2002 Ford E350 V10 Transmission Fluid

[fourthclassC]

Howdy, looking for recommendations here. About to do my first transmission fluid change. Looking for recommendations on fluid. synthetic or old style? thanks for anything. Planning to drop the pan so I can change out the filter. NOt sure about draining the converter. If it has a plug great. If not I think I may leave it and just live with the pan hold up volume change. I am concerned about pumping it out although I have heard others use that method successfully. Thanks ahead for any replies.

[fourthclassC]

OP here. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. One thing I am not going to do is have the transmission flushed. I believe this is not necessary and can cause issues that did not exixt. displacing sludge, causing shifting issues and possilble leaks.......

[agesilaus]

Ford is recommending a transmission flush, is this just a money making scheme for their maintenance shops and is just changing the fluid and filter enough?

[kellem]

Just drop the pan and replace filter then add the the lost fluid.....it's extremely messy if no drain plug.

You may also have a magnet in the pan, clean it.

Little trick for the TC, use a foil pie plate when draining and punch a hole in it where you want it to come out or enjoy the waterfall.

[ACZL]

Dino VS synthetic........go w/ the synthetic as long as it meets the specs for your year trans.

[dodge_guy]

My 02 V-10 Excursion used Mercon V. Merc V replaced the previous fluid for it. the Torque converter is supposed to have a drain plug that is accessed from a hole in the bottom of the bell housing. I never found a drain plug in my TC. I changed my fluid every 25k miles. at 50k and 100k miles it got a new filter. the gasket is reusable. there is a drain plug in the pan. with a filter change only it should be around 7 qts of fluid!
I would run noting other than Motorcraft Merc V.

[time2roll]

I use Mobil 1 synthetic. Last year for TC drain plug I believe was 2001. Worth a look.

[dedmiston]

Moved from Tech Issues.

[DrewE]

I think the Ford transmissions of that era have a drain plug on the torque converter. I know for certain that mine, a few years older, does have said plug. It usually takes a few blips of the starter to get the plug lined up with the access port.

[RLS7201]

Your transmission came from the factory with MERCON V synthetic fluid. Use the same or equivalent fluid from other manufactures, such as Valvoline MaxLife.

Richard

[Tyler0215]

Your owners manual will tell you what fluid to use.