Have you changed your own fluids

[PSD-BLACK-CLOUD]

I was wondering how many of yall have changed your own trans fluid. I dont feel like paying ford 250 bucks to do it. I am assuming I need to drop the pan, then find the filter and pull it out put the new one in, put a new pan gasket then bolt it all back up. Is this as easy as it sounds? Or is it a pain in the ass. If anyone has any pics it would be nice. I plan on doing it this weekend.

I am hopeing changeing the fluid might help my high temps and bad shifting.

 

[mhop]

um... im sure you can figure it out...

 

[jdgleason]

Its easy.

Drain the fluid with the plug, pull the pan, install new filter (no tools) and button it back up. 15 min. It isnt "flushed" but its changed with new fluid.

 

[dasboot]

I do all my own, seeing that I have a shop where I work to do it. I have done it on another truck in the yard. Drain the fluid if it has a drain plug, if not have something big enought to catch fluid when you drop the pan. Figure out how much you drained and replace. Read your manual so you know how many quarts are suppose to be in it. You are not going to put all back in what the manual says, due to some being left in transsmission and lines. Some of the pan gaskets are reusable.
It's not hard to do. the hardest part is getting started.
check after and fill if needed.

 

[SEABEE08FX4]

I do all my own maintenance, its never been to the dealer or any shop for maintenance except for a radiator swap at 98K but that's not really maintenance.

You don't so much save money as you get to know it was done right, you would be surprised to know how such a simple process get screwed up by your local grease monkey shops.

 

[PSD-BLACK-CLOUD]

If I service it myself and find big problem will they still warenty it? Because I know you have to pay to play and I tuned it so it is my fault but at the same time everone I have talked to said to take it to ford. The trans has been haveing issues and it runs at 180 or better as far as temps go. I thought some fresh fluid might help because the truck has 50 thousand miles now and it hasnt been changed yet.

 

[SEABEE08FX4]

My trans temp doesn't get above 165 much at all but I have a deep pan.

 

[doubledee715]

if the trans has "been having issues" other than the temperature and the trans is still under warranty....then yes I would return it back to stock and take it to the dealer. Don't flush it just drain the pan and refill it, if that helps shifting then hopefully you can avoid going back to stock and going to the dealership.