Having trouble locating engine component

[will it sho?]

I can't find the transmission fluid filler cap for a 1992 SHO. I've read my manual several times, but it is no help. Maybe I've overlooked something. Anyway, any help?

Also, how frequently do you change the transmission fluid in a five speed? And by not changing it, does it affect shifting gears?

Sorry for the multitude of questions.

Paul

 

[olympic]

The fill plug is only visible from underneath the car. It's on the front of the tranny about half way up the face. It looks like a regular pipe plug and has a square hole that fits a 7/16" ratchet and extension to remove and install it.

Ford did not have a recommended drain interval for the MTX. But logic dictates that the fluid should be changed on a regular basis. Most people report improved shifting afterwards. It only holds 3 quarts so changing the fluid every year or two will not break your bank account.

There are 3 methods to drain the old fluid:

-drill a small hole in the bottom of the tranny to drain the old fluid. Then tap threads into the hole and install a brass drain plug. There are detailed instructions for this over on www.shotimes.com

-remove the shift interlock bolt on the bottom/front of the tranny. The bolt holds some of the internals in place so there is a risk that they could become dislodged. If you use this method, be sure to chock the wheels and do not move the shifter while the bolt it out.

-use a hose and transfer pump to siphon the old fluid out through the fill plug. You can't get 100% out but it's pretty close.

To refill with new fluid, you need one of those funnels with a long flexible spout. The tranny holds 3 quarts of Dexon-Mercon ATF and of course you can substitute any of the compatible synthetics or GM Synchromesh.

 

[will it sho?]

Olympic,
Thanks for the info and the advice. What do you do personally? I'm thinking that I would do the siphon option. Anyway, you said that new fluid would improve shifting? I've got a question in regards to that. I just went out this morning for a drive, the entire car was completely cold naturally. Well, second ground twice while running through the gears. Believe me, I don't try to be ******* my transmission, and this is about the third time it's done this to me. I'm not losing my nerve here, am I? Do you think transmission fluid is the answer? I bought the car about a month ago with 143,000 miles on it and I have never changed or added the fluid. I sure hope my transmission is not going. I'm about to go on a major trip in about a week and I need some good advice if you've got it.

Regards,
Paul

 

[will it sho?]

Correction: I bought the car a year ago next month.

Any help with this? shrug

 

[SHOTerror]

It depends how bad the old fluid was. If your going to do it make sure to use a high quality fluid, I used Valvoline Maxlife ATF in my old '90, and that made night and day difference in shift quality. If it's grinding it could also be the clutch going, but if its only in the gear maybe not. It can't hurt to try the fluid first, i mean shoot it's only 3 quarts. I suggest getting a pump to get the old fluid out of some sort.

 

[93EmeraldMTX]

i used redline synthetic ATF with ford friction modifier. It works really good IMO, but if i was to do it again id probabaly use GM Synchromesh, because i hear it works better.

 

[haydenm315]

I bought my car over a year ago and changed the tranny fluid almost immediately. I thought the tranny sounded a bit loud. I opted to drill the hole in the case. Out came the blackest tranny fluid I've ever seen. I filled it back up with mobil synthetic atf. Their fluid isn't bad, but it does thicken up in the cold. Cold to notice the difference is 20s-30's. Shifting is a little bit stiff until things warm up. If it's a nice day, 50 or above, it's butter from the start. I've heard good things about synromesh. Maybe it's time to use that plug and swap? It's been almost 30k.

 

[olympic]

SHOnut installed a drain plug for me when he installed my Quaife. It looks pretty simple, just drill, tap threads and install the plug. The one in my trans is very small, maybe 1/4" diameter. There's no need to go larger.

My advice would be to practice on some junk aluminum so you know you have the right drill bit size and the right thread pitch on the tap. The tranny case is very soft, the drill will cut through like butter so use minimal pressure to avoid poking the drill bit up into the tranny internals when it breaks through the other side. Oil will come pouring out so be prepared for that.

On my previous cars with MTX's, I removed the shift interlock bolt. I thought it was the drain plug and never had any problems with that method. It wasn't until I joined SHOforum that I learned the bolt had another purpose. Just make sure the car is sitting level or even sloping forwards so the fluid can drain. So you'll need to jack up both ends of the car.

I've never tried the siphon method but it does work(slowly).

If you've never changed the fluid, doing it now can only help. It may not be the cure for your MTX but it's worth a shot. Personally I use GM Synchromesh. A little pricey but it was a vast improvement over the Mobil 1 synthetic ATF I had in there previously.

 

[jelloslug]

If you go with drilling a hole you may want to get a drill bit stop. It's a metal ring with a set screw in it that you clamp to your bit so you cannot drill too deep. Any decent woodworking shop should have them. In a pinch lots of masking tape (at least 1/4" thick) wrapped around the bit would work.

 

[will it sho?]

Thanks for the ideas fellas. I took the siphon road and put new fluid in there. Like I said, the actual grinding noise only happened in the mornings when everything was totally cold. Tomorrow will be the first test since the new fluid installation. I'll let you guys know how things go. If the problem persists, then I might have a larger problem on my hands. Also, in the future is the siphon methond becomes a pain, I will definately drill that hole. It seems stupid that a drain plug was not installed. I'm sure other MTXs on other cars have one. Oh well....

Paul

 

[DHMag]

there reason there isnt a drain plug on ANY manual transmission is because they dont have bands and friction disks and such to dirty up the fluid like automatics do. ive never seen a specified fluid change interval for a manual transmission. my dads 94 Ranger has never had its fluid changed in its current 130K, and upon inspection it looks new. when i chagned the fluid in my trans, it too was clean.

 

[Bizzy]

With the stress & high revolutions that the motors put out the fluid tends to get burned. It will, with normal use, get metal debris in it which are not all caught by the case magnet. These metal fragments can end up lodging in your bearings, blocking rings, inside the shafts and synchros...basically any place where the fluid goes so do they. So it's really a good idea to change it if for no other reason than stated above. As a general rule of thumb, the harder you drive the car, the more often you should change the fluid. Me personally, every 3 oil changes.

I personally remove the shift interlock bolt to get the job done. I've never had the guts to drill the hole even though it's a rather straight forward thing to do. (read = I'm a cluck cluck )