To change or not to change? or add lubegard red?

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Dakir

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Sep 17, 2011
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San Diego, CA
Hello ladies and gents,

I currently am the 3rd owner of a 1997 Ford Probe GT 2.5L v6 hatch. It has 164k on the auto trans and I have had the car since about 115k. I have no idea if the trans fluid was changed recently or ever but the car shifts buttery smooth when warmed up. Recently the shifts haven't been as buttery as normal and especially when first turned on(engine cold), first gear especially. It has a "buck" feel between 2-3k rpm first gear shifts ONLY when cold. I have checked the fluid level and its ruby red and a tad overfilled yet I haven't added fluid in awhile.

My reason for making this topic is to ask, should I get my fluid changed/flushed or anything? I moved from PA to AZ and sometimes I would get a "rattle" sound only when cold out and engine cold starting. Recently it's been happening every time I turn the car on first drive of the day, lasts for maybe 2 seconds. I also have always used Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 and Pure One or Bosch Premium filters 3k oil changes. I recently added a bottle of LubeGard Red to my GF's rough shifting auto 97 subaru legacy 2.5GT and it smoothed it out ALOT. Should I consider new fluid, a flush or just add a bottle of the LubeGard red to my probe to see if it helps my first gear cold shifts and the rattle noise? Would a 10oz bottle be ok if my atf is a tad high on the dipstick already?

Any tips or input greatly appreciated!
Brett
 
Did someone at LubeGard invest in viral marketing or something -?

Just find it odd how often people lately come here to say LubeGard instantly made everything better...

I'm a fan of doing a proper change & service.
 
I'm a strong believer in LGR. How your gf's car responded seems pretty typical, i.e., a rather amazing difference.
grin.gif


I would drain or siphon enough of the ATF to both eliminate the slight overfill and allow for 10oz of LGR.

If you wanted to do the drain/fill that certainly wouldn't hurt but with the bright red color you have may not be necessary.
 
I read amazing results on everytime anyone puts lubegard red in an old or struggling automatic transmission so I tried it in my gfs and it worked 200%for better than expected smoothed it out incredibly.

As for my probe I have been told previously to not drain or flush cause it will remove the grit my old car and transmission need in the fluid but everyone seems to suggest refilling with fresh? Explain please cause I really do not want to pay $2000 for a new transmission.
 
Originally Posted By: Dakir
I read amazing results on everytime anyone puts lubegard red in an old or struggling automatic transmission so I tried it in my gfs and it worked 200%for better than expected smoothed it out incredibly.

As for my probe I have been told previously to not drain or flush cause it will remove the grit my old car and transmission need in the fluid but everyone seems to suggest refilling with fresh? Explain please cause I really do not want to pay $2000 for a new transmission.


Unless you are pushing the vehicle into the repair shop a fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea. Many people neglect their transmission until they start to have problems and then do a fluid change and it fails 1 week latter. It was going to fail anyway, the new fluid had nothing to do with it. But they blame the fluid change when in reality they neglected the transmission for years.

If it has not been changed recently, then the filter needs to be changed. You need to exchange all the old fluid, however you choose to do that. A Magnefine inline filter is always a good idea. I like Amsoil ATF and feel it is one of the best ATFs available bar none. You do not need LG with a premium ATF like Amsoil or Mobil 1 or Redline.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Dakir
I read amazing results on everytime anyone puts lubegard red in an old or struggling automatic transmission so I tried it in my gfs and it worked 200%for better than expected smoothed it out incredibly.

As for my probe I have been told previously to not drain or flush cause it will remove the grit my old car and transmission need in the fluid but everyone seems to suggest refilling with fresh? Explain please cause I really do not want to pay $2000 for a new transmission.


Unless you are pushing the vehicle into the repair shop a fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea. Many people neglect their transmission until they start to have problems and then do a fluid change and it fails 1 week latter. It was going to fail anyway, the new fluid had nothing to do with it. But they blame the fluid change when in reality they neglected the transmission for years.

