had it for about 1.5 months now) until the other day. I park my truck in a heated garage when I'm home, but the other day I needed to be at school for quite a while and my truck ended up sitting in 12 degree weather for 9 hours. I let the motor warm up before driving home (I believe this is nice to all my cars). The motor was plenty warm after 5 min and I went to drive home (3 miles).

On a nice flat road, not pushing it (going about 25mph) my tranny slips. Not real high rpms, but like I said I wasn't pushing it. It would slip for about a second and then kick back in, then 5 secs later it would slip again and then right back in. Because it didn't seem bad, and because of my lack of experience I kept going home nice and easy. As I got closer to home the 5 sec interval slowly gained and was about 15 seconds by the time I got home. I then kept driving for about 5 more min on flat roads and eventually it stopped all together. I haven't been in that cold since, but it's been fine for the past 3 days.

It then dawned on me that I have no idea when the tranny was replaced or the diff fluid was changed so I thought it a good idea to do over my Christmas break ( 2 days )

After some reading, I read that I should remove my dipstick and smell the fluid and look for the original red tint. I have very little experience with tranny fluid and I'm not sure what it's supposed to smell like. So I'm not sure what a burnt smell is supposed to be, but it didn't smell burnt like toast to me. I also can notice a red tint as the light goes through the small holes in the dipstick. I believe it still looks fine but would still like to change the fluid. Any advice on if I'm crazy about this would be good .

Ok, so after some reading I hear flushing your tranny is bad, but that sometimes "flushing" isn't a good word. I had my Grand Am high pressure flushed at a chain store and it's been fine 50k miles later. (Although, I was never asked to sign my tranny away). Anyways, I've found out by reading now, that those chains are junk, too late for whatever was done to my car .

Anyways, I like this idea of "flushing" all the old tranny fluid out by using the actual pump itself and keep running the motor until only new fluid comes out. First I think this seems like a good idea because people say if you just take of the pan and change the filter you miss 4 qts. Although I don't like the idea of cutting and re doing my lines to do the home method. I've asked around town for the best (non chain) local service shop and I'm thinking about asking them if they can do this method. Advice on how to proceed with the tranny.

After more reading I've found that I should be able to easily change the Transfer case, and both diff fluids.

Ok, so I can get the black RTV and already have blue thread locker but I would like some advice on fluid types and additives if needed.

I know that I should be using Merc V fully senthetic in the transfer case and tranny. I also know that I need to use fully senthetic in my differentials as well, but have no idea what weight to use or if I need additives.

Any advice about fluid types would be great and also what to do with my tranny. Also I can order AmsOil, but is another more locally available brand just as good?


Ok, sorry for this very long post and all the questions.

Thanks so very much for all your help.
Davey

 

[DFGasner]

Just an update:

I called around to a couple local places and even Jiffy Lube and Valvaline (ok, you can yell at me) trying to find a place that will do the tranny fluid exchange but not high pressure, and sadly didn't find any. Was I incorrect in thinking that some places will do this, or is that something that people just do on their own?

Also, I looked up prices of Amsoil for both of my Diffs and my transfer case.
Transfer case 2qts of their Mercon LV compatible ATF = $15
Front Diff 3qts of 80W-90 Gear Lube = $21.30
Rear Diff 3qts of 75W-140 EP Lubricant = $35.10
Slip lock gear oil additive for my rear diff = $5.80


What do you guys think of those prices compared to comparable stuff I could buy? Also what do you think of the Tranny flush thing. I can get 11 more qts of that Amsoil ATF for $82.50 and I'm really not sure what a filter will cost, but it's less than the quotes of $230 to do it at a shop with the high pressure flush.

If someone could just give me some advice on the tranny flush and if these are the correct things to buy that would be awesome.

Note, all these prices don't include shipping which I haven't included yet.

Thanks for all the help
Davey

 

[ahodges]

personally idk about the flush. I've heard both ways and when i did mine i just played it safe and drained the pan, cleaned it, and replaced the filter. I was too chicken to do it and I only have 115,000 on my 96, but its the original trany.

and as far as the fluids i only used conventional in my diff, but then like 2 weeks later had to put new axle seals in. I was under the impression that conventional was in it originally but I could be wrong, and probably am.

 

[DFGasner]

Ok, so a little update. After calling around and finding out that even with the flush was going to cost me over $200 to get conventional put in I decided to just do it myself. I will use the run a qt - add a qt method to flush the tranny.

My last question is this, the very first thing I need to do is drop the pan and change the filter, right? Because if I first flush and then drop the filter, I'll loose those 4 or 5 qts of new fluid. So I need to first drop the pan, change the filter, then fill it back up with new fluid, right? Then after it's back up on the dipstick, I'll do the run a qt - add a qt?

Thanks for all of your help.

FYI, I went to Autozone and Advanced Auto today scoping out prices for diff and tranny fluid, and came to the conclusion that buying Mobile 1 from AutoZone on everything was going to be 214 and buying all Amsoil was going to be 213.53 with shipping, so I went that route and will order them tomorrow.

Sorry that I posted so many questions and then answered most myself by reading for many hours on this awesome forum

I'd just like more info on the run a qt - add a qt method of flushing, since that seems to be the best.

Thanks
Davey

 

[DFGasner]

Ok, so I my tranny flush method question still stands but I have another question. I am going to buy Amsoil synthetic 80W-90 gear lube for my front diff because I found this page

http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/spec1998.htm

But then I was browsing around some more and found this forum that talks about using non-synthetic ATF.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259445&highlight=change+differential+fluid

Can someone please try and reassure me that I am right in using 80W-90 Synthetic in my front axle?

Thanks
Davey