[gnewby]

I have a 2016 F 150 super crew cab with the 2.7 engine and the tow package. I am getting close to having 30,000 miles on it. I received a message in the mail showing I was coming up on the 30,000 maintenance. I have been looking through my manual to see what all is involved, I know I will be getting my oil and oil filter changed and tires rotated. I also see that it recommends having the air cleaner filter changed then.

I see something that I am not sure about in the owners manual and that is about changing the transmission fluid. I do tow our camper with my pickup quite a bit although it only weighs in around 5,000 lbs. Is changing the transmission fluid a requirement at 30,000 miles, or does the oil change minder on the dash tell you when transmission fluid change is needed?

If it is required at 30,000 miles how many of you are having it changed then?

 

[A/Ox4]

The oil change minder does not track the transmission fluid. I have looked at the maintenance schedule and I don't recall it saying do a transmission drain and fill at 30,000, that seems awfully premature, but I could be wrong.

If it says 30k, I'd do it. But I would guess 50k or 100k would be more normal.

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[Bamaman]

You might consider changing the fluid at 60,000 miles unless you're towing exceptionally heavy loads many miles or towing in mountains.

I spend $150 on a TruCool tranny cooler, and it was the best tranny insurance money ever spent. Last time I changed my F250 tranny fluid, it was red and had no bad smell whatsoever.

 

[Willshire]

30,000 seems kinda soon for transmission fluid change. I can see if you were towing all the time up to the maximum or off-roading all the time but, most fluid changes for pavement runners, are in the 80-100 range. Ah crap, miles not kilometres. Make that “usually 50-60k miles” depending on use. Towing a 5000lb trailer doesn’t seem like it works the transmission that hard. Could always pull the dipstick and check colour and smell.


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[gnewby]

I didn't think the info regarding the transmission oil change was written real clear and I didn't think it should be needed with so few miles on the pickup. Mine does have the tow package on it. I will probably be changing the air filter prior to it going in for service and let them chg. motor oil & filter, rotate tires & inspect my truck. I changed the cabin air filter a few months back.

 

[EcoXLT]

I did mine at 45k. Never towed. To me the fluid was dark. Not much of red tint at all. I’m just glad the factory filter is out and nice clean one is back in. It doesn’t hurt anything but the wallet to over maintenance your truck. And your truck will like it too.

 

[WooBoost]

So many threads on this. If you plan on keeping the truck a while, change the pan fluid every 30k. You can only get 6 to 7 quarts out of the pan, there is a lot more fluid than that in the trans, so it is not completely new fluid with a change.

 

[snakebitten]

I'm pretty sure if you read FORDS recommendation, you'll be shocked.

On my 2012, they recommend service at 150,000 miles, I believe.

On my 16 (now my nephews) and 18, I believe it is just as silly and ignorable.

Although I do believe they are all fantastic transmissions compared to those of yesterdecades.

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[gnewby]

I think I will be fine, I went back and looked again at the manual and it showed what I was seeing in it as an example, but as far as regular maintenance I did not see it in the 30,000 mile procedure.

 

[WooBoost]

I think I will be fine, I went back and looked again at the manual and it showed what I was seeing in it as an example, but as far as regular maintenance I did not see it in the 30,000 mile procedure.

It says lifetime fill, so it ****s out and then they have you buy a new truck. These transmissions are shifting by individual shift solenoids. Particles from the clutch material can stick to them if the magnet is full. Again, if you plan on keeping the truck, drop the pan, clean the magnet and filter and move on.

 

[2016XLT4x4]

My 2016 is at 90K and I've yet to change mine. I pull an 8000lb toyhauler.
I inquired at my local dealer and they said they do not drop the pan to change the filter. They only do a fluid exchange. I'm not real happy with that answer but I may just pay them for the fluid exchange as I really don't want to mess with it myself.

