Ford Focus MTX 75 Fluid - Revisited

[remmious]

I did a search and found one good post about what fluid to use in the ford 5 speed manual (MTX 75) but really no concencous was formed. The book says to use Mercon ATF and both the dealerships I contacted said to use Mercon V.

I've looked at Amsoil and they spec'ed 5w-40 Euro lube.

The car has almost 105K on it and shifts fine and doesn't make any noise. I just want to keep it that way.

I do mostly highway driving and live in Northern MN so it gets cold. Any suggestions and update information would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Pablo]

While the 5W-40 AFL will work, I say a much better choice is Amsoil MTF.

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mtf.aspx?zo=515729

 

[remmious]

Thanks Pablo. It gets a little more difficult to make an educated decision when one says an ATF, another an engine oil, and then there is the actual MTF fluid.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

 

[unDummy]

http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.co...mission%20Fluid

What year? Check to see if gear oil was TSB'd for your vehicle. Abused units suffered higher failure rate with ATF. I guess that gearoil is a 'fix' for an underengineered unit.

But, if you're happy with ATF, don't wheel hop and wheel spin at after evey stop, then the synth MTF/MTL/ATF's all would work well.

And, if you haven't done ANY maintenance in the 105k miles, I will recommend that you do ANOTHER change in 10k miles with the fluid that you chose. This 2nd change will finish rinse out all the old fluid, and anything cleaned by the 1st change.

 

[mechtech2]

unDummy - That is good practical advice.
Also, I think that a well worn in tranny likes a bit thicker sauce than ATF.

 

[remmious]

It's a 2000 and I seen that TSB'd but the dealerships didn't know anything about it. I bought the car around September/October of 2002 with 16,500 on it. Most of it's time was spent traveling 220 miles (one way) to school for the week and then back home to the family on the weekend. So a lot of highway miles and with all of that going on I just didn't have time or wanted to take any more time away from the family to change out the fluid. Plus the dealership said it's 'fill for life.' I never agreed but didn't have any problems so it got pushed back but now I would like to address it. I will do the 2 change outs to get a better flush. I'm suprised they didn't know about that TSB. Maybe I should forward that to them and make them take a little time and look into it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Whimsey]

I used the Ford synthetic manual tranny fluid, aka Gold tranny fluid. It was much better than the Mercon it had in it. After about 35,000 miles on the Gold tranny fluid the shifting quality was not as good. It was fine but I could tell the difference. I had the dealer change it again but the idiots used Mobil 1 ATF. I requested the Ford synthetic manual tranny fluid. The dealer said no, ATF is the proper fluid. I told him about the TSB that said all MTX75 trannies were now to use the Ford synthetic manual tranny fluid. He said he never heard of it

. A friend gave me enough RP Synchromax(??)to do a change because the Mobil 1 ATF shifts like poo. This is the same dealer that put in the Ford synthetic manual tranny fluid originally.

Whimsey

 

[remmious]

How did the RP Synchromax work for you?

Strange how they would move from an ATF to a 75W-90 fluid. Stranger yet that the 2.0 SPI motors that have the IB5 tranmission used the 'Honey' Syn. MTF fluid but a 2.0 ZETEC with the MTX-75 would us an ATF, what's so different between the two? I'm am leaning towards the Amsoil MTF but I want to be hash out the details and feel more comfortable before I make the switch.

 

[remmious]

Well I received a response from Amsoil Tech department. Not that I don't trust you Pablo I just wanted to see what they would say. Here is their response.

"While other may work, our recommended fluid for this manual transmission is the 5W40 European Engine Oil. It will perform as well as 5W30 in cold temperatures.


Sincerely,

Byron Selbrede

Technical Services"

The other he was refering to was the MTF (SAE 5W-30).

I guess I will give the 5W-40 a shot. Most were saying a little thicker fluid for an older trans may be better.