Pace Arrow: Transmission Fluid

[Qstaar17]

I have a 1997 Fleetwood PaceArrow. F53 7.5L V8 Gas. E4OD Transmission. I know the transmission fluid capacity is 16.4 quarts but I’m just doing a pan drop. My dipstick is hard to read and my fluid add pipe is broken or the previous owner had an extension on there that’s broke. My question is, those of you with the same Ford engine. About how many quarts did you have to add after dropping the pan?

[wolfe10]

Buy more than you think it may take.


Measure what you take out and replace that.


Save a quart or so for topping off.


Return the rest.

[Qstaar17]

I found the answer in the service manual. It says 6.5 quarts. I’ll start there and do my best to verify. Thanks

[donr103]

I have seen where you can repair dip stick tube with simple compression fitting.. pleas tell us the color of the trans oil before and after.. and let us know when was last it trans oil was changed.. and if you find any stuff in pan, gunk ?. There will be still a lot more trapped inside trans and torque converter.. I suggest that you get a oil changer that sucks out through dipstick if pan does not have drain tube..run for a while with new oil and do it again.. total of 2 times, that will get you 90% all changes out.. I don't recommend flush on older trans.. unless you know trans has had by the book maintenance or there is trouble.. always keep ford A,O,D, E trans oil Color bright pink.. if it starts to change color get it out.. drain or vac out.. if you pull a toad or go up mountains then change yearly but keep eye on colours.. when is last time changed diff, p/s and brake fluids.. if you don't have a drain plug in pan, now is good time to put one in.. don't use gasket that comes with filter. Order best one, the reusable kind. They are thicker and better and cost more than filter and gasket kit. Just save back the cheap gasket in the kit.. for emergency.. I only change filter once every 5yrs or 8yrs I don't pull anything.. I vac out trans oil through dipstick with added icemaker plastic line about 15ft added to hand pump vac pump.. every year.. my ford A,O,D,E, is now 31yrs old and no problems.. I also run 2 inline coolers. One before and 1 after radiator.. look up transmission oil temps versus transmission life on Google and you will see why I do it that a way.. good luck and let us know what you did

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by donr103

I have seen where you can repair dip stick tube with simple compression fitting.. pleas tell us the color of the trans oil before and after.. and let us know when was last it trans oil was changed.. and if you find any stuff in pan, gunk ?. There will be still a lot more trapped inside trans and torque converter.. I suggest that you get a oil changer that sucks out through dipstick if pan does not have drain tube..run for a while with new oil and do it again.. total of 2 times, that will get you 90% all changes out.. I don't recommend flush on older trans.. unless you know trans has had by the book maintenance or there is trouble.. always keep ford A,O,D, E trans oil Color bright pink.. if it starts to change color get it out.. drain or vac out.. if you pull a toad or go up mountains then change yearly but keep eye on colours.. when is last time changed diff, p/s and brake fluids.. if you don't have a drain plug in pan, now is good time to put one in.. don't use gasket that comes with filter. Order best one, the reusable kind. They are thicker and better and cost more than filter and gasket kit. Just save back the cheap gasket in the kit.. for emergency.. I only change filter once every 5yrs or 8yrs I don't pull anything.. I vac out trans oil through dipstick with added icemaker plastic line about 15ft added to hand pump vac pump.. every year.. my ford A,O,D,E, is now 31yrs old and no problems.. I also run 2 inline coolers. One before and 1 after radiator.. look up transmission oil temps versus transmission life on Google and you will see why I do it that a way.. good luck and let us know what you did

I dropped the pan (no drain plug) and it had a lot of metal shavings around the magnet. A hand full. Got it all cleaned out and reinstalled. Fluid was still pink so I didn’t drain the torque converter. I added 6.5 quarts of Mercon V, Started engine and went through each gear. It seemed fine. Still having a hard time determining my level with the dip stick because of the broken tube and difficult to read stick. I’m going to go out again and try to determine my level.

