Transmission Fluid Change - Should I or wait?

[Suprawill1]

Or do a double drain fill after driving around a bit in between if you like doing it yourself.


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That kind of confuses me. If you drain and fill, drive around and repeat, how do you know you're not dumping the half you just put in?

 

[Cruising68]

Technically you dump half of what you put in yes but it mixes with the old fluid. You change 50% then drive around and do another change of 50% gets you almost 70% fluid change. Yes a transfer service gets near 100%. For those of us that maintain our own vehicles and don’t like needlessly shelling out money, this is more than adequate imo. I change every 25k so I’ve pretty much got fresh fluid all the time.

 

[Suprawill1]

Technically you dump half of what you put in yes but it mixes with the old fluid. You change 50% then drive around and do another change of 50% gets you almost 70% fluid change. Yes a transfer service gets near 100%. For those of us that maintain our own vehicles and don’t like needlessly shelling out money, this is more than adequate imo. I change every 25k so I’ve pretty much got fresh fluid all the time.

Wish I had your diggs man! Got the tools and know how but no lift or appropriate area. I don't like needlessly shelling out that kind of money either. :-o

 

[Cruising68]

Wish I had your diggs man! Got the tools and know how but no lift or appropriate area. I don't like needlessly shelling out that kind of money either. :-o

Makes car life a lot easier for sure. I got tired of working on my back in the driveway as a youngster so I bought a tool company later in life. Good thing too, the older I get the harder it is to crawl around. Heck my hands are sore for two days sometimes after a day of playing mechanic.


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[Suprawill1]

Makes car life a lot easier for sure. I got tired of working on my back in the driveway as a youngster so I bought a tool company later in life. Good thing too, the older I get the harder it is to crawl around. Heck my hands are sore for two days sometimes after a day of playing mechanic.


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I guess your next purchase would be a private, in home mechanic! (nodding head)

 

[irontmp]

Mine was replaced at about 21000km (13,000ish mi) because the pan gasket was leaking; then I replaced all driveline fluids at about 50,000km (31,000ish mi), then again at 108,000km (67,000ish mi), so far no problems with any of the driveline housings. No harm in replacing fluids early/often - I saw enough examples over a number of years servicing cars what happens to fluids and vehicles that follow the “lifetime fill” schedule or some of the overly long manufacturer drain intervals Car maintenance…more than enough evidence for me to prefer to OVER-service rather than UNDER-service, and I have yet to blow an engine, transmission, or an axle on any car of mine by following my own schedule.

Yes, you should change the transmission fluid at 50k miles. The Explorer ST’s 10-speed transmission is known to develop issues over time, and fresh fluid can help prevent problems before they start. Waiting until symptoms appear is risky and could lead to costly repairs. Cost at a dealership is usually $300–$500, while independent shops may charge $200–$350. DIY can be done for under $150. Benefits include smoother shifting, reduced wear, and added reliability. Given the ST’s track record, it’s smart preventative maintenance.