5 spd fluid change---what fluid?

[OlGeezer]

My orig owned, 94 MTX is overdue for 5 spd trans fluid change...over these past 22 yrs, I have taken it to a Jiffy
**** [or similar] place, few times.....But lately when visiting for oil change on wife's car, seem to notice "obsolete" on older fluids? Or is it my ignorance...? I read thru some of the older threads here...haven't really seen a recent post with a known alternative to the orig Mercon fluid...Would like to conside r Mobil 1 AFT...but unsure how a JiffyLube would accomplish the change using quart bottles....Any help appreciated...Too old to be doing this myself...! And , if not, what Mercon number is correct..?
Side note: I'm little "leary" of Jiffy's mgrs, [corp even],,,as they tried to tell me my wife's car was correct for the 5W-30 they were putting in the eng,,,All the overhead dispensers are no longer using 10W-30...They finally agreed, and dumped, refilled engine with bottles...As for using a Ford dealer...Recall several yrs ago, I tried, they said "not recommended to change",.,see ya!

 

[zoomlater]

I just replaced the tranny fluid on my 92 using Valvoline Dex/Merc from O'reilly's. Does Jiffy **** really do tranny fluid changes on an MTX? I used a vacuum/bottle/tube method to pull it out through the fill hole on the front of the tranny. It still took awhile to get most of it out. You can refill it using a long tube connected to a funnel.

 

[OlGeezer]

Thnx for reply....Both Jiffy and Grease Monkey have done the fluid before ....Think they drained it thru the bottom rear case bolt...? Anyhow....Thought the oils had a "number" to be certain of correctness...and doubt that either place will do a slow suck out, and slow refill thru a tube? I can recall few yrs ago, watching and they refilled from one of the overhead hoses...but, it was several yrs ago, and the "replaceable " fluids, I could see numbers, were correct at that time...the new fluid gives me concern for compatibility to the old Mercon we should use...!

 

[SHOdded]

A search pulled up this thread, might be useful:
http://shoforum.com/index.php?threads/how-to-change-fluid-on-92-mtx.112661/

 

[rubydist]

any atf will be fine, as the viscosity of the various versions of atf are not that different from each other.

different people report differing results with the various brands of atf, one swears it shifts better with this brand, another with a different brand, etc. my conclusion is that 1. each person has a different idea of what "shifts better" means, and 2. different transmissions have different personalities.

 

[thegreatbriguy]

you have got to look up videos on jiffy **** not doing services they billed for. it is quite eye opening. seems to me an mtx on the sho would be in this category.

 

[NOTAURIUS]

I also doubt they drained it with a case bolt. The best thing you can do is research the drain plug mod and drill/tap for one. My personal recommendation for fluid would be the Pennzoil Synchromesh available at Advance Auto.

 

[OlGeezer]

Thnx to all, especially to SHOdded for finding that past thread...Yes...that's what I was concerned about...Jiffy **** does scare me TODAY !.....several yrs
ago, the costs to do it was $24.99....about three yrs ago it jumped to $49.99...[saved all my receipts]...I didn't mind...as the mgr oversaw the job, and I also squatted down in front of car while the pit guy did the drain and fill...Sorta looked like it was thru the lower case bolt...Anyhow, I called same place today..the price quoted was
$148.99....Yikes I said...He says cause it takes 6.2 quarts of atf....What ? Not possible I said...Told him he must be looking at wrong specs [auto trans]...Nope he said..

Next, I may try the newly opened "Valvoline "quick serv ..[replaced the Grease Monkey]...Called them...they said service is $69.99....conventional AFT ..
He was stumped when I asked if they could substitute Synthetic ATF...at cost increase...Soooo, sorta seems that these places are not very experienced in Manual trans fluid changes anymore....perhaps the jumping prices are reflecting newer 4 whdr 's or other vehicles with difficult to reach trans, requiring lots of disassembly...cuz, seems to me $70 or $148 is too high for 5 min job...compared to Eng oil change up to 5 1/2 qts and filter and all other touchups, is only $34.99.... And I would have
concern on just how "universally compatible" their overhead dispensed ATF really is when used in "gear boxes"..Ideally, I would like to find
a shop that would drain thru the shift bolt, and refill with synth fluid, thru a funnel and tube no doubt...yup...the good ol corner gas station....days gone.!
And, yes to NOTAURIUS...That does seem like the best way...but I'm too old and unable to work under the car on jacks...as well as drill/tap....so I need the service shops.....guess they just don't need SHO's...

 

[mph1001]

The manual calls for Type F atf that should still be available at most auto parts stores. I found some at Oreillys. It holds 6.1 pints.

As far as the big name **** places, I'd avoid them like the plague. I took a Hyundai Accent to Jiffy **** here in NM about a year ago to have the trans gear oil changed. I normally do it myself but it was cold out and the trans was grinding going into 2nd pretty bad and seemed to be getting worse. I already had another trans to swap in but was waiting for warmer weather and figured fresh oil would buy me a little time. They told me $79.99. I might hold a quart and a half. Needless to say I did it myself.

