Transmission Service

[JWeigel]

When reading on most all Ford 10 speed transmissions, the fluid level check is a very dialed in process. Someone who has the Ford Official Info, can you share the temperature the fluid needs to be when checking the level? I am at 20K on my 2024 RR. I am thinking about dropping the pan and changing out the 6-7 quarts and installing a new filter now that most all the break in wear should done.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

jjw
ND

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[MasterCylinder]

When reading on most all Ford 10 speed transmissions, the fluid level check is a very dialed in process. Someone who has the Ford Official Info, can you share the temperature the fluid needs to be when checking the level? I am at 20K on my 2024 RR. I am thinking about dropping the pan and changing out the 6-7 quarts and installing a new filter now that most all the break in wear should done.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

jjw
ND

See my post. Under hood transmission dip stick. I posted it right out of the service manual.

 

[Scooter]

How about the transfer case.

Purchase a tranny pan with a drain plug. Some will be deeper holding more fluid.
If a new pan is going to be put on, much easier to carefully drill hole in plastic pan and let drain.\

The Raptor might have an exhaust pipe in the way which generally boils down to a mess with the fluid unless you pump it out through the fill port. I'd probably take it to the dealer just to prevent the mess in my garage!

You are way ahead of the tranny oil change interval.
No harm in changing it.

Looking on this site. Written
As a retired Ford tech and with a similar desire to keep transmissions going for a long time, 50k should not be exceed in a modern transmission. Being solenoid shift with mini filter screens and very close tolerances in the valve body you don't want to wait too long. The first change at 30k, once the break-in particulate is complete isn't unreasonable. Then do the fluid and filter at around 100k.

Service intervals are written by Ford corporate where the main idea isn't longevity, they just need to get it out of the warranty period. Their goal is to show the EPA and government climate watchdogs how little waste there is and low cost of maintenance. Even dealerships will knowingly deviate from these intervals knowing it is not the best for their customers. Whenever in doubt, follow the severe duty intervals regardless how you drive , that is what's best for your vehicle.

Same idea with a Tranny with life time oil. Appeasing EPA and government.

One of the good things about an after market pan is it has a Dovetail style O ring groove over the OEM gasket.

The add on temperature sensor would be a good mod.

Ford Ranger 2.7L & Raptor 3.0L Aluminum Transmission Pan, fits Ford 10R60/10R80 Transmissions 2024+

 

[JWeigel]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I have access to a hoist so that helps. The biggest challenge is getting the fluid up to 200 degrees. I don’t think I have ever seen that high, even in the summer pulling our boat. Typically runs 10 degrees cooler than coolant temps which run 187 if the shutters are open and 205 if the shutters are closed. I have real temp numbers via the gauges on the Raptor.

Not sure if changing to a pan with a drain plug gains much as I think swapping the filter every time is desirable then just changing out 6 quarts of fluid.

jjw
ND

 

[cozzishc]

How about the transfer case.

Purchase a tranny pan with a drain plug. Some will be deeper holding more fluid.
If a new pan is going to be put on, much easier to carefully drill hole in plastic pan and let drain.\

The Raptor might have an exhaust pipe in the way which generally boils down to a mess with the fluid unless you pump it out through the fill port. I'd probably take it to the dealer just to prevent the mess in my garage!

You are way ahead of the tranny oil change interval.
No harm in changing it.

Looking on this site. Written
As a retired Ford tech and with a similar desire to keep transmissions going for a long time, 50k should not be exceed in a modern transmission. Being solenoid shift with mini filter screens and very close tolerances in the valve body you don't want to wait too long. The first change at 30k, once the break-in particulate is complete isn't unreasonable. Then do the fluid and filter at around 100k.

Service intervals are written by Ford corporate where the main idea isn't longevity, they just need to get it out of the warranty period. Their goal is to show the EPA and government climate watchdogs how little waste there is and low cost of maintenance. Even dealerships will knowingly deviate from these intervals knowing it is not the best for their customers. Whenever in doubt, follow the severe duty intervals regardless how you drive , that is what's best for your vehicle.

