Something I feel i HAVE to clear up about transmission servicing.

[HUSBANDOFBS]

2020+ Escape same same as Bronco Sport...

The fluid containing players besides engine.

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[Gnomad]

Can anyone think of a reason a dealeship would suggest that the transmission fluid NOT be changed?
Our dealer talked my wife out of having hers changed, saying it was good until 100K. Seems to me it's not that hard really, good insurance and from I'm seeing it's probably due at closer to 60K.

 

[Mark S.]

Can anyone think of a reason a dealeship would suggest that the transmission fluid NOT be changed?

If you change fluid that hasn't deteriorated enough to affect function you needlessly introduce the possibility of a maintenance error and waste serviceable transmission fluid, which is bad for the environment.

 

[Gnomad]

After watching the Escape oil change video with the ATF looking that dark and gunky at 21.000 I'd say that the fluid was not as servicable as one would like, and since the procedure seem pretty simple even a caveman should be able to do it.
"Lifetime" fluids mean the lifetime of the warranty, not the assmebly they should protect

 

[GJarrett]

Following! Great info on this thread

 

[GJarrett]

I am reminded how I got around the "permanent can't change ATF only a dealer can" on my 2008 Expedition with the Triton V-8 and no drain plug for the transmission. I found the fill plug on the right topside of the tranny, then sucked the ATF out of it through the fill hole with a oil change pump made for marine boat engines, then refilled from that fill hole. As I recall the tranny held about 12 qts but only 4 could be replaced via the pan at a time since the rest was in the torque converter. I did this with each oil change every 7-8k miles and after the third change the old ATF drained out healthy red looking. I kept doing that for as long as I owned the vehicle for a very long time, often used it to tow a 3 1/2 ton boat, and then gave it to our son when he went to college. It currently has 230k miles, and still has the original tranny with no signs of slippage or giving up yet.

 

[Mark S.]

After watching the Escape oil change video with the ATF looking that dark and gunky at 21.000 I'd say that the fluid was not as servicable as one would like, and since the procedure seem pretty simple even a caveman should be able to do it.
"Lifetime" fluids mean the lifetime of the warranty, not the assmebly they should protect

Your owner's manual includes a transmission fluid change schedule. You won't find the term "lifetime" in there. The guidelines cover different duty schedules. Two things about the video: 1) we don't know anything about how that vehicle was used, and 2) fluid color is not indicative of serviceability.

 

[V8 Yankee]

I do a drain and fill every 10K, it takes about 3.5 qrts. and takes about as long as it does to change the engine oil and filter. Cheap insurance for the long term considering some are posting 8K for a new transmission at a Ford dealer. I'm sure the cost would be lower, possibly around 4-5K, maybe lower from a good transmission shop. Either way a drain & fill is on my regular maintenance schedule. The O&M lifetime fluid reference is somewhat of a misnomer and generally intended for those mild drivers living in moderate climate areas. If towing or hauling family and all the extras including camping gear and other cargo all the time more frequent drain & fills is a necessity. For short term owners it's not worth the time and expense. In my case I really like the BS, unless it falls apart at the seams I'm going to drive it until Ford comes out with a 7th generation model.

 

[Mark S.]

Cheap insurance for the long term considering some are posting 8K for a new transmission at a Ford dealer.

1. Is there any evidence the reported transmission failures occurred due to lack of servicing?
2. What evidence do you have that changing your transmission fluid more often than recommended will in any way extend the life of your transmission?

 

[V8 Yankee]

I'll have to defer to 45 yrs of expierience of performing maintenance on my vehicles and equipment. It's a common sense thing honestly. You can wish for your car to last 15 years and do nothing or you can perform regular maintenance and up the odds your car will run as as good as the day you bought it after 15 years. A personal choice you might say.
Out of many vehicles one comes to mind. A 67 Chevy 1/2 ton. It has a 283 with T400. Over 300K, one engine rebuild, the tranny as good as ever with regular maintence. Another: 73 Maverick, 302 with C4, special order. Engine and tranny as good as new. The list goes on and on. All fluid wears, not even a case for an argument. If you want something to last you have to maintain it.

