Changing transmission fluid

[skippie]

Well I'm thinking about changind the tras fluid, because I really wanna do everything that I can to help out my 1st-2nd shift. I am going to soon get a new trans cooler, and put that in. But the question that I have is, because my car has 97,000 on it, and I have no idea when the last time was, if ever at all, the trans fluid was replaced or flushed. So is it ok to do this with so many miles on it? I heard it might not be a good thing to do. If I go it, I will use amsoil fluid. Anyone change their fluid that late in a 93, and have it help their shifting at all? Is it worth it? Thanks

 

[yamahaSHO]

skippie:
Well I'm thinking about changind the tras fluid, because I really wanna do everything that I can to help out my 1st-2nd shift. I am going to soon get a new trans cooler, and put that in. But the question that I have is, because my car has 97,000 on it, and I have no idea when the last time was, if ever at all, the trans fluid was replaced or flushed. So is it ok to do this with so many miles on it? I heard it might not be a good thing to do. If I go it, I will use amsoil fluid. Anyone change their fluid that late in a 93, and have it help their shifting at all? Is it worth it? Thanks

While you are at it, you should put in a drain plug.

 

[93MTXSHO]

This is just a personal experience, but here goes. My dad helped a friend put a new 5.0 in his thunderbird. The car had 150K on it, but the transmission fluid had never been changed and looked more like motor oil than trans fluid. After we installed the new motor and put in the old transmission, we started the car and before we could even get it out of the garage the transmission was already slipping. If this was my car, seeing that you have no idea when it was changed last, I'd leave well enough alone. You're probably going to be looking at a rebuild soon anyway, but you don't want to rush the process. Look at the fluid, if it has a red color to it, you might be able to get away with changing it, but if it's brown or smells burnt, LEAVE IT ALONE!!! The 93ATX's are the weakest of the bunch, and changing the fluid can potentially only accelerate the demise of your transaxle.

When you get a new transaxle, change the fluid and filter every 20K miles. This will hopefully help the next one last longer than the first. For instance, my dad owns a f-350 with over 265K on it and it still has the same engine and automatic transmission. Largely unheard of for the mid-90's E4OD, but the fluid has been changed every 20K since it was new. Changing your fluids at regular service intervals is a pretty sure guarantee of having car with many trouble free miles.

 

[yamahaSHO]

If I were you, I would change the fluid. It could not hurt. How would new fluid cause problems, seems to me if you have a problem you probably did something wrong.

 

[BenBrausen]

I changed mine about a month ago. Dropped the pan, changed the filter, pumped the old stuff out the trans cooler return line while dumpin' new stuff in. It didn't do much for my tranny problems. I think it's worth a try.

 

[skippie]

BUMP...

Thanks for the input....anyone else have any suggestions? thumbs_u

 

[jcostantino]

I've heard a lot of stories of people changing trans fluid in high milage atx's and then they fall apart months later. It could be coincidence or it could be due to new fluid.

Old fluid has a bunch of stuff suspended in it and has lost its detergent properties, if you replace the fluid you've more than likely stripped out the coating on the clutches that has been a "buffer" for the friction parts.

I changed my fulid last month. It cost me about $75 and it SUCKED. I had some slightly slimey metallic goo on the magnet which is normal wear (25,000 since a rebuild. Be SURE you get the right filter. There is an updated filter which is almost square instead of the "pie shaped" one that used to be standard. When I bought my filter, it took me 3 boxes to find one with a good gasket and the one I found had a rubber one. The others were cork, try to stay away from those. There is an orange plastic ring that should be around the filter, mine stayed up in the pan so I just took the ring off the new filter and stuck it in.

Get a big oil catch pan and loosen each bolt 1 turn, then remove three bolts in one corner and start to loosen each bolt nearest that corner until it starts to dribble out into the pan. Walk away it'll take a while.

Jeff

 

[SolidState]

My transmission just took a dump. It had been going to a long time. After taking it to several specialist, ford, general mechanics, they ALL said do NOT change that fluid, as the new fluid will simply destroy the transmission in no time.

they wais regualr maintenance for these transmissions are key.

 

[skippie]

Well, you guys have just mentioned many of the horrowr stories that I have head about these transmissions. I just checked the fluid, and its nice and red in color, and not low at all, so maybe I will just leave it alone, and stick with the plans of just getting a new trans cooler for it, and see if that helps the 1-2 shifts at all. Thanks. burn_out