tranny fluid change

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Cruznlife1

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Okay, car just hit 52,000 miles, I'm not the easiest on it, but I dont beat it either. I'm sure it still ahs the original fluid, I climbed under for the hell of it I was SHOCKED to see a drain plug on the trans pan, since thats there I'll just do the job myself. Going to drain the torque converter, the pan, and purge all the lines and cooler with compressed air. the manual says that the trans and empty converter will hold 11.3 quarts of mercon V. I'm going tomorrow to get 12 quarts of mobil 1 atf which is compatible with mercon V, a filter and gasket. I noticed there is no dipstick I havent looked closely but it may be obvious but is there a fill plug ? How do I get the fluid back in the trans, and how do I check the level to make sure it is full ? Any recommendations on what to do with the pan off, and other fluid recommendation besides mobil1? Filter recommendations ? Think autozone will have the filter and gasket ? I've done fluid changes plenty in the past on autos and manuals, etc... This will be the first without a dipstick though.... I'm not currently having any problems this is just preventative maintenance. I'm going to flush the coolant, detail the engine bay, throw in a k&n filter, and a new serpentine belt, and some new plugs and call it done probably for the rest of the time I own the car (hopefully) I might do the valve cover gaskets when I swap the plugs. car runs like a dream so the coils should still be good which should hopefully mean that they're not leaking YET. motor is already running mobil 1 5-20 with a motorcraft filter and frequent changes. Other tranny fluid option is gonna be Royal purple, I'll check the price though. Mobil is 5.20 a quart if royal purple is much more I'm just getting the mobil.
 
That's not a drain plug on the transmission, that's the fill plug. The 5R55N transmission doesn't have a drain plug or a dipstick. You're supposed to check the fluid level by removing the plug. If the fluid is at the top, it's full.

Changing the transmission fluid on the LS is not a straightforward job. If I were you, I'd take the car to the dealer for the transmission fluid change. And I do mean the dealer, not a quickie place like Jiffy Lube.

While its possible to do it yourself, the dealer uses a recirculating pressure fluid exchanger to change the transmission fluid, which makes the job a lot easier and keeps air and contaminants from coming into the transmission. It also gets all the old fluid out along with any manufacturing debris. In addition, I've heard lots of horror stories from other owners who had problems after changing their transmission fluid themselves or by a third party shop -- most of these result from not filling the transmission with enough fluid. Again, the LS transmission is difficult to service, and the dealer has all the printed procedures to handle this job properly. The dealer service is not cheap, but it will definitely prevent headaches later on if you have transmission problems.
 
I haven't done this yet, but it does sound like a procedure that may be more PITA than it is worth, so I may be tempted to take it to the dealer.

If in a drunken mood I do decide to change it myself, I would remove the pan, just like a normal tranny pan. Try not to spill too much fluid, what a mess. Then I would check the contents of the pan for excess debris especially metal chips. I would clean the mating surfaces of the pan and tranny and use a good sealer on the gasket etc, unless it is one of those gasketless pans. Some people prefer not to seal gaskets, but I have had inconsistant results that way.

To fill the tranny is the PITA part. Yes, what looks like a drain plug is the fill port and fluid level check instead of a dipstick. I have read that there is also a fill plug on the side of the tail of the tranny somewhere.

To fill thru the plug, you need a pump and hose to pump fluid up into the tranny. YOu keep filling until it dribbles out. The problem in my mind is that since you need to refill the converter, assuming you can even drain it(don't know if it has a drain plug). Usually to fill a converter you have to keep adding fluid and start the engine for a few seconds etc. Since we don't have a dipstick, this means you have to keep getting under the car to top it up and then check again. This sounds like a headache to me.

I like to change fluid every 30K or so, but with this tranny I am not so sure I want to. However, it appears this tranny is finicky about fluid quality so it should be changed or checked more often I think.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
I was having my oil changed the other day (I do it myself on all my cars, I just haven't on my LSE yet, only second change) and asked the dealer guy what was recommended for the tranny service on the LS. This is a Ford dealer quik lube, he couldn't answer my question. He printed maintenance recommendations for 30k, 60k, 90k & 100k, nothing mentioned. I've got 41k now so I'm not to worried, but would like to know whats right. I to used to do the drain and fill. But since I got my Mark VIII and my F150, I take them to this place every 25k for the t-tech service I think they call it. It is where they hook it up and literally exchange the fluid. Those trannys like that over the old methods. Anyway, what is the right way for the LS?
 
