Changing Transmission Fluid

[MadHandle8169]

I've had my car for about 2 years now and I think it's time to change the transmission fluid. My car has high mileage so what fluid does everyone suggest? I have never done this before so can someone go through the process step by step. I'm guessing it's very similar to an oil change. And yes I tried the search function.

Thanks

 

[MadHandle8169]

O and it's a manual transmission.

 

[Car Nut]

I get mine changed every year and yes, I'll sadly admit that I don't do it myself. I have the local Texaco oil change place do it for about $30.00. In my defense, I go there for oil changes as well ONLY because they have a great car wash and my car looks almost brand new afterwards. It is one of the few places I have ever been where the car wash process DOES NOT scratch or hurt your car in any way. They do a good detail afterwards and dry it real quick, so it's worth it to me.

I'd get the tranny done once a year, especially if I did it myself.

I think the Haynes manual has some good info.

 

[HISSIN50]

and you could not find anything with the search function?

 

[mo_dingo]

Pop the drain plug and drain it. re install the plug and remove shift boot cover inside the car.

You can either remove the 4 bolts in your shifter and remove the shifter to fill the trans. Or, you can get a funnel and attach a rubber hose to it. Then fish the rubber hose down to the fill plug on the transmission. Remove the plug and pour new ATF into your trans. until it pours out the fill hole.

The plugs are 3/8" square plugs, so just take a 3/8 ratchet with a normal extension and use that to remove the plugs. Clean the threads on the plugs and put some teflon tape on them so they won't leak.

Don't fill the trans with the car jacked up. That will mean the trans is not level and you might put too much/too little in it.
Scott

 

[sociopath5.0]

ATF fluids only!! Royal Purple Syncromax or Pennzoil's version of GM's Syncromesh (its cheaper than GM and exactly the same, since they forumlated it for GM.)

 

[MadHandle8169]

O damn that blows I just did a shifter install like 2 weeks ago and now I'm going to have to open that back up. Can you elaborate more about the funnel I'm confused.

Also yes I used the search function and only turned up what fluids to use not how to do it. Thanks

 

[yellowstang1994]

About the hose and funnel. To elaborate on this: You can go to home depot or something and pick up a few feet of teflon tube, maybee about 1/4in in diameter or eye ball it up to see if it will fit in the hole or not. Take off your shifter boot and stick the tube from your interior to underneath by the transmission and stick it in the top fill plug. Cut off any excess so it is just enough. Then take a regular funnel and duct tape it to the hose. Then you can just pour your transmission fluid in that way. No need to pull your shifter off. The only thing that sucks is, you will need to let it back down on a level ground while you are filling. That way it won't be off. Then you might need to jack it back up to put the plug back in. Also just a note, ford calls for a Dexron IIE or III ATF fluid (not many stores cary the IIE anymore so III should be fine). Good luck, it should be a breeze for you.

 

[MadHandle8169]

Alright that don't sound to bad anymore how am I supposed to know where to fill it to? How much fluid does it call for?

 

[HISSIN50]

~2.7 quarts. fill it till it runs out the fill plug.

 

[MadHandle8169]

Alrighty Sounds Good Thanks