I'd look for a small mom and pop owned garage and talk to them and see what kind of response you get.

 

[rubydist]

...Anyhow, I called same place today..the price quoted was
$148.99....Yikes I said...He says cause it takes 6.2 quarts of atf....What ? Not possible I said...Told him he must be looking at wrong specs [auto trans]...Nope he said..

Guys like that are what gives places like Jiffy **** a bad name. The spec is 6.1 PINTS of atf, not 6.2 quarts. The guy apparently can't even read...

I know there are a lot of guys here who hate taking their cars to the dealership, but at least there you have a factory certified tech doing the work, not some kid who may have been at McDonalds last week.

 

[OlGeezer]

Yup...$80 sounds too pricey for Hyundia tran drain and fill...Not sure whats going on lately....Fed Gov't tells me last week that I will be receiving
zero % cost of living increase for 2016 on my Soc Sec check..cause there is no inflation...Ummm.
I checked my owners manual...states "Mercon ATF...does not say type F....If memory serves, that F is very old formula...1960's and well before gear
boxes were engineered to survive on ATF...But I could be wrong...Interesting about the 6.1 pints....maybe that's where the Jiffy mechanic mis-stated it
as he was justifying the high cost and thought it was "quarts"..... !
Small Mom and Pop garage....Nowhere to be found in central NJ anymore...so it seems...

 

[OlGeezer]

Guys like that are what gives places like Jiffy **** a bad name. The spec is 6.1 PINTS of atf, not 6.2 quarts. The guy apparently can't even read...

I know there are a lot of guys here who hate taking their cars to the dealership, but at least there you have a factory certified tech doing the work, not some kid who may have been at McDonalds last week.

 

[OlGeezer]

I would love to take this car to ford dealer for this fluid change...But, several yrs ago I tried that...Mgr said NO...Not a recommended service on MTX
Maybe I should re-try...Lost interest in dealing with dealer...They would NOT perform the 120k eng service...Obsolete...

 

[luigisho]

You could get a hand pump, funnel and some tubing and do it yourself. There is a fluid level hole near the top of the case. You need a pump to draw out the old stuff and you can route longer tubing and a funnel to gravity feed in the new stuff. Or you could call around until you get a shop that can do what you want with the correct replacement fluid. I like independent shops that are run by ex dealer techs.

 

[rubydist]

BTW, the spec is MERCON atf, not type F.

 

[OlGeezer]

BTW, the spec is MERCON atf, not type F.

Yup.....I trusted my memory enuf to recall type F was NOT correct...Hope mph1001 didn't actually use it..! What seems to concern me,
was the Dexron that universally replaces all this, has few different number classifications...and vaguely recall that several yrs ago, when having
"Grease Monkey" do the service, thye had to reschedule me, as the particular NEW Dexron they had was not correct for my older Mercon..or something
like that....anyway..I'll persue either buying a pump to extract it...or find a shop that will do it...Thnx to all...Great Forum..

 

[itwonder]

I would call around and find a privately owned auto repair shop that is willing to drill and tap the case for a drain plug according to the online instructions. Have them change the fluid with Mobil 1 ATF while they are at it. I have tried different ones, but came back to Mobil. Don't mess with the shift fork plug.

 

[mph1001]

Yup.....I trusted my memory enuf to recall type F was NOT correct...Hope mph1001 didn't actually use it..! What seems to concern me,
was the Dexron that universally replaces all this, has few different number classifications...and vaguely recall that several yrs ago, when having
"Grease Monkey" do the service, thye had to reschedule me, as the particular NEW Dexron they had was not correct for my older Mercon..or something
like that....anyway..I'll persue either buying a pump to extract it...or find a shop that will do it...Thnx to all...Great Forum..

I did put type F in my 89, the factory service manual says type F or Dexron II. I didn't think anything changed with the MTX III as far as fluid. Sorry if I was wrong, I would never intentionally give out bad info.

 

[OlGeezer]

Update...I found a local private and small shop..Got the trans fluid changed today...Allowed me to buy the fluid of choice myself...I choose Mobil Synthetic..
We [allowed me to assist]...used a small vaccume sucker with a rather thin rubber tubing...Managed to dispense it into a measure jug...got 2 1/2 qts out...Not bad
I figured...Even thou my arms ache now from stroking that pump for seemingly 30 min..Refilled thru underhood with funnel and slightly larger hose...All is well..Nice smooth gliding shifts.....My costs was $50 shop ..and $30 fluid [that Mobil is pricey].....satisfied...as no other major service offered synth fluid...Feel I'm better off...Thnx to all...

 

[itwonder]

Good job! You learned some things, and the shop made sure it all worked out as planned. Win-Win.