I have the procedure in a word doc if anyone wants it - PM me with your e-mail address.

draining - simple.

re-filling - needs 30PSI and some unique filler nipples.
 
Quik LS said:
I have the procedure in a word doc if anyone wants it - PM me with your e-mail address.

draining - simple.

re-filling - needs 30PSI and some unique filler nipples.
Click to expand...
How often?
 
Quik LS said:
I have the procedure in a word doc if anyone wants it - PM me with your e-mail address.

draining - simple.

re-filling - needs 30PSI and some unique filler nipples.
Click to expand...

Cruznlife1@yahoo.com would be awesome on the worddoc quick, thanks !!!!

theres a plug on the BOTTOM of the trans pan, sure thats not the drain ? And I know about the fluid exchanger they do it through the cooler lines and the filter doesnt get changed.
 
Jim Henderson said:
I haven't done this yet, but it does sound like a procedure that may be more PITA than it is worth, so I may be tempted to take it to the dealer.

If in a drunken mood I do decide to change it myself, I would remove the pan, just like a normal tranny pan. Try not to spill too much fluid, what a mess. Then I would check the contents of the pan for excess debris especially metal chips. I would clean the mating surfaces of the pan and tranny and use a good sealer on the gasket etc, unless it is one of those gasketless pans. Some people prefer not to seal gaskets, but I have had inconsistant results that way.
Click to expand...

The pan is NOT supposed to be removed when changing the tranz fluid on the LS. It is designed as a semi-sealed system, and dropping the pan will compromise this. Look, old style maintenance procedures will not work on this transmission, so forget everything you know about transmission maintenance when servicing the LS.

Do yourself a favor and take it to the dealer to perform this service. Otherwise, you will be creating more problems than you solve.
 
One of the things I sought in the service interval guide was the tranny service, and there isn't one. Not one, period--the transmission isn't even mentioned.

I'll pass along the advice an old transmission guy gave me: if the transmission was regularly serviced, continue servicing it regularly, but if it hasn't, let sleeping dogs lie. He said he's see a bunch of people ignore this advice and have the transmission serviced only to need a tranny rebuild after a few hundred to a few thousand miles.

Aside from disturbing the demons, it either dislodges built-up gunk that clogs passages, or it dislodges the gunk that was causing the tranny to continue working. Either way, it's not good...
 
correct - do not remove the pan

and Yes - the trannie is considered 'sealed' for life - meaning there is not a documented service interval.

however - flushing fluids = good idea @ 60,000k
 
Just saw that doc that quik sent me. Dayum they made this complicated as hell. sheesh. I was tryin to be a "good guy" to the car, I'm not messin with it, I just went over 50K and was doing all the preventative maintenance I can, I wont have the car past 80K ish anyways. So it'll just suck for the next owner, I do still want to do the coolant flush, a new belt and fuel filter this week. and that should be it
 
Quik LS said:
correct - do not remove the pan

and Yes - the trannie is considered 'sealed' for life - meaning there is not a documented service interval.

however - flushing fluids = good idea @ 60,000k
Click to expand...

But don't they sell a filter for this trans? I can't imagine not changing that if you have it serviced. I don't care what Ford says...I just couldn't stand it! Kind of like sitting on the pot and not having any toilet paper!!!
 
I think my 2004 manual says the tranny fluid is Lifetime fluid. I really hate when car manufacturers say that since at least in my experience this has never been true, on plugs, antifreeze, ATF, etc.

I am not in the 3000 mile oil change group, but I do believe in tranny fluid changes, especially on a tranny as touchy as ours.

After reading what some of our other members are saying I am moving more and more to thinking when 50K or even 30K rolls around I am taking it to the dealer to have it done. Much as I like dropping the pan, this one just sounds like a PITA.

I would probably stay away from the quickie lubes since I want to be sure the correct fluid is being recirculated in the tranny. I think I read here or on another site, that the quickie lubes sometimes have a witches brew of fluids in the machine since they service many different brands. I would assume a FLM dealer would only have the correct Mercons in the machine.

Besides, since I do 90% of my own maintenance, I have to have some bone to throw to the dealer to maintain that good relationship, just in case my car ever takes a serious dump right after the warranty runs out.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
Cruznlife1 said:
Just saw that doc that quik sent me. Dayum they made this complicated as hell. sheesh. I was tryin to be a "good guy" to the car, I'm not messin with it, I just went over 50K and was doing all the preventative maintenance I can, I wont have the car past 80K ish anyways. So it'll just suck for the next owner, I do still want to do the coolant flush, a new belt and fuel filter this week. and that should be it
Click to expand...

