Is my AC condenser bad? Have radiator out so...

[RangerSVT]

We are planning the same location and about the same time. We are waiting on FFW for a date, should know by thanksgiving. I'm working on getting a bunch of door prizes and giveaways, so if you can, plan to attend. There is an 1/8 drag, 1/4 drag, auto cross, show n shine, vendors, food, fun for the whole family. This year they had Revel there giving free models away to kids to put together. It was great. We had almost 200 show up this year, over 300 counting the mustangs. We had people as far out as Nebraska and Arizona coming in. I can pm you (and anyone else ) a link if you want to know more about this year's event...

SVT

 

[JoshT]

So any input on the rest of my post up there?

 

[RangerSVT]

Some 4R70W TC's have drain plugs (mine does) so check that first. The method stated for flushing is one way of doing it, but take special care not to run the tranny or tc dry, as this is deadly to the trans. If you put 4 quarts in, drain 1 quart out, then top off.
Leak testing, not much you can do there except have a rad shop test it, shouldn't cost much if anything (or if you have a buddy with an air compressor, a small 12 volt air compressor would work, or event a bicycle pump)...
As far as what the tranny shop said, its possible they already did the break in, but as an owner I would change the fluid after 500 miles on anything new...

SVT

 

[JoshT]

4R70W is the other truck, was just saying I am probably going to buy too much fluid but I'll need it later. Will keep that in mind when I get to it though.

I have got a small HF tire compressor, think that would do it? I'll see if I can figure out a way to block off the ports and put some pressure on the trans cooler using it.

 

[RangerSVT]

The Hf would do it, take a rubber hose and put it on one end, and hold the other with your hand, it doesn't need much pressure. Lay the rad down on the ground, fill it with water on the coolant side til its almost even with the neck, the pressurize the trans cooling side, if no bubbles, your good...

SVT

 

[JoshT]

Well maybe I was panicking over the trans as well. Did that on both radiators, old and new. did just like you said and held thumb over other end. Not sure about what pressure was reached, but both blew my thumb off fitting and no bubbles appeared. Guess that Mercon V is lighter colored that I thought.

I don't like the idea that there was no break in period either, even if the shop did it I don't witness it and wasn't told. With that in mind I'm still going to do the filter change, and am only going to worry about the fluid in the pan. I also picked up a drain plug for the pan, that I'll install. What am thinking now is change fluid and filter now. In a couple hundred miles drain pan again and add same amount that was drained, and repeat one more time. Some of the current fluid may still be in the system, but it should be diluted enough with new fluid not to cause a problem. Then do it all again in 30-45K miles.

Suns down temp is dropping and I got nothing done today except testing the radiator and buying the filter change stuff. Going to go try to at least get the water pump and rad reinstalled tonight, and continue on the trans tomorrow.

 

[RangerSVT]

If you plan to put a bunch of miles on your truck, you might want to consider installing an external trans filter, like I did. I use an FL1A in line on the cooling line going to the rad. It gives me more fluid capacity and filters better than the stock filter, which is more of a screen than a filter. With my dual oil filter setup, I change my engine oil every 5k, trans filter every 10k, and change internal trans filter and fluid change every 50k...

SVT

 

[JoshT]

Last few years it's been about 5K per year. Want to start driving it closer to 10K each year to keep some mileage off the car. Flush or fluid and filter change once every three years isn't a problem.

If I ever start any heavy towing with it I may swap to a larger trans cooler and add an external filter then. Transmission lasted to 165K before rebuild, and I don't think the fluid was ever changed before 100K (I bought it at ~90K). I probably shouldn't have done it then, but I figured if it was going to fail with a fluid change it would have without one. If I keep on it and do a fluid and filter every 30K it aught to last a long time. I have no doubt that it will out last the engine, and probably outlast my ownership of the truck.

I'm kinda thinking a full flush and filter change every 30K might be overkill though. Maybe just drop the pan, change the filter, and top off with fresh fluid every 30K then the whole flush and filter change every 60K. IMO 3 quarts of Mercon V and a filter kit every 3 years, and an extra 6 quarts every 6 years, is cheap insurance without going overkill.