10R80 overfill... potential issues?

[Ironbutt62]

Hello All,

In FEB 24, at about 107k miles, I took my 22 power boost to the local shop to have the filter changed and transmission fluid flushed as best they could. They changed the filter and swapped in 7 quarts. Over the last 5500 miles, I noticed that downshifts into 9th and 6th would occasionally be pretty hard. Especially under a following load like exiting the highway. This seems to be getting more frequent and more noticable.
Been reading a lot about transmission issues and would like to avoid the big repair.
Warmed it up, set it up to idle, put it in Park (4L and brake on) and checked level. Fluid was very dark and at the top of the dip stick. Pulled out about 40 oz to get it to the #4 on the dipstick.
Plan is to extract and replace as much fluid as possible then reset proper level before I drive it again.

Questions:
1. Would high fluid level cause the abrupt downshifts.
2. Is it worth going back in to redo the filter (I'd be doing it myself this time.)
3. Any other things I can do or check to prolong 10R80 life?

Thanks in advance.
Deet

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[Ironbutt62]

Also, when I was descending Wolf creek pass and the truck was Engine Braking, there was a noticable whirring sound.

 

[JohnTrigger]

Hi Deet,

You are correct that 3-4 on the dipstick is proper for your Powerboost transmission, while hot. Yes, too much fluid could certainly cause issues as it could aerate and thus cause some cavitation. That could cause shift issues and that would explain whirring noise. I bet the tranny shop filled it and checked it cold (certainly not hot)(hard to keep the engine running long enough in PB to get it hot without the trick you did), perhaps they even filled to the 3-4 line, which would be overfill when it is hot and the fluid expands. Good idea to suck out all you can while you’re at it, and add back in the proper amount of new ULV fluid. Then you’ve done a partial swap of new fluid yet again, which certainly doesn’t hurt. I don’t think you have to go back in there and replace the filter. I doubt you’ve done too much damage in that many miles, so don’t fret it. But, it certainly wasn’t good for things, obviously.

Once you get it to proper level, see if your issues go away. Since transmission “learns as it goes”, it might still have some shift issues as it relearns. You could reset the shift tables and let it build back from scratch but expect harshness as it relearns that way too.

 

[Boen]

And Overfull will cause the trans to run hot.

 

[Ironbutt62]

Appreciate the knowledgeable reply. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks!

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Appreciate the knowledgeable reply. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks!

The confusing part is where you stated the fluid was rather dark. 7 quarts were removed and replaced only 5000 miles ago, the fluid shouldn’t be dark.

with that being said, for the last 25 years I’ve changed fluid every 30k

 

[Ironbutt62]

I'm chalking it to the strange things that have happened since Feb. Didn't see what it looked like before. Have 10 quarts of ULV coming from Amazon. Hope to clear it up a bit.

 

[Lucafu1]

The confusing part is where you stated the fluid was rather dark. 7 quarts were removed and replaced only 5000 miles ago, the fluid shouldn’t be dark.

with that being said, for the last 25 years I’ve changed fluid every 30k

ULV is very dark new.

 

[25Raptor]

Hello All,

In FEB 24, at about 107k miles, I took my 22 power boost to the local shop to have the filter changed and transmission fluid flushed as best they could. They changed the filter and swapped in 7 quarts. Over the last 5500 miles, I noticed that downshifts into 9th and 6th would occasionally be pretty hard. Especially under a following load like exiting the highway. This seems to be getting more frequent and more noticable.
Been reading a lot about transmission issues and would like to avoid the big repair.
Warmed it up, set it up to idle, put it in Park (4L and brake on) and checked level. Fluid was very dark and at the top of the dip stick. Pulled out about 40 oz to get it to the #4 on the dipstick.
Plan is to extract and replace as much fluid as possible then reset proper level before I drive it again.

Questions:
1. Would high fluid level cause the abrupt downshifts.
2. Is it worth going back in to redo the filter (I'd be doing it myself this time.)
3. Any other things I can do or check to prolong 10R80 life?

Thanks in advance.
Deet

Based on what you pulled out and what I have read in other threads about transmissions being under or over filled, it sounds like it each number on the dipstick is about 10 ounces. Its crazy to me that with the capacity of these transmissions the correct level needs to be within approximately 10 ounces. Does that sounds odd to anyone else?

I have a 25 Raptor and think mine is slightly overfilled (supposed to be between 5-6) and I'm a hash mark or 2 above 5. Its also crazy how much the level changes between 195* and 206*. When I have checked mine at 188* to 200* its 2-3 hashes below 6 (appearing as though it is low). It increases more than 1 entire number once it hits 206* and the thermal bypass opens. I never would have guessed that.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Doesn’t seem odd at all.

 

[25Raptor]

Doesn’t seem odd at all.

I guess I would have expected a little wider tolerance, like maybe 3/4 quart. Maybe it is closer to that in reality, as we don't truly know exactly how much fluid each number represents at 206*. I wish someone did know and would share.

 

[HANCOCK]

If I was you I would make sure that the shop that you did go to use the correct Transmission fluid . go back there and play dumb and ask what kind of fluid they put into your vehicle Make sure it was ULV not LV

 

[Ironbutt62]

Closing things out... since I set the proper fluid level about 600 miles ago there has not been a recurrence of the hard downshift issue. Cavitation/foaming due to high fluid level seems to be the most likely cause. Reason for blackish fluid still unknown
I was able to siphon out and replace 5 quarts of fluid from the fill hole. Will do that again in about 1000 miles when I change the engine oil.
Appreciate all the replies. Hoping things will work fine last long time... at least until its paid off.

 

[Jerome10]

Closing things out... since I set the proper fluid level about 600 miles ago there has not been a recurrence of the hard downshift issue. Cavitation/foaming due to high fluid level seems to be the most likely cause. Reason for blackish fluid still unknown
I was able to siphon out and replace 5 quarts of fluid from the fill hole. Will do that again in about 1000 miles when I change the engine oil.
Appreciate all the replies. Hoping things will work fine last long time... at least until its paid off.

Would you mind sharing a moment the rough shifting you had when overfilled? Was it just 9th and 6th? Or all through the gears smoothed up after you filled correctly?

 

[Ironbutt62]

The only problem noted was a hard downshift into 6th and 9th. It was intermittent usually after a longer loaded run. Things seem to be back to normal now.

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