If it helps, I have a coupon for an automatic transmission flush and fill service from any L-M dealer for $129.95. If you want it, send me a PM with your address and I'll mail it to you. The coupon expires Feb. 26.
 
SoonerLS said:
One of the things I sought in the service interval guide was the tranny service, and there isn't one. Not one, period--the transmission isn't even mentioned.

I'll pass along the advice an old transmission guy gave me: if the transmission was regularly serviced, continue servicing it regularly, but if it hasn't, let sleeping dogs lie. He said he's see a bunch of people ignore this advice and have the transmission serviced only to need a tranny rebuild after a few hundred to a few thousand miles.

Aside from disturbing the demons, it either dislodges built-up gunk that clogs passages, or it dislodges the gunk that was causing the tranny to continue working. Either way, it's not good...
Click to expand...

yep
 
SoonerLS said:
I'll pass along the advice an old transmission guy gave me: if the transmission was regularly serviced, continue servicing it regularly, but if it hasn't, let sleeping dogs lie. He said he's see a bunch of people ignore this advice and have the transmission serviced only to need a tranny rebuild after a few hundred to a few thousand miles.

Aside from disturbing the demons, it either dislodges built-up gunk that clogs passages, or it dislodges the gunk that was causing the tranny to continue working. Either way, it's not good...
Click to expand...
I think that may apply with the old school way of draining/filling. I know that Dodge uses a machine that completely flushes the entire transmission and refills it. Also is able to test for pressure and whatnot. I think Ford also uses a machine to flush the old fluid out, although i dont know if its flushing the entire system or just the pan.
As far as a filter, i have been told that our tranny uses a metal screen that can be cleaned and reused.
 
Jim Henderson said:
I think my 2004 manual says the tranny fluid is Lifetime fluid. I really hate when car manufacturers say that since at least in my experience this has never been true, on plugs, antifreeze, ATF, etc.


I would probably stay away from the quickie lubes since I want to be sure the correct fluid is being recirculated in the tranny. I think I read here or on another site, that the quickie lubes sometimes have a witches brew of fluids in the machine since they service many different brands. I would assume a FLM dealer would only have the correct Mercons in the machine.
Click to expand...
I wonder what their interpretation of "lifetime" means. As one other put it, its lifetime is essentially until it fails, if it lasts 80k miles till failure....then thats its lifetime. I think we as humans look at a "lifetime" in much longer terms.

As far as quick lubes, with my Dodge i ran into a situation. Until recently you could only buy Mopar ATF+4 from an actual dealer. There was no aftermarket place to buy it, so my question was if thats the case then what the hell would a quick lube type place have used? My dad had an Intrepid and had his tranny serviced at a non-dealer and it immediately threw engine codes and ran like crap.
 
"Simple" trans fluid change-

I have a 03 ls v8 and I just hit 66k and I have done all of the work to the car (other than warr work) and I changed the trans fluid for the second time. My manual states that the fluid must be changed every 30k. This is typical old school methodology and I am inclined to heed its warning. the 5R55S is not as indestructible like the C6 of years past. Ford no longer puts drain plugs in torque converters at the end of model year 2001. (my 2001 GM had one but it was a very early 01)

So to "change" my transmission fluid, I first remove the drain plug and drain what I can from the pan and replace the plug. Then I loosen the trans tail stock support and shift it as far back as possible. then remove the pan bolts very carefully and gently remove the pan. NOTE: the reusable pan gasket is aluminum and rubber and prob 50+ so be gentle! When dropping the pan you will drain another 2ish quarts that couldn't drain before. Remove and clean the magnet, clean the pan rail and gasket with mineral spirits and paint brush (to remove all dirt and rust)

Reinstall the pan and tighten pan bolts to 8ft-lbs. Note the total capacity is 11.2 quarts and with doing just this you will change about 6.5 quarts. This is what I do every 25-30k and I do not worry about the fluid in the converter. However I did notice before the change that shifts were becoming firm (aging fluid + cooler weather) so I may not wait another 30k before changing the fluid again.

To fill the trans you can follow the ford procedure -OR- looking at the rear of the trans there is a pipe plug with an allen hex on the END of the trans on the passenger side. simply remove the SMALL CENTER plug in the pan drain plug (youll need a torx bit) and pump in 4-5 quarts and start the car. then slowly top off the trans until fluid begins to dribble out and your full! I know its a pain in the ass but the entire process takes 2ish hours in the garage.

Anyhow- thats how i did it to save a few $$
(dads a former ford mechanic, it helps)
 
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