Fluid Change

[89VERT]

Just had my transmission fluid changed . First time I have ever had it done at a non Ford shop . Starting shuddering when going into OD right away,took it back and found they had not used Ford Fluid , but claimed that theirs was Ford compatible . They did not flush , only dropped the pan . This is a good shop and I trust the guys there . They have ordered in Ford fluid and are going to completely flush the trans for no charge and use the Ford product this time . Trusting that this is gonna work ... any thoughts ?

MM has about 65,000miles . I had the trans serviced by Ford dealer at about 30,000 previously .

[F8LBITEva]

hmmm they probably used Mercon III instead of Mercon V. Hopefully since you didnt put that many miles on it there wont be any permanent damage.

[Merc-O-matic]

The transmission MUST have FoMoCo Mercon V only!!!!
Anything else will fail. Good Luck

[TFB]

The transmission MUST have FoMoCo Mercon V only!!!!
Anything else will fail. Good LuckThe shutter after pan service is common, my sister had the same problem in a '94 T-Bird that she let(was talked into) the oil change guys change her fluid... Of course I was the one who had to drain the pan and converter to fix it...

Now I don't recommend it for everyone but I ran Type F in a '93 Grand Marquis AODE from 33Kmi till 131K mi when it finally blew the front pump to housing gasket, it never shuttered... It had a slip on the 1st to 2nd shift that was reduced with the less slippery fluid... I also have a street/strip '88 T-Bird that the AOD hasn't seen any fluid but F in the 11 years I've owned it... Has around 700 drag strip passes and is still alive...

[Merc-O-matic]

I think Ford issued a TSB on engines with AODE and 4R70W
transmissions (1992-1997) about the shutter, if the tranny fluid
wears out. They both used the same Mercon fluid. IMHO I think
the 4R70W transmission is more sensitive to fluid break down than the
AODE. Never had a problem (shutter) with my 1994 Lincoln Town car (AODE) but did with my 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis (4R70W)....
both using the same Mercon tranny fluid.

Gotta Love It!

[Mike M]

Just had my transmission fluid changed . First time I have ever had it done at a non Ford shop . Starting shuddering when going into OD right away,took it back and found they had not used Ford Fluid , but claimed that theirs was Ford compatible . They did not flush , only dropped the pan . This is a good shop and I trust the guys there . They have ordered in Ford fluid and are going to completely flush the trans for no charge and use the Ford product this time . Trusting that this is gonna work ... any thoughts ?

MM has about 65,000miles . I had the trans serviced by Ford dealer at about 30,000 previously .

It has nothing to do with the brand of fluid, most people don't use Ford fluid (Ford doesn't even make Ford fluid. They probably used the WRONG spec fluid.

[boatmangc]

It has nothing to do with the brand of fluid, most people don't use Ford fluid (Ford doesn't even make Ford fluid. They probably used the WRONG spec fluid.
Amsoil ATF FTW!!

[burt ragio]

Change the trans fluid every 20,000 miles with as mentioned Mercon V. Cheaper than a trans rebuild.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I change mine about every 30,000 miles. I have 116,000+ now.

[JOEMERC]

i agree if you drop pan every 25000-30000 miles no need to trans flush,and while pan is off put in a drain plug .and always use mercon v fluid.....

[ctrlraven]

I use Castrol Merc V trans fluid. Just recently had the filter changed (twice since I've owned the car) but I have a deep pan with a drain plug. Also added a larger trans cooler. Fluid has always looked new and haven't had any transmission problems besides a few seals that need to be replaced now but I expected that with the way I drive, 3500 stall converter and 151k miles on it.

[89VERT]

Just got the MM back from having the trans flushed and filled with Mercon V. Still has the shudder into overdrive, but not quite as bad as before . The guys at the shop said it might take a few days for it to go away ? Does this sound right ?

[Stick]

89VERT Disconnect the battery for 15 mins and the drive the car again. PCM needs to relearn the shift stratagy again. Most shops dont know this trick.Flushing the transmision fluid is not the right way to change the fluid. Have you ever changed the trans filter on your car????

