Last night, I started to think about the 30K trans fluid change that will be due in 3 months (Ford AX4N). "It" was last done about 3 years ago at 41K miles. I knew the car had a trans flush done on the machine at Monroe and somehow I thought they did the filter as well. But, I couldn't positively recall the filter being changed. In checking the old receipt and talking to them it wasn't changed. It's not likely it had ever been done since I bought the car with 22K miles at 7 years old (anyone know a way to identify a factory trans pan gasket/seal?). The receipt also shows the fluid that was last used was regular Mercon. The car is spec'd for Mercon V.
I feel stupid for having messed up on this. All the 25K-30K trans fluid changes on my '97 Lincoln Continental were done at quick lubes with Mercon, the required fluid. Sometime in 1998-2000 I think Ford went to Mercon V. That '97 went 230K miles with no transmission issues on regular Mercon. It should have the identical transaxle/engine combo as my 2002. No doubt my course of action is to get the pan dropped, fluid and filter changed, and put the proper Mercon V in it. Is this something I need to do "yesterday?" The car has run perfect since the last fluid change. The driving done on this car doesn't lend itself to getting the fluids really hot. Usually 5-12 mile trips. One or two longer trips each month. Once a quarter it might drive 100 highway miles one way. The trans fluid is cooled via a cooler inside the radiator. I have no idea what to expect on a 69K mile filter and magnet. I know that some cars go for 150K-200K miles without any fluid change. Could the filter be totally blocked, partially blocked, or just fine? Even if severely blocked, is there still a way for fluid to flow? At least at 27K miles the fluid still looks a nice red.
Since I've never done a trans filter change before I was sort of planning on doing that myself when a decent 45 deg day popped up in the next 2-8 weeks...and save on the shop labor. I've watched a few videos on it and it doesn't seem all that difficult. One common fault seems to be leaving part of the filter neck behind and damaging that throat area while trying to extract it. Thanks to Bitog to getting me digging a lot more in depth with my car's fluids/maintenance. Should I expect problems down the road or can this trans be a bullet easily dodged? Comments?
I feel stupid for having messed up on this. All the 25K-30K trans fluid changes on my '97 Lincoln Continental were done at quick lubes with Mercon, the required fluid. Sometime in 1998-2000 I think Ford went to Mercon V. That '97 went 230K miles with no transmission issues on regular Mercon. It should have the identical transaxle/engine combo as my 2002. No doubt my course of action is to get the pan dropped, fluid and filter changed, and put the proper Mercon V in it. Is this something I need to do "yesterday?" The car has run perfect since the last fluid change. The driving done on this car doesn't lend itself to getting the fluids really hot. Usually 5-12 mile trips. One or two longer trips each month. Once a quarter it might drive 100 highway miles one way. The trans fluid is cooled via a cooler inside the radiator. I have no idea what to expect on a 69K mile filter and magnet. I know that some cars go for 150K-200K miles without any fluid change. Could the filter be totally blocked, partially blocked, or just fine? Even if severely blocked, is there still a way for fluid to flow? At least at 27K miles the fluid still looks a nice red.
Since I've never done a trans filter change before I was sort of planning on doing that myself when a decent 45 deg day popped up in the next 2-8 weeks...and save on the shop labor. I've watched a few videos on it and it doesn't seem all that difficult. One common fault seems to be leaving part of the filter neck behind and damaging that throat area while trying to extract it. Thanks to Bitog to getting me digging a lot more in depth with my car's fluids/maintenance. Should I expect problems down the road or can this trans be a bullet easily dodged? Comments?
