MTX Fluid Change

[Roadkilled75]

Update: Holy crap, it actually worked. I didn't believe fluid could make this much difference - just 180 miles later I have full functionality in all gears again. Combined with the new clutch cable and adjustment it's practically a new trans. I can put it in reverse with the car running, downshift to 3rd with no grinding, and get it into first with much less effort. I used Valvoline high mileage dex/merc, btw. Who knows what was in there.



Finished doing this yesterday, still have a question about capacity even after searching a bit.

With the left front of the car jacked up, I got a bath of about 3/4 quart of fluid upon removing the fill plug (3/8 square drive plug). Seemed odd since I thought 'full' was when the fluid was at this plug on level ground, i.e. when jacked at such an angle there ought to be no fluid coming out unless the trans was overfilled.

Sucked out all old fluid using a homemade vacuum canister, got an additional 2.5 qts out. Predictably, it only took 2.5 qts to refill.

So was the trans somehow overfull to begin with, I didn't quite get all the old fluid out, who cares, it's good to go? Or am I missing something with regards to gravity and fluid distribution in the trans and I need to leave the car level, pull the plug again and see if it'll take that extra ~half quart?

 

[93rev2sev]

Capacity is 3.1 qts.

Sounds like it was over-filled. How does THAT happen?

Easy, it's filled while out of the car, with axles still attached, laying on it's back...probably at a transmission shop...when the clutch was done last.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Maybe someone filled it with the front end up really high last time? I drill and tap a plug in the bottom to make sure. But that being said, the MTX dosen't hold much at all. Top of that plug is "full".

When you put it in... I've had the best luck going really really slow, and using a nice long tube / hose to stick in there a way.

 

[Roadkilled75]

Yep. I drilled a hole in an oil bottle cap so my tubing was a tight fit, hung it upside down from the garage roof and punched an air hole in the bottom. Took about ten minutes per quart and I didn't have to stand there with a funnel

Thanks for the replies. As long as lifting the front doesn't somehow lessen the capacity...that's what I wanted to know.

Clutch was last done by the previous owner at a Ford dealer so being overfull from then wouldn't surprise me :-/ Out of curiosity, any potential harm from running like that for about 45k miles? I'm doing the fluid change (and just did a clutch cable + adjustment) because 3rd grinds on downshift and 1st/reverse are damn near impossible to get into so I'm crossing my fingers I don't need a clutch this soon.

 

[Shoaz]

If it isn't level when drained/filled it could easily dump some fluid and not fill to the proper level.

That being said it's not going to hurt anything to be a bit overfilled.

 

[JRA2000TL]

FWIW I got 2.5 qts out of mine with an oil extractor pump. I put 2.5 qts back in to be on the safe side. For a fill hose, I used 1/2" radiator hose; it fits perfectly snug in the hole. I then connected a funnel to the top of the hose and hung the funnel up to the top of the hood.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Yep. I drilled a hole in an oil bottle cap so my tubing was a tight fit, hung it upside down from the garage roof and punched an air hole in the bottom. Took about ten minutes per quart and I didn't have to stand there with a funnel

Thanks for the replies. As long as lifting the front doesn't somehow lessen the capacity...that's what I wanted to know.

Clutch was last done by the previous owner at a Ford dealer so being overfull from then wouldn't surprise me :-/ Out of curiosity, any potential harm from running like that for about 45k miles? I'm doing the fluid change (and just did a clutch cable + adjustment) because 3rd grinds on downshift and 1st/reverse are damn near impossible to get into so I'm crossing my fingers I don't need a clutch this soon.

I know there is a pic with a SHO being fed trans fluid via IV... but I'll let him post it.. That really is the way that will give you peace of mind because your not spilling anything extra... if ya go too fast how can you count the little splashes that fall out of the case?