Tranny question August 12, 2014, 09:49:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147928I have a 1991 RB FORD 460 ci with the A40D tranny. It has 116k miles on the drive train. I have driven it 30k w/o doing any servicing of the tranny. I don't have any records of any service being done on it prior to my purchase. I called a vey reputable trans shop and was told " if the fluid is red in color, doesn't smell burnt and the gears aren't slipping, leave it alone. You could do more damage than good by disturbing what's there." Anybody out there with a different opinion/experience? Dale from Downey.
Re: Tranny question Reply #1 – August 13, 2014, 01:59:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 147933Dale If the trans has 116,000 miles and still runs fine, assume it was properly maintained. You should do the same and follow whatever the Ford's Owners Manual indicates. I believe it calls for an oil and filter change every 30,000 miles. The Owners Manual should be considered the bible when it come to maintaining the chassis.Larry
Re: Tranny question Reply #2 – August 13, 2014, 10:47:35 am Yahoo Message Number: 147937I've looked in the maintenance schedule of the owners manual and there is no reference to changing tranny fluid. Dale from Downey.
Re: Tranny question Reply #3 – August 13, 2014, 11:17:03 am Yahoo Message Number: 147939I had a 1990 RB that is now my son's. I now have an 04 MB. A couple of years ago I asked an experienced transmission guy what, if anything I should do with respect to transmission servicing for the 1990. He said keep up with the fluid level and watch for leaks otherwise, leave it alone until there is a problem. He said old "seated" parts, bands, etc. don't always work well with new parts. When it is time, a rebuild is usually a better bet than an attempt to make repairs.Jim, NC
Re: Tranny question Reply #4 – August 13, 2014, 12:18:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147941Thanks Jim, That's what I was told. How many miles on the '90 and has your son had to rebuild it yet? Dale from Downey.
Tranny question Reply #5 – August 13, 2014, 01:07:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147943A friend who is a Ford shop supervisor told me that if the transmission required non-synthetic fluid (older models) then the fluid should be totally flushed every 30K miles including a filter cleaning or replacement. The newer model Ford transmissions specify a synthetic fluid but the flush/filter replace period doubles (every 60K miles). Also, most importantly when filling a COLD transmission, the fluid level should only touch the bottom of the dipstick ( with engine running). Over filling can cause damage to the pump and torque converter. Mike
Re: Tranny question Reply #6 – August 13, 2014, 01:32:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147944Dale Checking Ford's owners site shows maintenance schedules back to 1996. The 1996 SuperDuty had the same transmission as your 1991. Ford's calls for transmission service every 30,000 miles. Remember that Ford would like the trans to last while a transmission shop wants it to fail, your choice Personally, I trust ford's recommendations over any transmission shop owner. At LAX, in Fleet Maintenance, we followed the recommended schedules to the letter and had few failures of engines or transmissions. We also have over 100 ford trucks and van on the fleet plus even more passenger cars. The Factory knows best. Larry
Re: Tranny question Reply #7 – August 13, 2014, 02:21:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147946DaleChecking Ford's owners site shows maintenance schedules back to 1996. The 1996 SuperDuty had the same transmission as your 1991. Ford's calls for transmission service every 30,000 miles. Remember that Ford would like the trans to last while a transmission shop wants it to fail, your choicePersonally, I trust ford's recommendations over any transmission shop owner. At LAX, in Fleet Maintenance, we followed the recommended schedules to the letter and had few failures of engines or transmissions. We also have over 100 ford trucks and van on the fleet plus even more passenger cars. The Factory knows best. LarryThe Ford powertrain warrany at this time is 60 months or 60,000 miles. Under no conditions do they want the drive train to fail. They will have to replace it for FREE. So they tell you 30,000 mile mantance is needed. They now have you to ways. The get paid to do the mantaince and if it were to fail and you can not show you did the mantaince (even you did it) you pay for the repairsBy law they can not say who is to do the work.
Re: Tranny question Reply #8 – August 13, 2014, 08:16:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147960The 1990 LD's original owner put very few miles on it. My family has put around 15,000 on it and it still has less than 50,000, not a real test of the transmission. I checked on the service needs out of concern for it's age more than anything. Vehicles that are not used need attention after awhile. We have had no issues with the transmission. We did have to replace front brake calipers.Jim, NC