RE Servicing the Transmission.....When?

[RJG]

We have a 2012 Limited Edge that's now 6 years old.....has 55,000 miles on it. Has been a great car. Not one trip to the dealership for a problem. There are no service intervals mentioned for the transmission. Or maybe at 150,000. Do you folks think since our Edge is now 6 years old I should at least replace what fluid will drain out. With no dip sick, do you have to do a total flush? Thanks

[akirby]

60K is about the maximum that most folks recommend. Some (including a former Ford tranny engineer) say 30k. I’d just let the dealer do a fluid replacement. Gets over 95% using the cooler lines.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

x2 on ^^^ Never too soon to service, can always be too late. Banish the word FLUSH, introduce the words FLUID EXCHANGE. FLUSH implies pushing fluid in the opposite direction of normal flow, and it is done after first removing the transmission filter. In these transmissions, there is no serviceable filter. There is a screen that you have to crack the trans case open to access.

 

As with any fluids, it is time OR mileage. People get hung up on the mileage as service intervals, but fluids age just sitting there. That goes for engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, etc etc etc.

[todd92]

Ford says 150,000 miles in the Owner's Manual (with no time interval), but what do they know? I'm sure their goal in stating such an obviously too long maintenance interval is the premature failure of your vehicle in order to sell you another one and concurrently ruin their durability reputation with consumers.

 

60,000 miles is over maintaining and 30,000 miles is ridiculous.

[akirby]

So you know more about transmissions than an actual transmission engineer?

 

Normally I side with the mfr on maintenance intervals but they also said the PTU fluid doesn’t need to be changed either.

[1004ron]

Ford says 150,000 miles in the Owner's Manual (with no time interval), but what do they know? I'm sure their goal in stating such an obviously too long maintenance interval is the premature failure of your vehicle in order to sell you another one and concurrently ruin their durability reputation with consumers.

 

60,000 miles is over maintaining and 30,000 miles is ridiculous.

Do you apply the same logic to the PTU?

[enigma-2]

There are no service intervals mentioned for the transmission. Or maybe at 150,000.

According to the owners manual it's 150,000 miles or 30,000 if you tow a trailer or carry a load on the roof.

 

I agree with akirby's post, at 60,000 intervals (30,000 if you use the car for towing). Also change the coolant (more important than transmission) and don't forget brake fluid & PTU fluid (if equipped). Of all the fluids, coolant is the most important.

[todd92]

I don't know what to say about the PTU. Some people are obviously having a serious issue. But there are millions of Ford vehicles with this design on the road and most make it long term with no PTU issues. I'm inclined to change it once at 30,000 miles and install a 100% ester based oil.

 

I don't know of any similar situation with the transmission which might indicate the need for an early service.

[enigma-2]

I don't know what to say about the PTU. Some people are obviously having a serious issue. But there are millions of Ford vehicles with this design on the road and most make it long term with no PTU issues. I'm inclined to change it once at 30,000 miles and install a 100% ester based oil.

 

I don't know of any similar situation with the transmission which might indicate the need for an early service.

The 30k service is in the owners manual under severe service. I wouldnt consider any other fluids other than Motorcraft. It's folly to think that Ford wouldn't know best as what to use.

[freebird]

Castrol Transmax is a licensed product to use in your Mercron LV application. I normally pick it up in the $5/qt range when on sale.

[akirby]

My tranny engineer buddy considered almost all driving to be “severe duty” from the transmission’s point of view. I’m sure he was being overcautious but I figure he knows a lot more about it than most people.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

The wear process cannot be stopped no matter the maintenance regimen. But you CAN reduce it to virtually nil by being a little OCD about it. These days, it is the electrical sensors that go out first rather than the actual mechanicals where transmissions are concerned. Putting in new parts can be expensive if you are not a DIY type person. I think with proper care, the transmissions can last a long, long, long time. But you have to be aware of the need first.

[RJG]

My vehicle see normal use. Does not have the tow package, but does have a 2" receiver hitch for use with a bike rack. What does a "fluid replace service" for the transmission usually run at a dealership?