 

[Mark S.]

You can wish for your car to last 15 years and do nothing or you can perform regular maintenance and up the odds your car will run as as good as the day you bought it after 15 years. A personal choice you might say.

I don't believe I've recommended owners "do nothing."

All fluid wears, not even a case for an argument. If you want something to last you have to maintain it.

I guess if you change the fluid every week your transmission will last forever!

Seriously, there has to be some objective data on which to base these decisions. Ford, like all auto manufacturers, conducts product testing which generates the data on which they base maintenance recommendations. There is no objective data I'm aware of proving Ford's recommended maintenance schedule leads to premature component failure. There are a lot of anecdotes and opinions, but I prefer data.

 

[V8 Yankee]

I presented my own data which is indicative of millions of others who perform regular maintenace both on personal vehicles and in a professional capacity. The results show if you have ever been a regular maintenace kind of guy and track your work.
Plus you cannot lump every Bronco Sport sold to date into one "lifetime" fluid catagory. There are too many varibles to consider. Some being rather or not the BS is a single passeger, daily commuter, hwy/city, used for towing, 4-wheeling, hauling passengers and cargo, four season climate, flat or mountanous geography, mild or wild driving, etc, etc. The data you want is out there if you really want to find it. Or you can buy a new BS and not do any maintenance and see for yourself how far down the road you will get. Good luck with that.

 

[Gnomad]

I'm wondering why some of the members here have such a bug up their ass about changing fluids?
Must be a transmission/RDU/PTU salesman.

So I'm guessing that a certain percentage of users should have their fluids changed on a regular basis and others maybe should test their units to failure and compare mileages. That might provide the evidence needed?

Accordingto the Canadian schedule, you can see that the transmission fluid should be changed every 30K miles/48K Kms, if in "severe service". That's everyone who off roads or commutes in traffic. The folks getting transmissions replaced at just over 100K might have wished they'd done the change at 30k.

What would be more wasteful of resources-changing 4-5 quarts of oil every 30-60K miles or replacing entire power units at 100K, or scrapping the whole vehicle? And if you can't trust a shop to change the oil without screwing it up, what else can you not trust them with? It's the easiest change I've ever seen described.

 

[Gnomad]

I do a drain and fill every 10K, it takes about 3.5 qrts. and takes about as long as it does to change the engine oil and filter. Cheap insurance for the long term considering some are posting 8K for a new transmission at a Ford dealer. I'm sure the cost would be lower, possibly around 4-5K, maybe lower from a good transmission shop. Either way a drain & fill is on my regular maintenance schedule. The O&M lifetime fluid reference is somewhat of a misnomer and generally intended for those mild drivers living in moderate climate areas. If towing or hauling family and all the extras including camping gear and other cargo all the time more frequent drain & fills is a necessity. For short term owners it's not worth the time and expense. In my case I really like the BS, unless it falls apart at the seams I'm going to drive it until Ford comes out with a 7th generation model.

"i'm leasing it for 3 years" then yeah nobody is going to bother.
Otherwise for those in for the long haul your schedule is a good bit more proactive and sensible.

 

[Mark S.]

Plus you cannot lump every Bronco Sport sold to date into one "lifetime" fluid catagory.

Please find the place in your owner's manual that says any of the fluids are "lifetime" fluids.

Or you can buy a new BS and not do any maintenance and see for yourself how far down the road you will get. Good luck with that.

Again, I've never suggested anyone should not perform recommended maintenance. In fact, I've said over and over that owners should follow manufacturer's recommendations. My beef is with recommendations suggesting owners might beat the odds, so to speak, by shortening service intervals, especially regarding fluids. You can discount the danger of unnecessary maintenance, but it's been thoroughly documented, all the way back to WWII. That aside, changing serviceable fluid is tremendously wasteful and bad for the environment. I prefer to do what I can to minimize my environmental footprint.

Or, if you prefer anecdote you can search around on the web and find example after example of cars destroyed by simple maintenance errors. The "data" is there if you really want to find it.

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