If it has not been changed recently, then the filter needs to be changed. You need to exchange all the old fluid, however you choose to do that. A Magnefine inline filter is always a good idea. I like Amsoil ATF and feel it is one of the best ATFs available bar none. You do not need LG with a premium ATF like Amsoil or Mobil 1 or Redline.


Ok do a full atf fluid exchange sounds best since Idk the last time it was done with a filter change. Question I have no idea how to change it myself but will a shop like Midas install the recommend filter you mentioned with a fluid exchange?
 
Originally Posted By: Dakir
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Dakir
I read amazing results on everytime anyone puts lubegard red in an old or struggling automatic transmission so I tried it in my gfs and it worked 200%for better than expected smoothed it out incredibly.

As for my probe I have been told previously to not drain or flush cause it will remove the grit my old car and transmission need in the fluid but everyone seems to suggest refilling with fresh? Explain please cause I really do not want to pay $2000 for a new transmission.


Unless you are pushing the vehicle into the repair shop a fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea. Many people neglect their transmission until they start to have problems and then do a fluid change and it fails 1 week latter. It was going to fail anyway, the new fluid had nothing to do with it. But they blame the fluid change when in reality they neglected the transmission for years.

If it has not been changed recently, then the filter needs to be changed. You need to exchange all the old fluid, however you choose to do that. A Magnefine inline filter is always a good idea. I like Amsoil ATF and feel it is one of the best ATFs available bar none. You do not need LG with a premium ATF like Amsoil or Mobil 1 or Redline.


Ok do a full atf fluid exchange sounds best since Idk the last time it was done with a filter change. Question I have no idea how to change it myself but will a shop like Midas install the recommend filter you mentioned with a fluid exchange?


I would go to an indy. Chains like Midas like to sell you a flush and will often tell you they will add a cleaner to the ATF before the flush and no filter change will be needed. Untrue. they are just lazy.

Some places use generic ATF and then add a magic potion to make it spec'd for your vehicle. Run from those places.

But do not confuse that with something like Amsoil ATF that is spec'd for many vehicles. But not all. They have a few varieties of ATF these days.

As for a Magnefine, its sold at NAPA and via mail order, although may have different labels on it from NAPA. Any decent mechanic can install it, takes 5 minutes.
 
Indy? Is that filter different then the stock slot my car came wit v6h? Thanks for all the input guys. I also can't find that filter on napa if anyone could for a 97 automatic 2.5l v6 ford probe gt please link it.
 
Last edited:
Also how would I siphon some of the overfilled fluid to put a bottle of the LGR in? Never changed tranny fluid myself only oil. Is it a similar process?
 
indy = independent repair shop. You need to change or clean whatever filter is in the transmission. The Magnefine is an additional filter that gets installed in the cooling line. It filters to 30 microns and has a magnet. The Magnefine will filter small particles and almost all the ferrous metal significantly better than the filter in the transmission (which is called a rock catcher).

You can get a cheap orange siphon pump many places and use it to siphon the 12 or so oz. of ATF from the transmission to add LG.
 
If that is the original trans in that Probe, you are the luckiest person on earth. Those trannies were garbage in those cars.
 
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
If that is the original trans in that Probe, you are the luckiest person on earth. Those trannies were garbage in those cars.


Yup 100% original engine and transmission runs like new except when it's cold. This baby going to easily break 200k if the trans exchange helps smooth the cold first gear. I am going to call around and see how much it would cost to get an exchange and that extra filter installed still can't find it on napa website though.
 
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
just get one from ebay. They are $14.85 with free shipping.


link? i cant find one of those filters from napa or anywhere.. please.
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Dakir
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
just get one from ebay. They are $14.85 with free shipping.


link? i cant find one of those filters from napa or anywhere.. please.
smile.gif

Napa part number 1-8514 3/8" Magnefine.
 
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