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50% smoother shifts after tranny fluid change

  • Thread starter Thread starter Team Ford
  • Start date Start date Sep 7, 2008

Team Ford

Member
Dec 16, 2005
109
3
19
Sep 7, 2008
#1
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #1
So it's been about 2years since Ive changed the fluid in my 3650 5-spd tranny and today was a perfect day to do it. So after a quick search through the forums I came to using the average of all suggestions being 3.5qts. Then there was the debate of what type to use. I pulled out the owners manual and it calls for Mercon V. With that information I headed out to the local parts store then back to the garage and changed the fluid. I was kind of bummed to see the fluid coming out looked brand new and smelled the same as the new stuff. However I was about 3/4 of a qt low. I pulled the shifter off and refilled the xmsn.

WOW!

What a difference in shifting! I used to have a little grind going into 2nd and I always sort of had to kind of feel for the gears. Now when I shift its butter smooth and all the gates are right there even when downshifting the car goes into gear easier and smoother - it feels like a different xmns.

If your finding it harder to find 2nd maybe you are low on tranny fluid like I was or maybe due for a fluid change.
 

RedDaemon

10 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
3,470
9
108
Atlanta, GA
Sep 7, 2008
#2
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #2
Team Ford said:
So it's been about 2years since Ive changed the fluid in my 3650 5-spd tranny and today was a perfect day to do it. So after a quick search through the forums I came to using the average of all suggestions being 3.5qts. Then there was the debate of what type to use. I pulled out the owners manual and it calls for Mercon V. With that information I headed out to the local parts store then back to the garage and changed the fluid. I was kind of bummed to see the fluid coming out looked brand new and smelled the same as the new stuff. However I was about 3/4 of a qt low. I pulled the shifter off and refilled the xmsn.

WOW!

What a difference in shifting! I used to have a little grind going into 2nd and I always sort of had to kind of feel for the gears. Now when I shift its butter smooth and all the gates are right there even when downshifting the car goes into gear easier and smoother - it feels like a different xmns.

If your finding it harder to find 2nd maybe you are low on tranny fluid like I was or maybe due for a fluid change.
Click to expand...

what does the manual suggest when to change the fluid anyway?
 
T

ThunderHorse

New Member
May 25, 2008
26
0
0
Sep 7, 2008
#3
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #3
Yeah 2nd gear has always been kinda notchy in my car as well. Was lazy about a month ago and took it to the ford dealer for them to change the fluid. I hoped it would go away after a fluid change and yet its still there. Maybe they didn't even change it?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,945
224
Massachusetts
Sep 7, 2008
#4
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #4
I need to do mine soon too
 

04GreyGtUSAF

Member
Dec 10, 2007
43
0
7
KS
Sep 7, 2008
#5
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #5
Mustang5L5 said:
I need to do mine soon too
Click to expand...

+1
 

Team Ford

Member
Dec 16, 2005
109
3
19
Sep 7, 2008
#6
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • #6
-=NightHawk=- said:
what does the manual suggest when to change the fluid anyway?
Click to expand...


I was wrong the owners book calls for 3.8L of Synthetic Mercon ATF

I couldnt find an interval for the fluid changes, it just says check it and make sure its filled up to the fill plug.
 

RedDaemon

10 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
3,470
9
108
Atlanta, GA
Sep 8, 2008
#7
  • Sep 8, 2008
  • #7
Team Ford said:
I was wrong the owners book calls for 3.8L of Synthetic Mercon ATF
Click to expand...

perhaps itll shift even better if you add .3 qts more?
 

Team Ford

Member
Dec 16, 2005
109
3
19
Sep 8, 2008
#8
  • Sep 8, 2008
  • #8
-=NightHawk=- said:
perhaps itll shift even better if you add .3 qts more?
Click to expand...

lol
 
C

cooper

New Member
Dec 9, 2005
96
0
0
Sep 8, 2008
#9
  • Sep 8, 2008
  • #9
I've noticed that after driving in a nasty t-storm i'ts realy hard to shift. One time I had to change it just to shift!! I was living in an apt (cant work on the car in the parking lot) so I took it to the lube shop, the guy asked me 3 times if i realy wanted to change it because it looked and smelled brandnew! Yup, it shifted like a new tranny after that? Oh and I've always put reg mercron , changed it bout 5 times now. 138,000 miles now
 
T

TRUE BLUE 2294

New Member
Sep 2, 2008
8
0
0
Aurora Illinois
Sep 10, 2008
#10
  • Sep 10, 2008
  • #10
I have 2001 Bullitt and my manual states MOBIL 1 synthetic. I too recently changed it and that dam 2nd doesn't feel right. I'm the second owner (70k)and it seems if i drive the car hard the shifts are fine. If i drive it, lets say shift around or at 2k it doesn't like 1ST - 3RD, 4Th & 5Th are fine. tr3650
 
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