[RacerX]

B&M Trick Shift synth or Royal synth is great too. Good luck with the trans. Make sure they do a complete flush! There's a LOT of fluid in there if you do it completely.

[RF Overlord]

The guys at the shop said it might take a few days for it to go away ? Does this sound right ?Yes.
Flushing the transmision fluid is not the right way to change the fluid. Then why is it the method specified in the factory service manual?

[Mike M]

89VERT Disconnect the battery for 15 mins and the drive the car again. PCM needs to relearn the shift stratagy again. Most shops dont know this trick.Flushing the transmision fluid is not the right way to change the fluid. Have you ever changed the trans filter on your car????

Who told you that doing a fluid exchange with a machine is not the right way to do it?
It's the best way to do it.

[Got_1]

exactly!^^

pan drop, filter change and flush with machine is the most efficient way. i just did this to Jeffrt's marauder this morning. no shudder into o/d either. I've never experienced that before.

[TFB]

You can do a fluid change/flush in your own driveway that's probably 99% as good as any machine can do, this is how the GM guys have been doing it for years, their torque converters hasn't had a drain plug in the last 40 years or more...

From a post I made a couple months ago...




Remove the line from the cooler discharge and connect a piece of hose to it(if you only have the std radiator cooler, you'll need a fitting to screw back into the cooler to connect the hose) then start the engine and pump the fluid into a 5 gal bucket(use two buckets if you like)... Once the flow stops, shut it down and service the pan...When the pan is back in place, add 6-7 quarts, then start the engine and run until the color of the fluid flowing into the bucket changes to the new fluid... If it stops flowing before it changes color, shut the engine off and add 3-4 more quarts then run it again... Once you have finished, reconnect the cooler line, restart and add fluid as necessary...Leave it approx a 1/2 quart low till the transmission is up to temperature(30 min or more)and top it off... Done...

[fastblackmerc]

89VERT Flushing the transmision fluid is not the right way to change the fluid.

This ^^^ is just bogus information.

Flushing the tranny is actually the PREFERRED method.

[JBeezy]

I have 33K miles on my car right now. I plan on having this done when it reaches 35K. My car already had the J-Mod done by Ford by the PO. Not sure how many miles was on it when it was done.

How much does the dealership charge to do this as it seems thats where I should take it to be safe?

[Mike M]

My shop charges $99.99 but we do charge more for Mercon V. $139.99. Mercon V

If you go to the dealer, just add some zero's to the end of my price. ;)
;-)

[babbage]

Pan drop + flush for the win. Clean the magnet and a new filter. If you use a flush machine when its hot 180F+ the trans t-stat is open and then you should get the fluid in the cooler +all lines.

Myself I just do a pan drop every 15K so I don't really need a total flush.

[fastblackmerc]

I have 33K miles on my car right now. I plan on having this done when it reaches 35K. My car already had the J-Mod done by Ford by the PO. Not sure how many miles was on it when it was done.

How much does the dealership charge to do this as it seems thats where I should take it to be safe?

Best bet is to call the dealership.

[89VERT]

I have changed the filter twice including the pan service which was done about a week before the flush . The OD shudder started on the drive home , so I was pretty sure that is was transmission related or a real coincidence ...

[Pat]

IIRC the transmission has three places for fluid to pool. The pan, oil cooler (plus lines), and the torque converter.

Just changing the fluid in the pan will result in mixing old fluid with the new. There may be more old fluid left than new fluid put in.

Changing the pan fluid at short intervals to reduce the old oil quantity seems to be popular but why not just do a complete flush and have all new fluid in the system at the same time. Is it cost that drives this idea?

Also, changing the filter can show if material is present in the fluid from wearing of parts.

I wonder, can the filter itself start to come apart after a time?

[89VERT]

Does anybody have any thoughts about the battery dis-connect advice that was mentioned above ... ?

[Got_1]

Does anybody have any thoughts about the battery dis-connect advice that was mentioned above ... ?

shift strategy is not affected by changing the fluid/filter so there is no reason to disconnect the battery.