[donr103]

There has to be some kind of repair kit.. hit the web, repair kit for ford van trans dipstick tube.. both ford van and rv use a compression fitting.. it's brass.. I swear it looks like standard plumbing compression fitting.. so hit the plumbing section hardware store.. maybe if not broken near exhaust you can use hi temp heater hose and 2 clamps.. as to the metal shaving, are they large ? Do you or has it ever pulled a toad..? Sludge stuff ok unless excessive, but shiny could be trouble down the road.. Google ford trans temps versus transmission life.. keep us posted.. and get yourself a oil vac pump, and 1/4 plastic icemaker line.. fish icemaker line down trans dipstick tube and suck out 2 more times between running.. and that will change 90% of remaining oil.. then just vac out as you want to change.. makes job so much easier. You can Google how to add a gauge to trans for ford AODE, I have one on mine.. it's temp send goes in driver's side of trans test post, also scan gauge 2 works.. I wanted gauge..

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by donr103

There has to be some kind of repair kit.. hit the web, repair kit for ford van trans dipstick tube.. both ford van and rv use a compression fitting.. it's brass.. I swear it looks like standard plumbing compression fitting.. so hit the plumbing section hardware store.. maybe if not broken near exhaust you can use hi temp heater hose and 2 clamps.. as to the metal shaving, are they large ? Do you or has it ever pulled a toad..? Sludge stuff ok unless excessive, but shiny could be trouble down the road.. Google ford trans temps versus transmission life.. keep us posted.. and get yourself a oil vac pump, and 1/4 plastic icemaker line.. fish icemaker line down trans dipstick tube and suck out 2 more times between running.. and that will change 90% of remaining oil.. then just vac out as you want to change.. makes job so much easier. You can Google how to add a gauge to trans for ford AODE, I have one on mine.. it's temp send goes in driver's side of trans test post, also scan gauge 2 works.. I wanted gauge..

It was a bunch of small shavings around the magnet. The RV had 20,000 miles on it when I bought it. It now has 60,000 and l’ve never towed anything. Will look into adding a gage. I have an added oil pressure gauge. Or at least I believe it’s for the oil.

[donr103]

I started playing with transmissions at about 10yrs old.. 51yrs ago.. I am no expert.. not a transmission tech.. just an opinion.. I take it all is working right.. get yourself 15ft 1/4 plastic icemaker line.. and a oil vac pump.. I would run trans on 2 short trips.. 1st shot trip then vac out as much oil as you can.. change with new.. do again.. just vac out dipstick.. you will not get dirty.. takes 15mins or less.. then in 12,000 miles or 2 yrs.. check pan again and Change oil and filter.. next.. do some website research on trans oil temps and life expectancy of trans.. make your own decisions on if you want to upgrade trans cooler.. or add another one.. I would buy a small electric fan.. 5 or 6in on and it's simple to add to existing cooler.. and put a rocker switch on dash.. the way I look at it.. I believe the trans cooler is before radiator.. the way I look at it.. you want as much heat out before it goes into radiator.. so you don't tax the radiator.. also where it coming out of radiator I am adding another cooler.. these trans can get hot fast.. and the colder you run them the longer they last.. that is what I have found.. you can do upgrade in steps.. until you are happy.. a new one. Is running as high as 10.000 installed and the wait.. some members don't care or think they will have coach that long.. or use it that much.. or go for rebuild.. not me.. I plan to keep mine for next 100yrs so I want mine to last that long.. but what ever you do.. keep very close eye on oil Color and if it changes get it out.. if you do mountains get it out.. shiny metal shaving are showing wear and that's from heat.. also shine a very good flashlights behind a/c condenser, make sure radiator is not clogged, do same for condenser and trans cooler.. that's free.. make sure fan clutch is good. Think about changing coolant that needs to be done every 5yrs no matter miles.. and put in lowest thermostat you are comfortable with.. I run 160 and my 2000 runs great.. I have stock trans cooler, added 6in fan, and a d erale, 13700 oil cooler after radiator next step for me is deep performance pan.. I have not on mine gone up any mountain yet, but I plan to.. and tow 1,000 pound motorcycle with 1,000 lift.. but my dad's rv would climb to 320 with aftermarket gauge not towing anything.. .. that's too high for me.. he dumped it in 10yrs so next guy got it.. he did not care.. now if you plan to run in zero temps.. just cover extra cooler or don't use the fan.. many here will say 160 too low.. maybe if it is new and in warranty.. GM only runs that high to meet epa.. for fleet emission certification.. they don't need it and I past every year go every car with no cats still past when they were testing.. it would only show a very small increase but we'll with in limits.. now you have to keep tune in top performance.. but they always pass and no cats.. now it is illegal to pay someone to remove cats.. but you own it.. it's your personal property. You can do what you want, as long as it passes. You can buy a used vehicles any way you want.. so if they are gone.. and most are.. it up to you to pass sniffer test.. if no test .. no worries .. but it all up to you.. I love the members here and have great respect for them and all their opinions.. and I love it when people work and Change their coach to meet their needs and I love to look at them all.. life is really cool and people do some wild things.. as always good luck and let us know what you did and maybe better members then me will help you.. just an old gearheads opinion..

