Transmission Fluid and Filter Change

[navygse1]

Has anyone done a Tranny Fluid/Filter change on an SHO yet? My wife's '11 will be getting its first soon and would like to get some good feedback. I have wondered which of the two bright silver bolts on the bottom of the trans is for the drain and which is for the? (I have seen a few posts here describing an anchor for reverse lever or parking pawl???)
I assume one is the drain and then the filter is behind the vertical panel facing the radiator...
Thanx!

 

[SHOrod]

If you'd like a PDF copy of the factory service manual information for changing the transmission fluid, send me a Private Message with the request and your e-mail address. I also made a PDF of what's shown for separating the filter from the pump, but there are no steps listed for getting to the filter and the "filter" is not listed in the "in-vehicle repair" section.

-Rod

 

[Retnavy]

Boy! She must be driving the crap out of the car. Scheduled Maintenance Manual doesn't call for a fluid/filter change until the 60K service!

 

[SHO U UP]

Boy! She must be driving the crap out of the car. Scheduled Maintenance Manual doesn't call for a fluid/filter change until the 60K service!

I was thinking the exact same thing. Maybe he's just prepping for it and getting ready to do when it gets closer.

 

[navygse1]

Not her, me! You should see it fly on the Autobahn...love the look of the Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche owners when I dust 'em. But the high speeds for hours are ******* the fluids, just glad it has a cooler on the tranny. Thinking about adding a dual remote filter setup...but that will be later!

 

[Unknown_Driver]

Not her, me! You should see it fly on the Autobahn...love the look of the Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche owners when I dust 'em. But the high speeds for hours are ******* the fluids, just glad it has a cooler on the tranny. Thinking about adding a dual remote filter setup...but that will be later!

how fast have you gotten it on the autobahn?

 

[cthomas286]

I just went to the dealer to get an oil change and they looked it up for me. Ford recommends 150k before you change the transmission fluid. I know I won't wait that long to it though.

 

[navygse1]

I would never wait that long. If you go 150K before changing the fluid and filter, might as well just have a new transaxle put in, it will be toast.
Manufacturer's did studies many years ago (one I saw was from the 80's in conjunction with the ASE) and they discovered that a shockingly large percent of tranny failures could be attributed to improper maintenance (Fluid level too high or low, improper filter installation, gasket leaks, etc...), both from dealer's and DIY'ers. That is why many manufacturers have done away with the dipstick all together. The chances are the tranny will outlast the life of the car and almost certainly the original owner...when the beancounters figure in all these variables....VIOLA!
Anyway, I am a firm believer that the fluid takes the beating and needs to be replaced at regular intervals to keep the tranny healthy. Also, it is important to be aware a fluid and filter change is diluted immediately as the "Old" fluid in the converter, lines, valvebody and cooler (if you are lucky/smart enough to have one) is not changed and as soon as you top off after the change, it is mixed with the old fluid in the system and you still haven't completely accomplished the goal.
Side note: I used to be a MGR for Wynn Oil Co. and they have a pretty good flush unit that does replace all the fluid, but it still does not do anything for the filter, which may or may not need to be changed.
So anywho...you will probably be ok not touching the trans, but I know I drive my wife's SHO to the very limit of the engineering (and probably beyond!) that Ford put into the vehicle and my "oldschool" mentality likes to keep the fluids and filters fresh! (and yes for those of you that might be thinking it, I do know that the dirtier a filter gets the better it filters, but there is a point where the suction diff pressure starves the pump and you could risk implosion of the filter media and we would not want that to happen)

I will try to do a good write up and get some pictures when I finally get to the fluid and filter change, but that will be early to mid next year.

 

[TACAMO]

Are you at Vaihingen? Is Schwaben Brau still there?

 

[navygse1]

Yes and Yes, Schwaben Brau is the main brewery for this corner of BW...although it is amazing how many "micro-breweries" have sprung up and are thriving.

 

[thePUNISHER]

edit....see post below

 

[thePUNISHER]

Has anyone done a Tranny Fluid/Filter change on an SHO yet? My wife's '11 will be getting its first soon and would like to get some good feedback. I have wondered which of the two bright silver bolts on the bottom of the trans is for the drain and which is for the? (I have seen a few posts here describing an anchor for reverse lever or parking pawl???)
I assume one is the drain and then the filter is behind the vertical panel facing the radiator...
Thanx!

there is an 11mm pipe plug in the bottom of the trans. this is the drain. there is no servicable filter. it is inside the sump and the case halves have to be split to change it. it is a lifetime filter. if you removed the trans front cover all you will see is the main control valve body and solenoid frame.

if you just decide to drain it youll be putting 5-6 qts back in.

 

[darreli]

there is an 11mm pipe plug in the bottom of the trans. this is the drain. there is no servicable filter. it is inside the sump and the case halves have to be split to change it. it is a lifetime filter. if you removed the trans front cover all you will see is the main control valve body and solenoid frame.

if you just decide to drain it youll be putting 5-6 qts back in.

Your not by chance the "Punisher" that does 4R100 VB stuff are you??
If so...any chance at this trans???

Also, there are two pipe plugs in the bottom of the trans. Do you by chance know which one of the two is the drain? I was going to change fluid but didnt want to remove the wrong one

 

[thePUNISHER]

Thats me buddy! Not possible for the 6f trannIes though. These tranies do not have mechanical accumulators. They employ variable force solenoids. All shift enhancments are accomplished via tune.

 

[thePUNISHER]

Also lemme double check on the plug thing. I know it does have an 11mm wrench head if that helps.

 

[darreli]

Thats me buddy! Not possible for the 6f trannIes though. These tranies do not have mechanical accumulators. They employ variable force solenoids. All shift enhancments are accomplished via tune.

Thought the coincidence that you were both in CT was a little too much! Thats good info to know, didnt really realize that. Are you planning on ANY upgrades for the 6F?

 

[darreli]

Also lemme double check on the plug thing. I know it does have an 11mm wrench head if that helps.

Thanks! Thought when I looked at it they appeared to be the same size but I'll double check

 

[thePUNISHER]

Thought the coincidence that you were both in CT was a little too much! Thats good info to know, didnt really realize that. Are you planning on ANY upgrades for the 6F?

at this time no...... to be honest im totally impressed with this tranny! ive seen very little failures. .... seems to be a very beefy unit. this forum is a good example. alot of mid /low 12 sec cars at full weight still goin.......just takes a little line pressure. those variable solenoids are amazing. they can exert an extraordinary amount of pressure. 300 psi in some cases....

i have an 09 MKX at the dealer with a broken 6F50 that i will be overhauling tomorrow or friday. i will get back to everyone on the drain plug then.....the overdrive clutch is worn/damaged.....

 

[darreli]

at this time no...... to be honest im totally impressed with this tranny! ive seen very little failures. .... seems to be a very beefy unit. this forum is a good example. alot of mid /low 12 sec cars at full weight still goin.......just takes a little line pressure

i have an 09 MKX at the dealer with a broken 6F50 that i will be overhauling tomorrow or friday. i will get back to everyone on the drain plug then.....the overdrive clutch is worn/damaged.....

Sweet! That'd be great! Yeah...I'm one of those low 12 second cars...the lowest at the time. I like the positive thoughts on the ruggedness since I fear that I might be close on the power level. Any thoughts on the "tuning" part would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[thePUNISHER]

Thanks! Thought when I looked at it they appeared to be the same size but I'll double check

it is the lower most plug. the other plug is a port for checking line pressure