[RF Overlord]

Myself I just do a pan drop every 15K so I don't really need a total flush.That's what I do as well, but if someone hasn't done that on a regular basis since new, or if they don't know the maintenance history, a fluid exchange is the way to go, THEN do a drain & fill every 15-25k.

[89VERT]

If I replace the cops, is this the right part# from Jeg's ? :


Accel 140034-8
Super Coil 1997-04 Ford 4.6L/5.4L Modular 4 Valve Direct Fire Complete Set 8/pkg.
Ford
Item# 110-140034-8

$195.99

[Rockettman]

Pans with a drain plug?
I know they are out there...but where can I get one (Toronto maybe - or at least shipped here)? (Deep pan or not...no matter) I just want to be able to change my fluid myself.

[fastblackmerc]

Pans with a drain plug?
I know they are out there...but where can I get one (Toronto maybe - or at least shipped here)? (Deep pan or not...no matter) I just want to be able to change my fluid myself.

Just searched eBay for "pan 4R70W". There were 27 hits.

The same search in google returned 19,600 hits.

You should be able to get one from this sites vendors.

[Rockettman]

^^^ I've got an '04. That's a 4R75W; is that correct?

Will a new deep aluminum pan (with the plug) listed for a 4R70W Mustang trans, fit? Are the two transmissions (Maruader/Mustang; 4R70W/4R75W) the same on the outside?

[JBeezy]

With all this being said. If I take my car in at 33XXX miles and let the dealer service my tranny, will they be responsible for it if I experience problems afterwards?

I also called the dealer and ask what all is done when they service a tranny.

The dealer stated:

They will pressure the tranny system and flush out all fluid except for maybe a qt, then they will run some type of cleaner thru the tranny to clean everything, then pump in new fluid.

Does this sound ok?

I asked if they would remove the pan at all and he said no.

He quoted the price to be around $160

[JOEMERC]

yes the 04 has the 4r75w trans,pans are the same between the two years ,btw .

[sweetair]

Why the hell do places do this!?!? My wife's SAAB got a new tranny after the SAAB Dealer didn't put the more expensive correct fluid in it either. I ijust don't get it. They should ask if putting something other than OEM fluid is OK before they do. :mad:
Just had my transmission fluid changed . First time I have ever had it done at a non Ford shop . Starting shuddering when going into OD right away,took it back and found they had not used Ford Fluid , but claimed that theirs was Ford compatible . They did not flush , only dropped the pan . This is a good shop and I trust the guys there . They have ordered in Ford fluid and are going to completely flush the trans for no charge and use the Ford product this time . Trusting that this is gonna work ... any thoughts ?

MM has about 65,000miles . I had the trans serviced by Ford dealer at about 30,000 previously .

[bugsyc]

how to install drain plug in trans pan...cost of plug and fitting??? part # and where to buy please....also recommended filter gasket kit Fram FT1167 or pro king 266??? thanks inadvance guys..also,how many quarts of mercon V will come out and need to be replaceed

[RF Overlord]

Get one of the B&M universal drain plugs from NAPA or your favourite parts store...should be about $10.

Drill a ½" hole in the back side of the little well at the bottom of the pan. This is where Ford puts them on the U-Haul pans. Just be sure it's high enough so the plug isn't the lowest point on the pan. Install the drain plug per instructions. Easy-peasy.

Either the FRAM or the ProKing kit will be fine, just DO NOT use the supplied gasket. The OEM gasket is meant to be re-used and is superior.

You will need to buy 4 quarts of Mercon V...you may end up using slightly less.

[burt ragio]

Bob for what reason should the plug not be installed at the lowest point wouldn't it allow for more complete drainage ?

[JOEMERC]

he saying that so as not to catch bolt head on anything cause it would hang down lower than pan itself.

[RF Overlord]

Curt, that little "well" in the bottom of the pan IS the lowest point. The difference in fluid quantity between the side of the well and the bottom is only a few ounces, and if you put the plug on the bottom, you'd clean it off on the first speed bump you went over.

Then you'd have to pay thousands of dollars for Clean Harbors to mitigate the toxic waste spill, Mass. DEP fines, overtime for police details, towing, storage, etc... :D