• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Coolant and tranny fluid flush?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sonic04GT
  • Start date Start date Nov 30, 2010

Sonic04GT

Member
Nov 1, 2009
844
2
19
West Palm Beach, FL
Nov 30, 2010
#1
  • Nov 30, 2010
  • #1
Car has about 55,000 miles on it. Good idea to do this?

How difficult are they to do? I can put the car on ramps maybe and that's about it.

What do you guys use for tranny fluid? (manual) T-3650 takes 3.25 quarts correct?
 

AdRock

Member
Nov 13, 2003
521
1
19
South Texas
Nov 30, 2010
#2
  • Nov 30, 2010
  • #2
For the trans fluid:

Drain the trans. Then pull the shifter off and refill from the top. As for the fluid. I've been very happy using Mobil1 ATF. I plan on switching to Royal Purple Synchromax soon. So I'd suggest either one of those.

For the coolant:

Drain the system. Pull out the thermostat then put the housing back on without the thermostat in it. Disconnect the radiator hoses from the radiator. Shove a garden hose into the top rad. hoase and turn on the water full blast. All kinds of **** will probably come out the bottom hose. Just let it run for a while.

Then run the hose through the radiator to flush it.

Clean out the overflow tank as best you can.

Put a new thermostat in. Reconnect the radiator hoses. Fill with coolant and burp the system.
 
0

03machone

New Member
Nov 21, 2010
26
0
0
Dec 3, 2010
#3
  • Dec 3, 2010
  • #3
+1 on Mobil1 ATF, I had really good luck just using the hand pump that screws onto the fluid bottle and going through the screw in plug, got it from advanced auto real cheap, It beats having to replace the shifter seal. I heard that ford revised fluid amount for the 3650 to 3.55..... thats what i did and feels great.
 

bullitt 736

Member
Jan 16, 2004
120
0
17
Magnolia, Texas
Dec 3, 2010
#4
  • Dec 3, 2010
  • #4
Amsoil ATF. 3.2 quarts.
 

Skidawg

Member
Nov 11, 2003
104
0
16
Dec 4, 2010
#5
  • Dec 4, 2010
  • #5
With a lifted car, the trans fluid swap is as easy as they get. Drain and fill. As 03machone posted, buy a gear oil pump for < $10 from an auto shop. It screws onto the bottle and pump the fuild in the fill hole.

I used Amsoil ATF and it immediately shifted smoother. I'm sure M1 would do the same.
 

flstang65

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2007
1,484
135
94
SE Georgia
Dec 4, 2010
#6
  • Dec 4, 2010
  • #6
I have always had good luck with Mobil 1.
 

twogts4us

15 Year Member
Apr 1, 2004
4,188
12
79
Dunedin, FL
Dec 4, 2010
#7
  • Dec 4, 2010
  • #7
Skidawg said:
With a lifted car, the trans fluid swap is as easy as they get. Drain and fill. As 03machone posted, buy a gear oil pump for < $10 from an auto shop. It screws onto the bottle and pump the fuild in the fill hole.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd rather not pull the shifter just to swap fluid. There IS an easier way.
 
G

GettinThere

Member
Jul 29, 2005
553
1
19
Central Texas
Dec 5, 2010
#8
  • Dec 5, 2010
  • #8
twogts4us said:
Yeah, I'd rather not pull the shifter just to swap fluid. There IS an easier way.
Click to expand...

This might be a good option:

Stang Shifter Gaskets

I did this at 50k and am pleased with the results. I also used Mobil 1.




To the OP, yes it's worth it to do, and it is relatively easy.

 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Dec 5, 2010
#9
  • Dec 5, 2010
  • #9
Any reason you are draining the fuild on a manual trans at some odd 50,000 miles ? You really don't need to change that fluid all that often unless you have been cooking the hell out of it or it has problems shifting. If it has problems shifting there are often other issues however. If you are planning on driving it like you stole it then a different trans fluid might be in order but if you are just daily driving it, it is likely a waste of time.

I ran my stock 3650 well over 100,000 miles and never touched the oil in it until I pulled my factory clutch out and put a T56 magnum in....
 

merc123

Active Member
Jan 27, 2003
420
2
39
North GA
Dec 9, 2010
#10
  • Dec 9, 2010
  • #10
I thought you did manual trans fluid every 30k miles.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Dec 9, 2010
#11
  • Dec 9, 2010
  • #11
Auto trans every 30-50 depending on the duty. I usually just replace the filter and refill the lost fluid for the first change.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
2001 Mustang GT, scorched metal smell and noise from trans/diff?
  • AndyE2255
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
443
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 28, 2025
gkomo
P
2002 T5 transmission vibration issue
  • puffoo
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
170
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Feb 22, 2026
puffoo
P
T
What's it Worth? 2002 GT conv/auto
  • tonydetesta
  • Jan 7, 2026
  • What is it Worth?!?!?
Replies
3
Views
625
What is it Worth?!?!? Jan 21, 2026
Mustang5L5
P
2000 GT Random Power Loss
  • