High mileage ATF for high mileage auto??

[Ramblin Fever]

Is there a need?

Found Maxlife ATF Dextron III for higher mileage transmissions, and just wondering if anyone else is using it, or if it's a good idea?

Says it's good for seals/gaskets, etc of higher mileage transmissions.

[surferfletch]

I'm sticking with the stuff that got me to 150+K...Advance DexronIII. We only have low to moderate mileage on our trannies, Ramblin'!

[rodeo02]

Maxlife works awesome in my 2001 windstar AX4N (crapola) transaxle. I tried it a few months back since it was the only ATF my local NAPA had on the shelf that also met the ford mercon V spec. Good stuff. FWIW, I just did a flush thu the cooler line on the 4L60E in our TB. Used napa brand 'premium performance ATF' that meets the dexron III G spec. Seems like good stuff too.

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by surferfletch

I'm sticking with the stuff that got me to 150+K...Advance DexronIII. We only have low to moderate mileage on our trannies, Ramblin'!

Low to moderate, huh?? COOL - works for me! The way everyone rains on this 4L30-E transmission, I figured mine was in the latter stages of life.

HOPEFULLY NOT!!

Ok, where do I get Advance Dexron III - guessing Advance Auto?

Premium performance is suitable as well I take it?

[surferfletch]

Advance Discount Auto Parts. Thought you'd have it done by now!!

[Ramblin Fever]

ok, well, just want to rant - might want to cover your ears.

I HATE THIS TRANSMISSION SET-UP!!!!

Just HAD to get that off my chest.

Me and my paranoid self just can't seem to call it good, hopefully you can.

Here's the scoop, 1st thing I thought to just check the level, as new gasket and filter, with fluid were installed only 5k miles back - gasket has weeped/peed obsessively since.

Anyway, came home from work on a 90+ degree day, parked the truck for 30min, then went back out and allowed it to idle for 3-4 minutes while shifting through all the gears several times. We live on a hill, so I got the truck as level as possible, but not 100%, I pulled the fill plug (truck idling in neutral) and the force of fluid knocked the bolt out of my hand, it just came out gushing like niagra falls.

I FREAKED out, did a 90 degree turn on the ground to swipe up the bolt, and shoved it in, ran around (passanger door was locked - figures ) and shut the engine off, heart was racing 90 miles a minute and looked down and swore that the tranny just dumped everything.

Driveway looked like I'd just killed someone (insert Ramblin Fever here), all I could think of was, crap, did I burn up the transmission?

Got back under the truck to insert the bolt correctly, by this time, fluid slowed to a trickle, even though the engine was off. Restarted the truck, shifted through all the gears, took bolt out again and just a slight trickle.

Ran my hands through my hair - now I REALLY looked like I'd killed someone, called it for the time being and went inside for dinner. At the table, I kept remembering what I'd read over and over - if it's overfilled it WILL gush out, right level and it will trickle.

So I told myself to quit fretting, that the level should be right on.

20-30 minutes later, came back out, moved all the garage hoggable objects, i.e. lawn mower, lawn tractor, etc and pulled the Rodeo in. Again, I let it run for 3-4 minutes, cringing at the thought that it may be low on fluid. Ran through all the gears, stuck it in neutral, idling, and pulled the fill plug, nothing but a slight trickle.

Called it good - but I swear it seemed to have dumped a lot.

What's your opinion? And, say the fluid got hot with all the idling, would it cause the level to be excessively high enough to blow out like that?

FWIW - per your earlier comments along with other people, dropping the tranny pan should only cause you to fill back up just under 4 qts. Well, my mechanic put in (at least according to his paperwork) 5 qts - wonder if this is why my gasket's been leaking.

Next vehicle WILL have a tranny dipstick, this is hogwash!!

[surferfletch]

It's OK!!! I have never overfilled. It's impossible with the setup and the way I refill. It just starts running out when it's full. HOWEVER, every time I check the level after, whether it's a couple of days to do another drain/fill or at 15K to drop the pan, it comes pouring out initially. No harm done.

[Ramblin Fever]

ok, so even though it "seems" like I dropped a lot and didn't put any back in, it should be ok?

Doesn't this cause a low fluid situation?

[surferfletch]

You would think so. I don't know how to splain it. The first time it happened to me, I tried to get some more in there, but it just ran out. So....if it's running out, it's full. Did the fluid look clean after 5K?

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeah, it was a good red color. I've been doing a lot of in town driving with this truck, more then it's used to, so, I might change out some in another few thousand or so.

Thank you for all your help; btw, it drove just the same today, nice and smooth, didn't feel like it downshifted as soon as it should though in getting on the highway, but I think that's paranoia kicking in.

[rodeo02]

Ramblin, you are good to go. There is NO neat/clean procedure to checking level, filling or draining these trans. You need a huge drip catch pan for any of them. You are supposed to fill the trans until ATF starts to dribble out, so you will have some spillage on a level check. If you shut the truck off with the fill plug out, you will lose more than you should. I would go thu another level check procedure just to verify proper level.

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

I kind of jarred the fill-plug in just before shutting off the truck, only allowing a few drips, I think.

We did recheck the level twice about 20-30 minutes later on a total flat surface after idling for about 3-4 minutes. Kind of freaked right now to do it again so soon - gotta recoup Kidding!

I will recheck again this weekend, have driven the truck 40 miles so far and not seeing any issues that would state the level to be low, so hopefully we got it.

[Ramblin Fever]

ok, ok, since only partial amount of fluid was changed 5k miles ago - (with filter & pan drop) and before that ALL of it was changed but that was 36k miles before the 5k miles ago - SOOO, I think I'll do another partial drain/refill this weekend, and then another in 6-7k miles when the oil's due.

After that, should I be able to call it good for a while, say at least 10k? How often are you doing partial drains?

[marcre]

I did a partial drain a little over a year ago. I have no idea if the previous owner did anything in the past. I doubt it though. I may do it again soon. I think it isn't necessary to replace tranny fluid all the time. At least I hope it isn't. I may have the pan dropped and filter changed too. Not sure yet though.

marc

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by marcre

I think it isn't necessary to replace tranny fluid all the time. At least I hope it isn't. I may have the pan dropped and filter changed too. Not sure yet though.

marc

On these transmissions, the 4L30-E the more servicing, i.e. cleaner fluid, the longer they'll last. It IS important on this model for long service life. Just about every post I've seen of less then or right at 100k mile failure is of those who only serviced once or twice, or not at all.

DO drop the transmission and clean the pan, replace filter to, if you're over 60k and it's never been changed - it makes a BIG difference in smoothness. I've only replaced the filter twice in the 156k I now have, but the fluid's been changed about every 30-35k per a flush, as of 152k I've decided I will NEVER flush an automatic again.

I haven't had any actual transmission issues, in fact, it's smoother then newer Rodeo's I've test driven - I do however have a small, very annoying leak at the shift arm above the range mode sensor. This seal is attached to wiring of the shift arm and is a $200 part along with about $200 in labor.

I do feel that all the flushes I have had played a part in weakening that seal; course it could be age related too - truck IS 9yrs old, I keep forgetting that part.