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Ecoboost Performance => Troubleshooting, Maintenance, TSB Articles => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:02:46 AM

Title: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:02:46 AM
dropped my 13 pp off at the service dept at the ford dealer I work at. I have the same cooled ptu as the interceptors, and ford states that those should have the fluid exchanged every 30k miles, but not the civilian models? anyways, I am at just under 58k miles, and having the ford 75w140 replaced with amsoil 75w140. the fluid cost me $18 or so, and the labor will be about $46. hopefully things pan out. maybe i'll even notice an improvement of some sort! I plan on doing it every 30k, which is basically at least once a year. I bought the car used in july 2015 with 27k miles.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 10:07:06 AM
Where does it state that fluid change interval?...have the literature?

They are only charging 1/2 hr labor to drop the downpipe? And drain and fill and reinstall the pipe?.....thats surprising
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:08:22 AM
employee rate. $46/hr. I will try to find the webpage with the interval recommendation.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: SHOdded on April 20, 2016, 10:11:25 AM
Good luck, cseverens, let's see what they actually do.  Would be nice to video the whole thing!
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 10:13:14 AM
Even an hour is hard for me to believe thats all they would charge
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:15:28 AM
Quote from: SHOdded on April 20, 2016, 10:11:25 AM
Good luck, cseverens, let's see what they actually do.  Would be nice to video the whole thing!

I'm actually a mile away from the service dept, so I can't watch/video. sorry.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:42:28 AM
Quote from: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 10:07:06 AM
Where does it state that fluid change interval?...have the literature?

damnit. I reset my internet settings this morning and can't find the link anymore. not sure what I used for a search phrase. sorry.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 10:55:10 AM
Quote from: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 10:42:28 AM
Quote from: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 10:07:06 AM
Where does it state that fluid change interval?...have the literature?

damnit. I reset my internet settings this morning and can't find the link anymore. not sure what I used for a search phrase. sorry.

I thought ford was pretty stead fast kn the idea that its a lifetime fluid no matter the vehicle

Ford really needs to address the issue of some dealers performing a service and some not
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 11:02:23 AM
Ford really needs to address the issue of some dealers performing a service and some not.[/quote]

this is true. if it has a drain plug, I see no issue why it can't be serviced, but dealers don't want to take risks I guess. I went into the electronic workshop manual for an interceptor sedan, and it gives the tool number to use to fill the ptu, and the step by step, so imho, it's serviceable. I have it saved as a pdf, if anyone wants to tell me how to attach it to this post.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 11:16:37 AM
I have the service manual also...it has the procedure for every ptu and the steps to do it....i dont believe there is anything specific for the PI
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 20, 2016, 11:19:01 AM
Quote from: AJP turbo on April 20, 2016, 11:16:37 AM
i dont believe there is anything specific for the PI

same here. I just happened to pick the interceptor over the taurus thinking it probably wouldn't list a service procedure with the regular version.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: markssho on April 20, 2016, 09:18:06 PM
If under warranty:
My dealer told me that if they changed the fluid, since Ford does not recommend it, and it failed, they would be on the hook to replace it. It would be a recorded service.
However, if I have someone else change the fluid, and it fails while under warranty, no issue for warranty claim.
Dunnooo...

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Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: cseverens on April 21, 2016, 07:34:37 AM
i am just curious why there is a drain plug if there was no plan to make it serviceable?? also, is gear oil that much better than regular oil? if you never changed the fluid in your engine, you can rest assure it will fail. they never got around to working on my car yesterday, so I have nothing to report yet. I dropped it off again this morning. we'll see what happens.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: ZSHO on April 21, 2016, 09:04:18 AM
Quote from: cseverens on April 21, 2016, 07:34:37 AM
i am just curious why there is a drain plug if there was no plan to make it serviceable?? also, is gear oil that much better than regular oil? if you never changed the fluid in your engine, you can rest assure it will fail. they never got around to working on my car yesterday, so I have nothing to report yet. I dropped it off again this morning. we'll see what happens.
If you would be kind enough to add your signature,thanks.  Z   :)
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: ZSHO on April 21, 2016, 09:43:41 AM
Here are a couple of links that you might fund useful on the PI.  Z     A module keeps track of oil temperature in the PTU and the amount of time spent at that temperature. An electric clutch pack engages and disengages as torque is transferred to the rear wheels.
Both the PI Sedan and PI Utility default to FWD under normal conditions. As the front wheels slip, torque is selectively diverted to the rear wheels. A time versus temp logarithm activates an Oil Minder light in the driver message center if and when it is time to change the PTU fluid. The special synthetic oil may last 100K miles in normal police use.    http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=5091 (http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=5091)  http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=4966 (http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=4966)
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: 13TTPI on June 16, 2016, 12:17:16 AM
Those are very informative articles for sure, thank for digging them up.  Makes me feel very fortunate to have found my car and with such low miles.  Not to brag, but maybe a little - the car was found by my bro who works at a blue oval dealership on an auction site @ 18,9 plus 800 to ship and I managed to get a premium care to like 100k just in case.  So I financed $24 and when the car arrived it already had some quality lighting components.  Who needs rear sun screens, my touch, heated cooled seats, or memory anyway!  The car came from Boyer Ford in Minneapolis btw, must have sat somewhere on a back lot for several years judging from the fading on the roof trim, and there were a bunch of pine needles piled up in the valley behind the engine. Sorry to hijack the thread, thanks.


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Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: sholxgt on June 16, 2016, 12:09:20 PM
Since this thread came back up, I will add...

My wife works for a Lincoln dealership.  They are a dealer network of several Ford/Lincoln dealers and they service the PD cars is each of their towns.  ALL of the PD vehicles get a PTU fluid change every 30,000 miles as part of their standard service.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: SHOdded on June 16, 2016, 12:12:48 PM
Quote from: sholxgt on June 16, 2016, 12:09:20 PM
ALL of the PD vehicles get a PTU fluid change every 30,000 miles as part of their standard service.
Good to know :thumb:
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: sholxgt on June 16, 2016, 12:41:37 PM
FWIW, these PD's also elect to do an intake cleaning service, similar to BG, every 30,000 miles.

The other information I got from the service manager is they go through a LOT of brakes.  LOL

I imagine some PD's want their old Interceptors back.  Cheap to maintain and easy on parts.  I can tell you since I traded one in on my MKS that the downside is they were slow.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: Heelfan1 on September 08, 2016, 02:15:05 PM
Went ahead and had my PTU fluid changed today. Had a friend do it that owns a shop and he said that the fluid was pretty black and a little metal on the plug but nothing that concerned him. He said that he figured out why I didn't do it myself that even on a lift it was a PIA.
Title: Re: ptu fluid exchange
Post by: SHOdded on September 08, 2016, 02:52:51 PM
Worse with a  PP-equipped SHO!  Good you got it done.  A little metal on the plug is nothing to worry about, the plug is magnetic.
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