 

As I mentioned above.....our 6 year old garage kept 2012 Limited Edge now has 55,000 miles on it. Drives perfectly smooth. No problems of any kind, except for the SD chips that came in the mail early on. The original tires still look good, not down to wear bars even, but thought I would put new probably Michelin tires on it soon. However....being garage kept, with little sunlight exposure on sidewalls, dealership says tires still fine and safe....but would feel better in rain with deeper tread. Had alignment at about 20,000, will do another with new tires. Just thought I would spend a couple thousand dollars on it....tires, alignment, trans service, coolant, engine service, cabin filter (was changed at 30,000), updated Nav chip, etc....and get it ready for another 55,000 miles. This has been a great car. I can do all this for about the sales tax on a new one.

[akirby]

Last I heard fluid swaps were around $180.

[macbwt]

I change my transmission fluid about every six months or so.

[chefduane]

I go 30k intervals on my ATF, 20k intervals on my PTU, and a 50k interval on my RDU. Works for me and its really not that hard to do, although I do have my shop do the 'suck and fill' on the PTU. All Motorcraft fluids except on the oil, I use Mobil-1.

[akirby]

I change my transmission fluid about every six months or so.

So - right about 60K miles?

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

LOL, 30K.

[evh]

I don't think you ever have to change it according to this guy.....

 

So I am listening to a national car repair radio talk show. One I think quite highly of. A guy calls in about his 2004? Chevy? or GMC? pickup that he has owned since new regarding a noise in the engine (cam, lifters, rollers, something, doesn't matter). He goes on to add that it has 540,000 miles and also adds that it has the factory original transmission fluid - never changed. 540,000 mile on a truck and the fluid has never been changed???

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Just getting broken in LOL

[evh]

Id like to send that off to Blackstone Labs...

[akirby]

Maybe instead of changing fluid he just changes transmissions every 100K miles. It is a Chevy after all.....

 

(Im joking here. GM actually makes some of the better transmissions)

Edited January 25, 2018 by akirby

[omar302]

I don't think you ever have to change it according to this guy.....

 

So I am listening to a national car repair radio talk show. One I think quite highly of. A guy calls in about his 2004? Chevy? or GMC? pickup that he has owned since new regarding a noise in the engine (cam, lifters, rollers, something, doesn't matter). He goes on to add that it has 540,000 miles and also adds that it has the factory original transmission fluid - never changed. 540,000 mile on a truck and the fluid has never been changed???

 

Chevy should hire him for one of their ads, "Real People, not actors"...

[RJG]

Maybe instead of changing fluid he just changes transmissions every 100K miles. It is a Chevy after all.....

 

(Im joking here. GM actually makes some of the better transmissions)

 

Don't both transmissions....Ford and GM......come out of the same joint Ford-GM transmission plant? And I imagine they sell to some other brands also.....although none will admit that. And we had a 2005 Mercury Montego FWD that had a 6 speed Aisin transmission.....a company mostly owned by Toyota. Nice transmission....a 6 speed auto with a dip stick.

Edited January 25, 2018 by RJG

[akirby]

 

Don't both transmissions....Ford and GM......come out of the same joint Ford-GM transmission plant? And I imagine they sell to some other brands also.....although none will admit that. And we had a 2005 Mercury Montego FWD that had a 6 speed Aisin transmission.....a company mostly owned by Toyota. Nice transmission....a 6 speed auto with a dip stick.

 

There is no Ford-GM transmission plant. They only cooperated on the initial design - each company manufactures their own version of each. In fact Ford decided to go with a 8 speed FWD tranny while GM stayed with the 9 speed. Same for the older 6F trannies and the new 10 speed RWD tranny. There are a lot of differences and they are manufactured separately.

 

Ford used Aisins in some of the Fusion and Five Hundred and associated Lincoln/Mercury models but they also used Mazdas and the jointly developed 6F.

 

GM has supplied transmissions to BMW in the past - for the old 7 series I believe. Their version of the 6F had similar issues as Ford's version and I think their 9 speed FWD has also had some early issues. I think the 10 speed has been good for both mfrs.