most actually do - if you drive bumper to bumper, like most Americans do - you are right in the severe schedule….most people just don’t realize that.
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Heavy traffic is not the same as extended idling as described in the manual. Short trips that don't allow the engine to achieve operating temp are a bigger issue in my opinion--especially in the winter.
If you believe your driving conditions may be severe enough to compromise the transmission fluid you can always send a sample for analysis.
That is probably the best assumption. Any vehicle can benefit by a more compressed maintenance schedule if you plan on keeping it for the long term. Ford says the trans fluid is good for 150000 miles. This is more or less the "lifetime" of a vehicle if using Fords metrics. This number is respectble considering it is a Ford but based on my own expierience Fords require more maintenance than an import for example. I've been a Ford guy since my first car, a 62 Galaxy barn find that I got in in 1976. Every car, truck, tractor, lawn mower, snowmobile and boat I've had since then has benefitted by a more robust maintenance shedule. I tend to keep things around longer than most so I look at the long term benefits of spending a little more now rather than a lot later. Severe duty starts the moment I start everything.
yeah 150k miles is for “normal driving”…
Go down to extensive idling, low speed driving, dusty or sandy conditions (like if you live in an unpaved road…) that 150k comes down to 30k!
So if your commute involves leaving your driveway, driving 8min, driving 20 in stop and go traffic and repeat….you are right on the 30k miles change.
Yes. I have a 21 BL. ~6 mos ago, I noticed a burning smell from the driver, front side of the engine. The dealer discovered a crack in the transmission case (its a casted piece of metal). They replaced the entire transmission; took about a month. Being in the casted metals industry made me wonder how many other 21 BL have the same issue. Doubt it was just mine, yet no Recall or TSB. Worth looking into if anyone notices the same smell, loss of tranny fluid, or other tranny issues.
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This is the first report I've read about this specific issue.
100% agreed. There's a key metric here that Ford has provided - that maybe some here have overlooked. Why is there such a massive difference in the recommended trans fluid change intervals, between 'normal' and 'severe' driving? It should make folks wonder, if a 150k interval is actually ok for *any* owner. There's a little debate seen even right here about whose driving qualifies as 'normal'. I cannot help but think that if modern trans fluid really is ok for 150k miles, then the 'severe' fluid change interval would be 80k or 90k. It tells you something, that for any driver Ford feels is doing a severe cycle, suddenly the fluid life drops massively to just 30k. How can this be? [Unless - the real life is only 70-80k?]
Personally, I'm planning to change my fluid every 30k regardless. I just do not believe the claims of either GM or Ford, on any of their fluid life predictions.
Sure, it might. Or maybe they don’t really know? Ford, GM, all the OEM’s… all are too optimistic in their theoretical data. Me, I live in the real world. I have limited resources. I’m going to bank my odds… and change the trans fluid every 30k
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Can you elaborate? As far as I know the data collected comes from actually operating the vehicles.
Good question. First I want to clear the air on where I stand here. I love my little Ford; especially since adding my Banks throttle tuner to squelch the sluggish throttle tip-in. I’m still amazed after three years of ownership, at its agility, versatility, rugged appeal and even MPG. I plan to keep it a long time, and I bought out my lease when it ended this Spring.
But I’m a realist. Ford has struggled recently, with a wide variety of quality issues. My own BS BL has been back to the dealer several times for TSB and recall work. I won’t list the items… they’re well known. How can this be? Clearly their testing was inadequate. Thus, their theoretical reasoning for design, part quality and subsystem longevity led them to the current results in the road going fleet of these vehicles. And while the BS technical design is superb… buyer satisfaction has hit some bumps along the way.
I did a quick google search for recommended trans fluid change interval recommendations by other makes known for quality. I’m going off memory here, but I seem to recall Toyota recommending 30-60k mi for Tacoma fluid changes, BMW saying change an X6 trans fluid also at 30-60k, and the Honda Passport at 60-90.
What’s so much better about Ford Motorcraft fluid - allowing you to go way over 100k before a fluid change?
It’s simply not believable, that somehow our Fords can magically defy industry trends and run so many more miles without a trans flush.
I read on here, one owner (maybe even the OP of this thread?) being quoted $8900 for a new BS trans replacement. So if a trans flush was $2000, then yes it’d be a silly waste of cash. But for $350 or so, every 40 or 50k miles, well that seems like a pretty good value to me.
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I wish we could quash this rumor. The manual does not recommended 100K+ trans fluid changes. It recommends periodic inspection (every 30K) by your dealership/mechanic, and--absent use under the severe duty schedule--replacement on need. If you have had the fluid inspected throughout your vehicle's life and inspection has not indicated need for change, THEN your maximum use interval is 150K.
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I would agree with this if we had any evidence that the transmission failures posted about here resulted from inadequate fluid maintenance. As far as I know, we have no evidence that this is the case.
I can only report what I experienced. I thought it was incredible to have a cracked case at less than 15k miles, but it happened. My car didn't run hot, show visible leaks or have a warning; just a burning smell was my indication. I don't believe this is a singular instance, but I have no idea how many owners don't even know this is happening (leaking case due to crack) or reported it if it did occur. I hope I'm the only one because it's an expensive repair. How likely is it that my car is the only instance...? (rhetorical question)
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That was the reason for my post. I've been on this board since late 2021; yours is the first report for this issue I've read about.
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