2004 Ford Truck TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FLITER CHANGE/NOT SH

BKRAEMER

MEMBER
2004 FORD TRUCK
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
85,000 MILES

I bought my 2004ford ranger used in March of 2007. It had 54751 miles on it when I bought it. It now has a little over 85 thounsand miles on it it. The dealer said that the transmission was flushed at 52 thousand miles just before it bought the truck. I have notice since the wether has gotton cold. If I try to drive the truck while it is cold. The transmission does not like to shift. It really esitaits going in to overdrive. I believe the fluid needs to be changed. The dealer recommended a flush verses fliter and fluid change. What do you recommend. If all I do is get it flushed. When should the pan be dropped to change the fliter? I would like to keep the truck has long as possible. I am stilll making payments on it. I do not want to run in to a major repair just before I get it paid off.

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi bkraemer,

Thank you for the donation.

I would recommend a filter and fluid change rather than a flush. Flushing would clear out all the old fluids but it might cause problems later on whereas filter and fuid change would only replace about 60 % of the fluids. Flushing can cause the fluids to too clean and for an old transmission, that might not be a good thing.

Since the last oil change/flush was done at about 40 k miles ago, the fluids should not have deteriorated that badly to require a flushing.

To prolong the life of the transmission, I would recommed a fluid replacement every 30k miles and a filter replacement during alternate fluid changes.