Same idea with a Tranny with life time oil. Appeasing EPA and government.

One of the good things about an after market pan is it has a Dovetail style O ring groove over the OEM gasket.

The add on temperature sensor would be a good mod.

Ford Ranger 2.7L & Raptor 3.0L Aluminum Transmission Pan, fits Ford 10R60/10R80 Transmissions 2024+

Excellent insight with regard to service intervals written by Ford Corp., much appreciated!

 

[boraxman]

Getting ready to do the PPE deep pan swap on mine at 10k miles...also curios on getting the temp up, all I have seen so far is it should get there just idling...sub'd for more info.

 

[stemplar]

How about the transfer case.

Purchase a tranny pan with a drain plug. Some will be deeper holding more fluid.
If a new pan is going to be put on, much easier to carefully drill hole in plastic pan and let drain.\

The Raptor might have an exhaust pipe in the way which generally boils down to a mess with the fluid unless you pump it out through the fill port. I'd probably take it to the dealer just to prevent the mess in my garage!

You are way ahead of the tranny oil change interval.
No harm in changing it.

Looking on this site. Written
As a retired Ford tech and with a similar desire to keep transmissions going for a long time, 50k should not be exceed in a modern transmission. Being solenoid shift with mini filter screens and very close tolerances in the valve body you don't want to wait too long. The first change at 30k, once the break-in particulate is complete isn't unreasonable. Then do the fluid and filter at around 100k.

Service intervals are written by Ford corporate where the main idea isn't longevity, they just need to get it out of the warranty period. Their goal is to show the EPA and government climate watchdogs how little waste there is and low cost of maintenance. Even dealerships will knowingly deviate from these intervals knowing it is not the best for their customers. Whenever in doubt, follow the severe duty intervals regardless how you drive , that is what's best for your vehicle.

Same idea with a Tranny with life time oil. Appeasing EPA and government.

One of the good things about an after market pan is it has a Dovetail style O ring groove over the OEM gasket.

The add on temperature sensor would be a good mod.

Ford Ranger 2.7L & Raptor 3.0L Aluminum Transmission Pan, fits Ford 10R60/10R80 Transmissions 2024+

I like the looks of this oil pan so I just ordered one. Fwiw I suggest shopping around (not hard to do with a web browser); I got mine for about $50 cheaper and free shipping.

 

[BrrRaptor]

I like the looks of this oil pan so I just ordered one. Fwiw I suggest shopping around (not hard to do with a web browser); I got mine for about $50 cheaper and free shipping.

Where was this at?

 

[Buellsox]

Great idea to keep the t-case & both differentials on the same maintenance schedule as well. Easy to keep track of that way.
Zero harm in doing it early. Planning on doing mine at 10K & again at 30K and then every 30K thereafter. Seems ridiculous?…. I don’t think so. Did the same thing on my previous ‘19 F-150 with the 10R80 & 4A t-case. Never had a spot of trouble in nearly 150K when it was traded in on this ‘25 RR.
And I went with the PPE aluminum pan w/2 extra qt. capacity. Great unit! It’s what will go on my Ranger in another 5K when it hits 10K.
Always did the trans service, differentials, & t-case all at the same intervals & all together and always did it all myself up on ramps. None of it is difficult with basic hand tools, one of those big steel drip pans, large drop cloth, one of those Harbor Freight hand pump & fluid extractors, a couple of drain pans, and get yourself one of those big coolant drain pans - the one that has the huge deep tub with an upper drain shelf molded into it, and 2-3 cans of brake wash for clean up. Then you’ll own all the equipment for success for each & every service.

 

[JWeigel]

Buellsox....that is what I typically do also. I lkeep the OEM trans fluid but typically switch to Amsoil for the Diffs and TC. Ford puts better full synthetic in these which might be as good as Amsoil for those. Not sure the route this time. They take so little and without and LSD they run very clean.

I try to do at 20K then every 30K after that.

jjw
ND

 

[Buellsox]

Yeah that’s a good point on the diff fluids. But you’re money ahead getting that trans serviced way ahead of schedule. Smart move!

 

[josephp732]

How about the transfer case.

Purchase a tranny pan with a drain plug. Some will be deeper holding more fluid.
If a new pan is going to be put on, much easier to carefully drill hole in plastic pan and let drain.\

The Raptor might have an exhaust pipe in the way which generally boils down to a mess with the fluid unless you pump it out through the fill port. I'd probably take it to the dealer just to prevent the mess in my garage!

You are way ahead of the tranny oil change interval.
No harm in changing it.

Looking on this site. Written
As a retired Ford tech and with a similar desire to keep transmissions going for a long time, 50k should not be exceed in a modern transmission. Being solenoid shift with mini filter screens and very close tolerances in the valve body you don't want to wait too long. The first change at 30k, once the break-in particulate is complete isn't unreasonable. Then do the fluid and filter at around 100k.

Service intervals are written by Ford corporate where the main idea isn't longevity, they just need to get it out of the warranty period. Their goal is to show the EPA and government climate watchdogs how little waste there is and low cost of maintenance. Even dealerships will knowingly deviate from these intervals knowing it is not the best for their customers. Whenever in doubt, follow the severe duty intervals regardless how you drive , that is what's best for your vehicle.

Same idea with a Tranny with life time oil. Appeasing EPA and government.

One of the good things about an after market pan is it has a Dovetail style O ring groove over the OEM gasket.

The add on temperature sensor would be a good mod.

Ford Ranger 2.7L & Raptor 3.0L Aluminum Transmission Pan, fits Ford 10R60/10R80 Transmissions 2024+

Great information - thank you. I purchased the B&M 10R80 Hi-TEK Deep Heavy Duty Transmission Pan and have been waiting to get a little bit more mileage (~10k) on my 2025 Ranger w/ 2.7l before doing the swap out. I was thinking about drilling a small hole in the OEM plastic pan to let it drain-out - so it's nice to have someone else validate this approach. I will probably use AMSOIL Signature Series ULV Automatic Transmission Fluid, it seems with a deep fill pan the change out will take about 10.5 quarts. I will also change the filter.

 

[stemplar]

Where was this at?

Amazon (the cheapest vendor on Amazon didn’t have a great reputation so I went for the second cheapest), summit racing, and I’m sure others. I think even direct from Mishimoto you can get a discount by signing up for their emails or whatever.

 

[Scooter]

Its odd that they do not suggest to drain fluid earlier.

You change the breakin engine oil at very low mileage.

Would be nice to have a lift. I cannot even do an oil change without getting oil on ground.

I would not recommend getting it flushed. Can sometimes cause more problems.

The Torque Converter will still be holding a lot of fluid. Good to change it early because you are mixing it. Maybe go with the recommended Ford Fluid as that will still be in Transmission. Good for warranty too. Although as long as you use the recommend Mercon I think fluid. Recommended for Ranger.

Remember there is still fluid in Torque converter. Fill slowly. Maybe measure the fluid that came out. Although, hard to drain fluid without getting some on floor. Worse then changing oil.

Yes, that's a good point. A drain plug will mainly help to make draining it easier. If you are going to change it best to do the filter each time.
Although, you get more capacity and a louvered pan for heat dissipation. Strong pan, but its shielded any ways.

 

[JWeigel]

Given how "cool" the trans temps run thus far never even getting to 200, I am not worried about cooling it by adding more quarts (bigger pan) or even an extra cooler. The stock setup seems fine.

I also run a GOVT Super Duty that sees 30K miles a year all pulling a 14K trailer. This gets fleet service so the trans, diffs or tc fluids are NEVER changed for the 4 years we run them. This gets total miles to 100 - 150K. We have NEVER had a problem with any of the gear boxes. Crazy. These trucks are ran very hard. I see oil temps in the 260 range and trans is always over 200 getting as high as 220. Just add fuel and change oil ever 5K.

jjw
ND

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