Automatic Transmission Fluid Change Recommendations

[biohazard69]

Automatic Transmission Fluid Change Recommendations

Hi, my Ranger Raptor currently has 40,000 km and I change the transmission fluid every 5,000 km as a precaution. It's time for my 40,000 km transmission fluid change. I currently have a transmission fluid cooler and I want to install an aluminum oil pan that holds approximately 2 liters more fluid.

Looking for alternatives, I found this Ravenol oil, a good quality German product: RAVENOL ATF ULV D-M (https://ravenol.es/producto/ravenol...AI0qXtxMRhx9oSvLqId2n6-LSxhAWQEiC6C4fvtom3TZt). It's compatible with the 10R60 gearbox. What do you think of this oil versus the Motorcraft, which would require approximately 16 liters considering the gearbox cooler and the new aluminum oil pan? Or should I stick with the Motorcraft oil? Let me know what you think.

Greetings from Chile

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[got3fords]

Automatic Transmission Fluid Change Recommendations

Hi, my Ranger Raptor currently has 40,000 km and I change the transmission fluid every 5,000 km as a precaution. It's time for my 40,000 km transmission fluid change. I currently have a transmission fluid cooler and I want to install an aluminum oil pan that holds approximately 2 liters more fluid.

Looking for alternatives, I found this Ravenol oil, a good quality German product: RAVENOL ATF ULV D-M (https://ravenol.es/producto/ravenol...AI0qXtxMRhx9oSvLqId2n6-LSxhAWQEiC6C4fvtom3TZt). It's compatible with the 10R60 gearbox. What do you think of this oil versus the Motorcraft, which would require approximately 16 liters considering the gearbox cooler and the new aluminum oil pan? Or should I stick with the Motorcraft oil? Let me know what you think.

Greetings from Chile

Holy crap! You change your transmission fluid every 3,000 miles? That to me is overkill. How often do you change the engine oil, every 1,000 miles?

 

[AugPal]

I think Ford says every 200,000 KM for changing transmission fluid.. If you are constantly doing heavy towing I would say maybe 80,000 KM. I would talk to your Ford dealer and see what he recommends given your driving.

 

[Geo8866]

30k (or around 48 km) is sufficient. I never in my life heard of someone changing tranny fluid that often.

 

[AlloyPony]

Most of these modern transmissions, including the 10-speed co-developed by GM and Ford, are either ZF transmissions or they are designs based upon ZF transmissions. With that being said, ZF recommends 60,000 mile intervals for transmission fluid.

Do not forget the filter(s) inside the transmission. Nobody changes their engine oil without changing the filter, and neither should you change trans fluid without a new filter. Transmission clutch material and contaminates will decay the fluid over time and the filter catches a lot of it.

On the Chrysler products that use ZF designs, I use Valvoline Max Life ATF. It's ZF compatible, easy to find, and MUCH less expensive than the branded fluid sold at dealerships. You'll have to do a little research to see if it's also compatible with Ford material specs.

 

[saxdogg]

If the fluid meets the specs, I'd have no issue using it. I'm planning on a 60k mile fluid change with a 100k filter/fluid change.

 

[Ranger Glen]

I never go by manufacturer's recommendations on any fluid intervals. That's what they want to get you in for breakdowns or failures. I change my oil, full synthetic every 3,500 miles. Direct injection with turbos creates alot of heat and breakdown. Front and rear differential, transfer case and transmission every 20,000. Might be overkill to some of you all but fluids are much cheaper.

 

[emjay24l]

I change transmission fluid and filter (if possible) every 60k miles. I have never had a transmission failure in any vehicle I have owned following this maintenance schedule. If you want to have a transmission failure then follow Ford's recommended crazy arse interval of around 150k miles.

 

[Chippewa76]

The only transmission fluid brand I use in my Ford vehicles is Motorcraft.

 

[got3fords]

The only transmission fluid brand I use in my Ford vehicles is Motorcraft.

When I had my 5G serviced at 55k, the dealer used BG oil. It was not ULV but was supposedly compatible. Had zero issues with it. In fact it shifted quite well, but I also added the LubeGuard Platinum.

 

[alrashid2]

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing

The more youre opening up and messing with things, the more chance there is for something to go wrong and/or more chances for inadvertent contamination.

Only change it as much as needed. I don't agree with Ford's 6 figure tranny fluid interval, but I think changing every 60k miles should be just fine for normal driving.

 

[emjay24l]

The only transmission fluid brand I use in my Ford vehicles is Motorcraft.

When it comes to transmission, differential, transfer cases and coolant, I always use the Ford Motorcraft OEM fluids.

 

[Jason B]

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing

The more youre opening up and messing with things, the more chance there is for something to go wrong and/or more chances for inadvertent contamination.

Only change it as much as needed. I don't agree with Ford's 6 figure tranny fluid interval, but I think changing every 60k miles should be just fine for normal driving.

Agreed.
Changing transmission fluid every 3K miles can do more harm than good.

 

[biohazard69]

Here in my country there's a lot of traffic too, so obviously for safety reasons I always do the maintenance a little earlier than usual. That's why I change the oil every 40,000 km and the engine every 5,000 km. Thinking about this change, I have Stage 2 emissions and I don't drive the truck slowly because it's impossible to, haha.

That's why I considered Ravenol oil; it seems a bit better than Motorcraft, I think.

 

[Jason B]

Here in my country there's a lot of traffic too, so obviously for safety reasons I always do the maintenance a little earlier than usual. That's why I change the oil every 40,000 km and the engine every 5,000 km. Thinking about this change, I have Stage 2 emissions and I don't drive the truck slowly because it's impossible to, haha.

That's why I considered Ravenol oil; it seems a bit better than Motorcraft, I think.

OK That makes more sense.
Engine oil every 5K km, 3K miles
Transmission every 40K km, 25K miles.

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