So my 2002 5speed has 172k miles, the tranny runs just fine, no problems with it. But I do believe that the tranny has never been flushed/changed/etc.

I read many things, some people say you shouldn't flush the tranny but drain & refill it, and others say you need to flash it. Keep it mine its a 5speed, not an auto. I just read on this forum that the M5OD tranny uses ATF? Is this correct? How do you check the level of the fluid. Does it have ATF? Should I flush it? Or drain & refill it? What is the best place? An oil lube place, or at a ford dealer ship? And how much would it cost via a flush or drain&refill.

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to keep up my tranny. Thank you for everyone's help.

There's no need to flush a manual transmission, gravity does that for you.

There are two plugs, a drain plug and a fill plug.

The procedure is to remove the drain plug, allow the oil to drain, then install it.

Remove the fill plug and add oil until it runs out of the hole. Install the fill plug, clean up any mess, and you're done.

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2011 Ranger XLT Supercab 4.0

Thank you for that info, do what type of oil does it use? And is there a guide or some place with images of these two plugs?

For my truck it's Mercon V ATF.

Your owners manual should have that info. Look here: https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

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2011 Ranger XLT Supercab 4.0

I check that, and it doesn't really give a good image(s) of the two plugs on the transmission, it only shows an image of a bolt/plug, does not show where on the tranny, or even a tranny image on the manual tranny fluid section.

there both on the driver side of the tanny and i think there labeled drain and fill

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2003 fx4 levelII 4.0 5speed manual t-case 4.10 gears with eaton E locker in the back.

2001 mountaineer 5.0 awd loaded and stock

2004 chevy 3500 cclb dually duramax

They are on the drivers side about 1/3 of the way up the tranny from the drive shaft.

use synthetic oil if you can afford it

My 97 owners maunal says Mercon ATF for my 5 speed stick, NOT Mercon V. So make sure its not the V if it doesn't sat that. You have 170K on that tranny, I woudnt touch it if I were you. Its been going all this time and when you start messing with it, it loosens all the dirt up and you start having issues. If you had lower miles then yes I think its ok. Mine only has 66K on it so i'm going to do mine.

Thank you Mikeys, I've read not to do it with high miles, but can anyone give me more opinions on the topic if I should or shouldn't?

You should change it. Oil breaks down.

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon