MTX tranny flush?

[Silver95]

Is it really true that these trannies dont have a drain plug?

Ok well, what other way, easiest way can i drain the fluid out of it, and offcourse replace it with new fluid?

thanks guys,

 

[SHOstuff]

Yes they do have a drain plug. If you was to look at the tranny while underneath it, you will see a 1/2" socket to the left of it to where you can use a 1/2" rachet to screw it out. You loosen that up and there's your drain plug.

 

[olympic]

That's the fill plug where you add new fluid. The MTX does not have a dedicated drain plug. I guess Ford didn't plan on them lasting long enough to need a fluid change.

There are three ways to get the old fluid out:

1. install a dedicated drain plug, instructions are on www.shotimes.com It's easy to do and really simplifies fluid changes in the future.

2. siphon/pump the old fluid out through the fill hole

3. remove the shift interlock bolt. I believe it's the only 13 mm bolt on the MTX. It's on the front facing down at an angle, it actually looks like a drain plug but it's not. It holds some of the internals in place. There is a small risk that those internals could become dislodged while the bolt is out. So if you use this method, make sure the wheels and the shifter do not move while the bolt is out.

 

[Bizzy]

The fill plug you use a 3/8 ratchet to get out, sometimes they're in there pretty tight and it requires the use of a breaker bar to get loose. When you're under there if using a breaker bar be sure to get your orientation, leftsy loosy, rightsy tightsy. You don't want to turn it the wrong way when using a breaker bar.

As Bryce mentioned above, you can remove the shift interlock bolt to drain the tranny, but you do so at your own risk. As long as you don't move anything on the car (in particular the shifter and wheels) you should be fine but sometimes even just taking it out can make the interlock lower and could require the use of a drift punch to gently (keyword=gently) push it up so the bolt can be inserted properly. Always use teflon tape on any bolt you remove from the wet side of the tranny.

Drilling and tapping a hole for a dedicated drain plug is also an excellent option, but not for the faint of heart. Remember, you have one chance to do that job correctly. You do it wrong and oh boy, the fun will then begin.

Either way, you're talking about a sealed case that according to Ford and many other trans shops never needed to be drained and refilled so you will assume some risks no matter which method you choose with the exception of sucking the fluid out through the fill plug.

Oh, and one last thing. If you decide to drill and tap your own drain plug, make sure that you get only a brass plug. Do not overtighten this plug, 10 ft. # is all you should ever torque those to and as above, use teflon tape.

 

[Keith M]

On a side note, I don't know what fluid you're planning on using, but I just replaced the Redline D4 that was in my freshly-rebuilt MTX with GM Syncromesh, and it shifts MUCH better now. The D4 was very hard to shift, sometimes I had to pause a second or so between shifts before it would even go into gear.

 

[MelectroK]

What fluid is in there from the factory? I didnt think you could mix organic and synthetics. So what would mix with the factory since you cant possibly get all the fluid out.

 

[Bizzy]

Gear **** typically.

The new fiber lined blocking rings seem to have a bit of trouble with the more expensive synthetic fluids. I had a very notchy tranny right after my rebuild. I switched it out to Mobile 1 and within 3 days it was silky smooth shifting again. Nothing but Mobile 1 will go into my quaifed tranny ever again. The decision is totally up to you though, but I highly suggest Mobile 1.

 

[Keith M]

Beth, I think they came with Mercon ATF from the factory. As for mixing synth and dino, they are supposed to be compatible, but I have (as yet unused) trans cooler fittings on my box - so I used the lowest one as a drain point. Filled it w/ 3qts of Syncrommesh, ran it around the block, drained again and refilled it. I'm sure Mobil1 is good, I just thought it would be kinda fun to have a GM product in my Ford...and it works well, too! Might be a tad cheaper than M1, I paid ~9/qt for the Syncromesh.

 

[SHOstuff]

Well that's funny cause when I opened it all the fluid came out and drained. And then I replaced it with fresh fluid. You have to know what you're looking at and it's either 1/2" or 3/4" drive, I get them mixed up, but you use that to take it out. I know I'm not mistaken.

 

[Bizzy]

1 - The shift interlock bolt commonly used for a "drain plug"

2 - The fill plug. This particular one doubled as a spider nest.

