Ford Transmission

For the minimal amount that it would cost, do it for your own piece of mind and continue to enjoy your coach.

this would be about the right time, as I have my E4OD serviced every five years, and for the same reasons.

ct78barnes wrote:
I have a 2011 Ford 22,500 chassie and 25,000 miles on it and was wondering about getting the oil changed. We have a big Ford dealer near by so I would have them do the oil change on the Transmission. After 5 years all towing our 4,500 pound Toad would it be a good idea to have it changed. I think Ford says every 40,000 miles but how about the years it would take me to reach 40,000 or 45,000 miles on the coach. What do you experts have to say . Thanks

Draining and replacing is OK, but don't like flushing and especially with older units, that may have never been done before.
Our last coach had over 90K on it and after quite a few mountain trips, pulling a toad that was a ton too heavy for it, I just drained out the 4 or 5 qts, that I could and replaced that a few times over a month's period of running it.

I am with you on the "flushing", even though that is what most all dealers and "service point's" will do is "flush"...

It is not hard to do it yourself although the tranny holds quite a few quarts, and it can be a little messy on the driveway.
You can get that last quart out by removing the dust pan off the bottom of the tranny, and using a large blade screw driver, turn the transmission fly wheel and the last last quart will come out of the torque converter.
I just don't don't trust dealers...When they pay their employees $7 to $8 dollars an hour, you get what you pay for.........

I agree, nay to the flushing. Go with a drain/refill. If it just takes Dextron go with Dextron VI as it is fantastic fluid. Brand doesn't matter (think walmart supertech) so long as it meets the Dextron VI standards. (note this is 6 (VI) not 4 (IV)). Get a new filter, drain, clean, install filter, replace fluid... See you out there.

I would use a transmission shop before a dealer.
I would have them drop the pan and change the filter.
I would suggest that they blow out the cooler lines.
I service mine closer to 15,000 miles. You should consider using the specifications for severe duty.

If you are going to have it done, tell them to just drop the pan, change the filter and gasket, if necessary. Refill with genuine MOTORCRAFT transmission fluid.

I know this only gets about 50% of the fluid, but with that few miles and time it is not worth the extra effort or cost.


(I have an E150 with the same transmission. 130k and still on the original ATF !)

Going early certainly will not hurt. A few items concerning your transmission.

1. You have a TorqShift 5R110W electronically controlled 5 speed transmission. There are actually 6 forward speeds but it will normally skip 4th gear. For some reason that's how Ford programmed it. The gear ratio difference between 4th and 5th is only .09 which is kind of strange also. 6th is overdrive at .71 to 1
2. For RV applications scheduled change interval is 30,000 miles (listed under exceptions in the back of the scheduled maintenance guide).
3. Liquid capacity is 19 quarts unless the house builder or owners modified the external cooler.
4. Use of Motorcraft Mercon SP XT-6-QSP oil is highly recommended. Substitute at your own risk.
5. There is no torque converter drain. As such the only way to drain it is removal.
6. There are two filters with the F53 configuration. Internal to the transmission and a external mounted on the passenger side frame in the line to the cooler.
7. The transmission has a thermostat just like the engine cooling system. The thermostat opens around 160 degrees so if you decide on a flush it must be a HOT flush.

I do a driveway drain and fill. Of the 19 quart capacity I have only been able to get 12 out using compressed air to blow out the cooler. Considering the 7 quarts I could not remove is mixing with the new I reduced the interval to 20K miles. I also send a sample out for analysis of potential problems. So far at 56K miles all is good.

The most difficult part of a drain & fill is pouring 12 quarts of oil down the small dip stick pipe. One of these days I'll get a pump.

Dale.Traveling wrote:

The most difficult part of a drain & fill is pouring 12 quarts of oil down the small dip stick pipe. One of these days I'll get a pump.

Based on my 4R100, I would agree that this is an annoyance. Trying to suss out the level using the dipstick after pouring a few gallons down the long little tube is also rather a difficulty.

Dale is correct, 30,000 mile change. I had an 09' 5R110W, mine did not have an external filter. I believe it was eliminated the year before. Recommended change is just drain and refill. Replace the internal filter at 100,000 miles and use the Ford recommended trans fluid. Its not too expensive and way cheaper than a rebuild.