Tonight, I did some research on the recommended transmission fluid service intervals for MY2006 Fords. Here are my findings:
Passenger Cars:
Change the automatic transmission fluid only every 30,000 miles, under normal, everyday driving conditions, for all vehicles equipped with a 4F50N or 4F27E transmission. Vehicles equipped with the 4F50N or 4F27E transmission include the Focus, Freestar, Taurus, and Windstar
Change the automatic transmission fluid and high-pressure case filter every 60,000 miles, under normal, everyday driving conditions, for all vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission.
If your vehicle is equipped with neither a 4F50N nor 4F27E transmission, and is driven under normal, everyday driving conditions, change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every 150,000 miles. If your vehicle is equipped with a 4F50N or 4F27E transmission, even though you are changing the fluid only every 30,000 miles, the filter must still be replaced every 150,000 miles. Note: There is no transmission filter on the Aisin-Warner 6-spd transmission used in the Ford 500 vehicles.
SUVs/Trucks:
Change the automatic transmission fluid and remote case filter, every 30,000 miles, under all conditions, if your vehicle is equipped with a 5R110W (Torqshift) transmission, such as the one in 6.0 Powerstroke Diesels.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the 5R110W (Torqshift) transmission, change the transmission fluid and filter every 150,000 miles. Note: CD4E transmission used in the Escape contains no serviceable filter.
Special Conditions:
If your vehicle is used for towing, or low speed driving for extended distances, change the fluid only every 30,000 miles, except for the Ford 6R60 transmission. Continue to replace the transmission filter every 150,000 miles except for the CVT transmission, which should have its filter replaced every 60,000 miles.
Service methods:
Ford’s standpoint on flushing and fluid discoloration:
[ June 05, 2006, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: The Critic ]
Passenger Cars:
Change the automatic transmission fluid only every 30,000 miles, under normal, everyday driving conditions, for all vehicles equipped with a 4F50N or 4F27E transmission. Vehicles equipped with the 4F50N or 4F27E transmission include the Focus, Freestar, Taurus, and Windstar
Change the automatic transmission fluid and high-pressure case filter every 60,000 miles, under normal, everyday driving conditions, for all vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission.
If your vehicle is equipped with neither a 4F50N nor 4F27E transmission, and is driven under normal, everyday driving conditions, change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every 150,000 miles. If your vehicle is equipped with a 4F50N or 4F27E transmission, even though you are changing the fluid only every 30,000 miles, the filter must still be replaced every 150,000 miles. Note: There is no transmission filter on the Aisin-Warner 6-spd transmission used in the Ford 500 vehicles.
SUVs/Trucks:
Change the automatic transmission fluid and remote case filter, every 30,000 miles, under all conditions, if your vehicle is equipped with a 5R110W (Torqshift) transmission, such as the one in 6.0 Powerstroke Diesels.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the 5R110W (Torqshift) transmission, change the transmission fluid and filter every 150,000 miles. Note: CD4E transmission used in the Escape contains no serviceable filter.
Special Conditions:
If your vehicle is used for towing, or low speed driving for extended distances, change the fluid only every 30,000 miles, except for the Ford 6R60 transmission. Continue to replace the transmission filter every 150,000 miles except for the CVT transmission, which should have its filter replaced every 60,000 miles.
Service methods:
Ford’s standpoint on flushing and fluid discoloration:
Is it just me, or is it that Ford is writing their maintenance guide with a recipe for disaster. Almost like the VW/Audi owner's manuals, which ultimately led to oil sludge problems. I can already see where the average user can misinterpret or misunderstand the maintenance guide, such as with the usage of transmission model numbers as part of the text, instead of mentioning actual vehicle models equipped with a particular transmission. Their many “exceptions” and “in addition to” requirements seem somewhat overwhelming to a Joe Blow.quote:
In many cases, fluid discoloration is a normal operating characteristic of the chemical compound and may not necessarily demonstrate that a fluid needs to be changed. Oils and Fluids identified in the Owner’s Maintenance Guide should be changed at the specified interval or in conjunction with a repair.
Flushing is a viable way to change fluid for many vehicle sub-systems during scheduled maintenance and should only be done using the same fluid required to finish the maintenance procedure, or a Ford approved flushing chemical.
[ June 05, 2006, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: The Critic ]