Leaks and leaks

[Mark S.]

True it won't. But I personally do not agree with such a high mileage count for the fluid change in general. There are many logical reason on why to change it sooner than 150k in general. Especially if the vehicle is lift or heavier tires. Which people do just for aesthetic as well.

Do you think Ford recommends waiting until 150K to change the transmission fluid?

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[V8 Yankee]

I've been around the block a few times. My career has spanned industrial and hydro-electric plants, heavy and light machinery, and a childhood on a working farm. There's not a piece of mechanical equipment anywhere that doesn't benefit from early maintenance. Why do I think that; Ford and other car manufacturers rely on sales for survival. By designing engines and transmissions to last 250,000 miles or more, they're cutting their own sales. But with regular, increased maintenance, you absolutely can hit that mark. It's more costly, sure, but it's cheaper than replacing an engine or transmission.

If you're someone who trades your car every 3 or 4 years, maybe maintenance isn't a priority. For me, though, long-term reliability is key. by performing transmission maintenance every 150,000 miles isn't an option. It's easier than some think, too. The 8F35 transmissions aren't built for 150,000 miles of "normal" driving. There's no such thing as normal driving; tests are done under controlled conditions and don't account for real-world "abuse" like extreme temperatures, bad roads, towing, heavy loads, aggressive driving, poor fuel quality, and bad driving habits.

I'm a loyal Ford fan and not trying to bash them. I'm just being realistic. Fords aren't what they used to be. They bank on people buying, selling, or trading every few years. Those of us who keep our cars longer need to step up our maintenance, but even then, pricey repairs are a reality.

 

[Mark S.]

There's not a piece of mechanical equipment anywhere that doesn't benefit from early maintenance.

You need to define your terms and quantify the result for this for it to mean anything. Ford has set service intervals based on data collected over the equivalent of millions of miles/hours of operation. What is "early" maintenance? What specific and how much "benefit" do you gain from it?

By designing engines and transmissions to last 250,000 miles or more, they're cutting their own sales.

If this were true then Toyota's nameplate would not appear on five of the ten best-selling cars in the world.

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