 

[B52U]

My 2016 is at 90K and I've yet to change mine. I pull an 8000lb toyhauler.
I inquired at my local dealer and they said they do not drop the pan to change the filter. They only do a fluid exchange. I'm not real happy with that answer but I may just pay them for the fluid exchange as I really don't want to mess with it myself.

I have noticed several repair businesses follow this practice. I would love to know the real reason why they are unwilling to drop pans and prefer the fluid exchange machines. When I inquired about it at one place for my wife's van they said if the pan isn't leaking they prefer to not open it up. Maybe they don't want the liability of causing a leak.

 

[Willshire]

Hydraulic fluid has a lot longer lifespan than lubricating fluid. Tuning firmer shifts also extends the life of a transmission fluid since it reduces the amount of clutch material that ends up in the oil.


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[BobRoss]

I have noticed several repair businesses follow this practice. I would love to know the real reason why they are unwilling to drop pans and prefer the fluid exchange machines. When I inquired about it at one place for my wife's van they said if the pan isn't leaking they prefer to not open it up. Maybe they don't want the liability of causing a leak.

I am sure the reasoning being that Ford designed the size of the filter to never actually plug during a typical vehicles lifetime. I don't think ATF really gets as dirty as one would think it does. It doesn't have near the same lifestyle as engine oil.

 

[Tim_M]

I have a 2016 3.5 Eco SCrew and just had my fluid changed at 70k. Shifts like a completely different truck now. I had a full fluid/ filter change using Amsoil trans fluid and factory Ford filter.


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[WooBoost]

the LV based fluid in these transmissions actually get brown/dirty looking but doesn't mean it is bad...unless you test it.

The fluid only really breaks down if you get the trans super hot. The fluid change is primarily to get the shavings out of it and you get some fresh fluid in it being you are only changing a small percentage of the over all amount as I stated earlier.

Dropping the pan is easily, you just need a big catch bin when the fluid goes everywhere. The 6r80, like the 4r70, uses a nice metal gasket that is REUSABLE so you dont have to worry about that at all, just clean it up and the trans pan bolts you just need turned down with a normal wrench, no exact torque spec and stuff. Just go around the pan in a star pattern. The only thing to be cautious about, is use a lint free rag when cleaning the inside of the pan out and don't pull the pan off in an area where dust and debris can blow into it.

 

[Drew3419]

I have a 2016 3.5 Eco SCrew and just had my fluid changed at 70k. Shifts like a completely different truck now. I had a full fluid/ filter change using Amsoil trans fluid and factory Ford filter.


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What changes did you notice?

 

[Warthog5]

My 2016 is at 90K and I've yet to change mine. I pull an 8000lb toyhauler.
I inquired at my local dealer and they said they do not drop the pan to change the filter. They only do a fluid exchange. I'm not real happy with that answer but I may just pay them for the fluid exchange as I really don't want to mess with it myself.

Yep.... Standard practice.......Unless you ask and are willing to pay like I did.

At 30,000 mi I had them do the flush and clean with BG cleaner........Then drop the pan.....change the filter and refill trans. $730 @ Lincoln dealer in Pensacola,Fl. I will not let the Ford dealer touch it.

I know 2 of the line mechanics @ the Lincoln dealer. Donny said....You did it right....Break it in and get ALL the crap out of it.



How much ya think a 6 speed is to Rebuild?

 

[Tim_M]

I noticed that it takes far far longer for the trans to get to operating temp and shifts are crisper. Doesn’t seem to be lazy like it was before the fluid change. The shop I had do the work did tell me that the pan was spotless and had no shavings or material in it.

I am the 2nd owner of my truck but I do know that the first towed a boat with it. No idea weight of the boat though.


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[Bratman2]

May not be the same today. I remember reading in a Popular Mechanics 3 decades or so ago that something like 70% of transmission failures are due to fluid break down. To me fluid is cheap compared to a transmission. I plan to keep my 18 a long time. I will do 30k changes regardless of towing or not. I'll just do them myself!