I had my trans. flushed (car in sig.) at 50K. The dealer dropped the pan and changed the factory filter out and cleaned the pan/magnet and flushed/filled with MaxLife Dex/Merc. I am now crossing 77K and I have a stash of Valvoline Mercon V I am itching to get in there. I will be taking it in on Friday for the service. Do I just get a flush this time or do I go for the whole shebang again? I have been told by several different people that most ATX filters are rock catchers and it would be $$$ wasted to change it at 27K.
Getting ATX flush, too soon for filter change?
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Originally Posted By: hd2002
I would say it too soon to change or flush. You could get a used oil analysis to find out for sure.
These transmissions are FAR from being bulletproof. Most places on the net recommend 25k-30k service intervals. Besides, the formula of the MaxLife in it now is not the "new Mercon V" approved formula of MaxLife. I would like to get actual Mercon V fluid in it.
I would say it too soon to change or flush. You could get a used oil analysis to find out for sure.
These transmissions are FAR from being bulletproof. Most places on the net recommend 25k-30k service intervals. Besides, the formula of the MaxLife in it now is not the "new Mercon V" approved formula of MaxLife. I would like to get actual Mercon V fluid in it.
Flush is REQUIRED every 30,000 miles for this transmission, according to Ford.
If you've already replaced the filter and cleaned the magnets at 50k, there's no reason to do it again. Nearly all of the debris that a transmission produces will be during the break-in period. Since you've already removed that, there's no reason to do it again. (at least so soon)
If you've already replaced the filter and cleaned the magnets at 50k, there's no reason to do it again. Nearly all of the debris that a transmission produces will be during the break-in period. Since you've already removed that, there's no reason to do it again. (at least so soon)
I agree that changing the screen is not needed at 27K but considering the fluid you used at the 50K flush and that this is probably the transmissions first and only service then I would recommend that you flush it with the other fluid. With a trans you are building wear metals many more times than in an engine. Transmissions are more likely to be neglected and the only way to effectively remove that stuff is to flush it a few times. A inline filter would also be a great addition in this application.
I flush my transmissions every 25-30K. One of my cars has a by-pass installed in the cooler circuit so it can go much much longer. Keeping up on this stuff will easily double the life of your transmission, unless of course you drive something with a pre existing issue related to the transmission. Also, 27K in my opinion would be overkill if you were utilizing a product like Redline or Amsoil ATF, being that they are much more superior to the valvoline Mercon V and therefore would be wasted if you were to flush them at such low mileage.
I flush my transmissions every 25-30K. One of my cars has a by-pass installed in the cooler circuit so it can go much much longer. Keeping up on this stuff will easily double the life of your transmission, unless of course you drive something with a pre existing issue related to the transmission. Also, 27K in my opinion would be overkill if you were utilizing a product like Redline or Amsoil ATF, being that they are much more superior to the valvoline Mercon V and therefore would be wasted if you were to flush them at such low mileage.
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Kestas
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I too vote for leaving the filter alone. It just doesn't excite me to have it changed after you just serviced it 30K ago for the break-in debris. Go ahead with the fluid exchange.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I will be just getting a flush than.
I honestly spent a few hours researching/comparing Amsoil to Valvoline Mercon V and Castrol Mercon V and settled on the Valvoline. I figured it was best to use an actual approved fluid with the correct viscosity per temperate range and change it twice as often for the same price overall. I picked Valvoline over Castrol literally with the flip of a coin.
I drive my car like I was driving Ms. Daisy. I am never in a hurry and never abuse it. It has to last at least another 75K.
I will be just getting a flush than.
I honestly spent a few hours researching/comparing Amsoil to Valvoline Mercon V and Castrol Mercon V and settled on the Valvoline. I figured it was best to use an actual approved fluid with the correct viscosity per temperate range and change it twice as often for the same price overall. I picked Valvoline over Castrol literally with the flip of a coin.
I drive my car like I was driving Ms. Daisy. I am never in a hurry and never abuse it. It has to last at least another 75K.
Install a Magnefine filer ($20) and forget about the transmission filter which does not do a whole lot.
You can do the flush yourself for a lot less. If you bring it to a place for a flush ask if they will drain your transmission pan before the flush. If not why not, easier for them? You want the least mixing of old and new ATF and that can ONLY happen if the ATF in the pan is changed prior to the flush.
Obviously it helps if you have a drain plug in your transmission pan.
If the transmission pan cannot be drained then they should flush a few extra QTs of ATF during the flush (expensive if your using syntetic ATF).
If you have rubber hoses connnecting the transmission to the ATF cooler, it should take about 15 minutes to flush the transmission. Mine literally pumps about 1 QT a minute so its easy to do by yourself.
You can do the flush yourself for a lot less. If you bring it to a place for a flush ask if they will drain your transmission pan before the flush. If not why not, easier for them? You want the least mixing of old and new ATF and that can ONLY happen if the ATF in the pan is changed prior to the flush.
Obviously it helps if you have a drain plug in your transmission pan.
If the transmission pan cannot be drained then they should flush a few extra QTs of ATF during the flush (expensive if your using syntetic ATF).
If you have rubber hoses connnecting the transmission to the ATF cooler, it should take about 15 minutes to flush the transmission. Mine literally pumps about 1 QT a minute so its easy to do by yourself.
Having 2 Tauri in my family over the last few years, I know first-hand about the transaxles.
As you already know, they are not bulletproof, although the Gen IVs like you have a a far sight better than the Gen I and II, especially if you have an AX4N.
As The Critic said, the filter (and it IS a filter, not a screen) is primarily there to collect particles during break-in, so changing it again now is overkill. In fact, the Ford factory service manual even states that changing the filter during routine maintenance is not necessary. They recommend changing it only if the transaxle is being repaired for a failure.
I vote for getting a fluid exchange using Mercon V.
As you already know, they are not bulletproof, although the Gen IVs like you have a a far sight better than the Gen I and II, especially if you have an AX4N.
As The Critic said, the filter (and it IS a filter, not a screen) is primarily there to collect particles during break-in, so changing it again now is overkill. In fact, the Ford factory service manual even states that changing the filter during routine maintenance is not necessary. They recommend changing it only if the transaxle is being repaired for a failure.
I vote for getting a fluid exchange using Mercon V.
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