Ford believes the manual transmission on your Explorer can function properly with the same oil for the life of the vehicle. However, it is a good idea to change the transmission fluid if the oil is contaminated, you drove the vehicle through deep water that reached the transmission or bought a used vehicle and want to make sure the oil is in good condition.
Warm up the engine and transmission oil up to operating temperature. The proper temperature is usually reached after 15 or 20 miles of highway driving.
Park your Explorer on level ground.
Turn off the Automatic Ride Control (ARC) system, if your particular Explorer model is equipped with it. You will find the switch behind the jack compartment door in the luggage area.
Raise the front and rear of the vehicle using a floor jack and support it on four jack stands. This will keep the vehicle level to ensure you refill the transmission with the right amount of fluid.
Locate the filler plug around the middle and to one side of the transmission body and the drain plug in the lower area of the transmission body. Then, using a brush and a shop rag, perfectly clean the area around the filler and drain plugs to avoid contamination of the transmission when refilling and replacing the plugs.
Remove the filler plug using a ratchet or breaker bar with a 3/8-inch drive, if the plug has a recessed square head, or an open wrench of the proper size, if the plug has a protruding square head.
Place a drain pan under and in front of the drain plug. Remember that after removing the drain plug, the oil will flow out of the transmission in an arc. Then it will drip straight downward. Make sure to reposition the pan properly to avoid spilling oil on the ground.
Remove the drain plug using a ratchet or breaker bar with a 3/8-inch drive, if the plug has a recessed square head, or an open wrench of the proper size, if the plug has a protruding square head.
Let the oil drain completely for about 10 minutes or more. Then remove the drain pan with the used oil.
Clean the drain plug using a brush and clean shop rag and reinstall the plug on the transmission using the ratchet, breaker bar or open wrench.
Fill the transmission with new transmission oil through the filler hole using a hand pump or squeeze bottle. Consult your car owner’s manual for the correct amount and type of oil for your particular vehicle year and model.
Reach inside the filler hole with your little finger to make sure the oil level is at the bottom of the filler hole. If necessary, add more oil.
Clean the filler plug using a brush and a clean shop rag and then reinstall the plug using the ratchet, breaker bar or open wrench.
Lower the vehicle.
Turn on the ARC system switch, if your particular Explorer model is equipped with it, and check for oil leaks after the first few miles of driving.