Or as you would see it from under the car.....

The bolt in pic one goes through the case and sits in the groove of the shift interlock in the area noted in the pic below.

 

[MelectroK]

If you use plug 1 the "drain plug" will parts fall out of the transmission or just dislog and interfer with the bolt be threaded in?

If stuff disloges, is it really really bad to fix or can you just push it back into place?

 

[Bizzy]

If you use plug 1 the "drain plug" will parts fall out of the transmission or just dislog and interfer with the bolt be threaded in?

If stuff disloges, is it really really bad to fix or can you just push it back into place?

No, there are no parts there to fall out. See the little bolt above that one? That one if you take all the way out and if the interlock is in the down position the spring and plunger can come shooting out. When it shoots out it shoots out.

Can parts get disloged, yes. Most of the time if you've just taken the bolt out the worst case is that you'll have to stick your finger in the fill hole and move the part up so it could technically be corrected from the outside, other times you might have to remove the tranny and open it up to fix it. Unless you enjoy working on trannies like I do (I eat, sleep and breath trannies) just be very careful and don't move anything mentioned a few posts up when that bolt is out.

Let me also add that many, many, many people have taken that bolt out and used it as a drain plug. Just exercise a certain degree of caution and you'll be just fine. While you won't get all of the fluid out given the bolt's orientation, it's a bit higher than the bottom, you can still drain the vast majority of it there.

 

[fred79]

Any one have any advice on removing the fill plug I am working on a MTX out of the car.
I have tried a 3/8 drive extension on a ratchet and I twisted the extension. right now i hav it soaking in pb blaster. hopefuly i will be ableto get it soon.

 

[Bizzy]

Get a nice long breaker bar and use that to help break it free. Works wonders on some of the hardest ones I've encountered in the past. Requires no muscle at all hardly.

 

[Blue-By-U]

If I were to siphon the fluid out from the fill hole, how much fluid would be able to come out?

When replacing the fluid how do I know the tranny is full? Do I simply replace the same amount I siphoned out?

 

[Bizzy]

Alex, you can get a good bit of it, but unless you get a very flexible tube all the way to the bottom there's no way you can get it all. I'd say you could get 2 quarts out fairly easily which is 2/3 (thereabout) of the fluid maybe more if you're lucky.

The best way to fill the tranny is to lower the jack with the tube in the fill hole. Try to find a tube that is slightly smaller than the hole. Start filling the tranny with the fluid and when it starts to drain out of the tranny it's full. Full fluid level is just below the hole so you should be able to feel it with your finger when the plug is removed. Try to check the level of fluid and fill the tranny with the car on as flat a surface as possible.

 

[Ace]

yes i have used the interlock bolt as a drain plug myself but the scary part was that when i bought the car it shifted really bad so i putit in the air to check the fluid..quess what? no drain plug!!!so luckily i had a nother tranny to steal one from and filled it up with mercon 5 fluid and the tranny works and shifts beautiful....and i have to agree with bizzy on the mobil 1 atf ive used it in mtx's in the past and they feel awesome..im prob gonna use it next fluid change but for those that dont wanna spend the money on mobil 1 mercon 5 is a good cheap alternative

 

[Blue-By-U]

Alex, you can get a good bit of it, but unless you get a very flexible tube all the way to the bottom there's no way you can get it all. I'd say you could get 2 quarts out fairly easily which is 2/3 (thereabout) of the fluid maybe more if you're lucky.

The best way to fill the tranny is to lower the jack with the tube in the fill hole. Try to find a tube that is slightly smaller than the hole. Start filling the tranny with the fluid and when it starts to drain out of the tranny it's full. Full fluid level is just below the hole so you should be able to feel it with your finger when the plug is removed. Try to check the level of fluid and fill the tranny with the car on as flat a surface as possible.

Beth, thank you for the clarification. Will I cause any harm to the mtx if I allow the fluid to actually reach the fill hole? I don't want to misjudge what exactly "just below the fill hole" is which would result in a slightly lower fluid level.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

No, just quit dumping fluid into it when it starts to come out of the fill hole

 

[Blue-By-U]

Thanks Kenny :thumbs_u: