When is 5r110 end of life?

[vandiesel]

My van has 225k on. I have been going through it replacing and upgrading most of the drivetrain as I break it or it wears out. Engine was new and built as I would spec at 170k. My tranny is original as far as I can tell. My buddy who builds KOH rigs and such thinks I need to replace it preventatively as he says they are good for 250k. I think my van lived a hard life before me towing and living in Vegas not to mention it started life as the scott goggle factory rig. I have images of stoner skiers (no judgement) thrashing it hard. Anyway I already did the tru-cool, deep pan, upgraded filter, and either a new solenoid or sensor when a code tripped. As I like to get deep off grid and push it hard I am tending to lean towards his advice of replacement. I've been stranded by trannys twice in my old van with the 4r100. My regular mechanic disagrees. Anyone knowledgeable (carringb) care to chime in here? I don't want to spend money for the sake of spending money, but an ounce of prevention is cheaper than a pound of cure as they say.

[86Scotty]

"As I like to get deep off grid and push it hard I am tending to lean towards his advice of replacement."

For this reason you'll probably never feel confident way off the beaten path without replacing it. It's honestly not a huge cost as far as these rigs go. I'd look at one of the primo tranny builders building you a bulletproof one.

However, I just bought a 2011 with the 5r110 and it's the last part I'm worried about. I've never heard of anyone having trouble with one. My tranny guy (30 years now retired) said he had never rebuilt a 5r110 up to a few years ago when he retired. That could just be coincidence but they had been out many years at that point. He said they were very tough.

[Twoxentrix]

I’m with you vandiesel - replacing a lot of stuff because I’ve convinced myself it’s a proactive approach…and for piece of mind. Havent had any issues with my 5r110, and religiously change the fluid & filter about every 12-15k miles - but still planning on replacing it in 2023. Going with a new one because of the Mileage it’s already racked up (203,000)…as Eric mentions in his reply (even though it may be considered ‘unnessassary’ by many), I’ll just feel more confident. So I say DO IT.

[JoeH]

Man that's a high dollar item! Should go 300k with regular maintenance. Folks probably know this but you can put the 6.4 pan on it with a bigger filter instead of the inline toilet paper roll filter.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by JoeH

Man that's a high dollar item! Should go 300k with regular maintenance. Folks probably know this but you can put the 6.4 pan on it with a bigger filter instead of the inline toilet paper roll filter.

I'm confused. My 2011 V10/5r110 does not have an inline filter. I've read that is only F-series trucks. Do the diesels have an inline filter or something?

[carringb]

I would leave good enough alone

It's a durable transmission, and failures are rare. Failures without prior symptoms are even more rare.

The one achilles is the "swap-shift" strategy where the timing of the 3rd gear disengagement to 4th gear engagement has to be precise, otherwise some parts try to move in opposite directions at the same time. If this shift becomes harsh or delayed, it's either time for new fluid, or your battery voltage is out-of-spec.

Just like the FICM, trying to limp along with a bad alternator can cause bad things to happen in the transmission, because some much is dependent on expected voltage. Likewise, if the the battery is out long enough to reset the PCM, drive gently for the first 10 miles, while it relearns the shift strategy (there's a way to perform an "Engagement Schedule" relearn in the shop... but fluid has to be at 135F so it's easier to just drive it).

I use to worry about my 4R100 too. Probably around 150k I started wondering if I should also change mine out preventatively. I even got quotes for remans. But I never had any adverse symptoms, other than a couple times it puked up fluid because I got it way too hot. But it always drove fine once it cooled down.

Still drives like new at 510,000 miles on the factory 4R100! Well over half of that has been towing heavy, with a typical combined weight of 22k.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

I'm confused. My 2011 V10/5r110 does not have an inline filter. I've read that is only F-series trucks. Do the diesels have an inline filter or something?

My 2005 has the external inline filter but I also have a 6.0 psd. Either way, the filter in the pan is really just a screen. With the bigger pan there is room for a good full flow filter.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by JoeH

My 2005 has the external inline filter but I also have a 6.0 psd. Either way, the filter in the pan is really just a screen. With the bigger pan there is room for a good full flow filter.

There's a real filter in mine, not a screen. It's a 2011 and I just serviced it. Just like any other transmission filter I've ever seen. Perhaps your setup is different.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=8600&jsn=947

Originally Posted by carringb

(there's a way to perform an "Engagement Schedule" relearn in the shop... but fluid has to be at 135F so it's easier to just drive it).

I'm pretty sure I found this in Forscan the other day but I didn't try it since I have no reason to. Anyway, Forscan at approximately $0 is better than paying a shop to do it if you are so inclined.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

There's a real filter in mine, not a screen. It's a 2011 and I just serviced it. Just like any other transmission filter I've ever seen. Perhaps your setup is different.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=8600&jsn=947

As I understand it the filtering is better because of a finer filtering media. That increases the fluid change interval but better at catching the debris particles that gunk the solenoids. That's what I meant about the screen comment. Perhaps an exaggeration but the bigger particles are not what cause solenoids to stick.

Either way, it's a cheap upgrade option as far as upgrades go and quite likely will prolong the life of a 5R110.

[deserteagle56]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

I'm confused. My 2011 V10/5r110 does not have an inline filter. I've read that is only F-series trucks. Do the diesels have an inline filter or something?

Here's a shot of the external filter housing on my 5R110 on my 2007 with the V10. It takes a Motorcraft FT-145 filter.