First transmission drain and fill.

[Nw150]

I bought a new 2024 F150 a couple months ago with 3,6xx miles on it (demo vehicle). I now have about 7,5xx miles on it and want to be proactive with fluid changes as I know a lot of material from break in can be going though everything. Should I do a drain and fill now, or wait a little longer. Maybe 15k miles? 30k?

Sponsored

 

[JCsTruck]

That transmission is not even broken in yet. Wait till at least 30k.

 

[Nw150]

That transmission is not even broken in yet. Wait till at least 30k.

Oh wow, transmissions actually take that long to break in?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I would wait until about 25-30k

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Ford's recommended interval on the 10R80 is between 60-100K miles for normal daily use. If you do a lot of towing or commercial use then it's recommended to change it at 30K. There's no issue with changing it at 30K if you don't drive it hard providing the place that does the job does it correctly and fills it to the right level.

NEVER let anyone perform a flush on it!!!

Only have the filter changed and topped off. The flush will kick up any sediment that is in the pan and can really mess up the valve body.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The issue isn't broken in or not, it's getting rid of manufacturing debris. Do it when you're comefortable.

 

[mxwrk]

I did mine at 30k.

 

[roadPilot]

Do it around every ~35K miles.

The first time you do it, install an aftermarket pan with a drain plug so you don't have to drop the pan every time you want to drain & fill.

This is the kit I used on my'21 F150:

10R80 OEM Ford Transmission Service Kit & PPE Brushed Deep Pan For 201 – Rudy's Performance Parts

I also did the same with the rear diff (PPE rear diff cover with drain plug). Not sure which diff you have, so just order the correct one. Here is the cover only (no fluid) for the Super 8.8:

PPE Brushed Aluminum 8.8" 12-Bolt Rear Differential Cover For 15-22 Fo – Rudy's Performance Parts

Don't forget to drain and fill your transfer case and front diff as well (to hard to replace that front diff cover, so just drain with a hand pump and refill).

 

[MTMan]

I just did mine at 30k and although not bad it was the worst looking fluid of any vehicle I've changed at 30k. Looked to me more like a Toyota toward 90k. It's shifting better than it has in quite awhile. I do tow a boat but nothing super heavy. Very glad I changed it. I used a brake bleeder suction tank and pulled 8 quarts out to replace. Easy peasy.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Do it around every ~35K miles.

The first time you do it, install an aftermarket pan with a drain plug so you don't have to drop the pan every time you want to drain & fill.

This is the kit I used on my'21 F150:

10R80 OEM Ford Transmission Service Kit & PPE Brushed Deep Pan For 201 – Rudy's Performance Parts

I also did the same with the rear diff (PPE rear diff cover with drain plug). Not sure which diff you have, so just order the correct one. Here is the cover only (no fluid) for the Super 8.8:

PPE Brushed Aluminum 8.8" 12-Bolt Rear Differential Cover For 15-22 Fo – Rudy's Performance Parts

Don't forget to drain and fill your transfer case and front diff as well (to hard to replace that front diff cover, so just drain with a hand pump and refill).

 

[MTMan]

I just did mine at 30k and although not bad it was the worst looking fluid of any vehicle I've changed at 30k. Looked to me more like a Toyota toward 90k. It's shifting better than it has in quite awhile. I do tow a boat but nothing super heavy. Very glad I changed it. I used a brake bleeder suction tank and pulled 8 quarts out to replace. Easy peasy.

I should add I don't think this is comparing apples to apples. The Toyotas weren't putting out anywhere near the power of the Ford.

 

[Tone]

35K here. Do some travel trailer towing. Cost about $175 at dealership. Shifts felt smoother.

 

[RAYJAY]

me too ....lol

 

[Suns_PSD]

Do it around every ~35K miles.

The first time you do it, install an aftermarket pan with a drain plug so you don't have to drop the pan every time you want to drain & fill.

This is the kit I used on my'21 F150:

10R80 OEM Ford Transmission Service Kit & PPE Brushed Deep Pan For 201 – Rudy's Performance Parts

I also did the same with the rear diff (PPE rear diff cover with drain plug). Not sure which diff you have, so just order the correct one. Here is the cover only (no fluid) for the Super 8.8:

PPE Brushed Aluminum 8.8" 12-Bolt Rear Differential Cover For 15-22 Fo – Rudy's Performance Parts

Don't forget to drain and fill your transfer case and front diff as well (to hard to replace that front diff cover, so just drain with a hand pump and refill).

Thank you for this. I've ordered the kit.

For some reason I thought we had 100K intervals or something. Mine really shifts pretty rough these days. It's also a big fast heavy truck so I should have taken it more seriously.

Someone else mentioned it only costing $175 at the dealership so I considered that option and called them and they told me it starts at $450 and goes up from there. So I prefer to spend $500 and have the optional pan and do it myself.

Does one need to swap the filter every time as that would make the drain irrelevant?

 

[FirstFord]

For some reason I thought we had 100K intervals or something.

Technically, you aren't wrong, but it also depends upon how often you tow, and the weights that you tow. There is a lot of postmortem evidence of dead 10R80 transmissions that suggests that the factory service intervals are highly optimistic, and don't reflect "real-world" use. Most people on this forum - and myself included - are pretty proactive and believe in preventative maintenance, and as such, change/exchange the trans fluid somewhere between 25K and 50K (I did mine at 30).

Sponsored