Tranny fluid...change it hot or cold? & new filter

[coopns]

I got my Val max life tranny fluid, 5 qrts, I also got a rubber gasket liner. (95 Taurus 170K)

Do I warm the car up prior to changing the fluid? After pouring in fluid, start'er up let it run for a bit, add some more. Anything else?

I dropped the pan last year and installed a new filter. Should I put another new filter in or is it good for a few years?

Any other tips?

Thanks.

 

[Brett Miller]

I would take it for a 5-10 minute drive. You don't want it too hot but warm fluid will flow better. If I were you, I would buy another 2 quarts of fluid. When I dropped the pan and changed the filter in my Ford, it took 6.75 quart to refill.....

 

[Kestas]

I don't think you have to change the filter this time. It's pretty well broken in.

 

[benjamming]

How many miles have you put on the Ford since last year when the fluid & filter were changed?

 

[coopns]

20k or so.

 

[unDummy]

If dropping the pan, I alway change the filter simply because you are there. I like the rubber gaskets but never reuse them. Sorry, but I don't care for shortcuts that might cause re-doing the job. $20 for a filter kit sure beats the time and labor of reworking a pan leak.

If you don't want to drop the pan, consider investing in a topside/pelaextractor/mityvac. Makes things easy.
The cooler line fluid removal is also an option. Cooler line disconnect method is also mentioned in many Ford factory service manuals.

 

[benjamming]

Yeah, I would change the filter when the pan is dropped as well. If the ATF had been neglected prior to last year, I would drop the pan & replace the filter now. That's the approach I used on my '94 Grand Am when I started taking care of it at 87k miles.

 

[KBFXDLI]

I have always been told to change oil warm or hot because much of the dirt and impurities are suspended in the hot oil that has been mixed up and come out the drain versus sinking to the bottom of the pan. If you are dopping the pan don't make it too hot.