[donr103]

I know yours is ford, i have 31yrs ford hi top conversation van, same trans.. i have just one very, very. Large trans cooler on it from day i got 92 along with one inside radiator.. , and driven all over usa and never a moment's problem.. did same to eng.. 351w.. and past evey time.. i will be driving it until i die .. it's big, comfortable and gets great mileage.. and paid for..

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by donr103

I started playing with transmissions at about 10yrs old.. 51yrs ago.. I am no expert.. not a transmission tech.. just an opinion.. I take it all is working right.. get yourself 15ft 1/4 plastic icemaker line.. and a oil vac pump.. I would run trans on 2 short trips.. 1st shot trip then vac out as much oil as you can.. change with new.. do again.. just vac out dipstick.. you will not get dirty.. takes 15mins or less.. then in 12,000 miles or 2 yrs.. check pan again and Change oil and filter.. next.. do some website research on trans oil temps and life expectancy of trans.. make your own decisions on if you want to upgrade trans cooler.. or add another one.. I would buy a small electric fan.. 5 or 6in on and it's simple to add to existing cooler.. and put a rocker switch on dash.. the way I look at it.. I believe the trans cooler is before radiator.. the way I look at it.. you want as much heat out before it goes into radiator.. so you don't tax the radiator.. also where it coming out of radiator I am adding another cooler.. these trans can get hot fast.. and the colder you run them the longer they last.. that is what I have found.. you can do upgrade in steps.. until you are happy.. a new one. Is running as high as 10.000 installed and the wait.. some members don't care or think they will have coach that long.. or use it that much.. or go for rebuild.. not me.. I plan to keep mine for next 100yrs so I want mine to last that long.. but what ever you do.. keep very close eye on oil Color and if it changes get it out.. if you do mountains get it out.. shiny metal shaving are showing wear and that's from heat.. also shine a very good flashlights behind a/c condenser, make sure radiator is not clogged, do same for condenser and trans cooler.. that's free.. make sure fan clutch is good. Think about changing coolant that needs to be done every 5yrs no matter miles.. and put in lowest thermostat you are comfortable with.. I run 160 and my 2000 runs great.. I have stock trans cooler, added 6in fan, and a d erale, 13700 oil cooler after radiator next step for me is deep performance pan.. I have not on mine gone up any mountain yet, but I plan to.. and tow 1,000 pound motorcycle with 1,000 lift.. but my dad's rv would climb to 320 with aftermarket gauge not towing anything.. .. that's too high for me.. he dumped it in 10yrs so next guy got it.. he did not care.. now if you plan to run in zero temps.. just cover extra cooler or don't use the fan.. many here will say 160 too low.. maybe if it is new and in warranty.. GM only runs that high to meet epa.. for fleet emission certification.. they don't need it and I past every year go every car with no cats still past when they were testing.. it would only show a very small increase but we'll with in limits.. now you have to keep tune in top performance.. but they always pass and no cats.. now it is illegal to pay someone to remove cats.. but you own it.. it's your personal property. You can do what you want, as long as it passes. You can buy a used vehicles any way you want.. so if they are gone.. and most are.. it up to you to pass sniffer test.. if no test .. no worries .. but it all up to you.. I love the members here and have great respect for them and all their opinions.. and I love it when people work and Change their coach to meet their needs and I love to look at them all.. life is really cool and people do some wild things.. as always good luck and let us know what you did and maybe better members then me will help you.. just an old gearheads opinion..

Lots of great information. ThankYou

[Qstaar17]

Awesome. I love it when they remain reliable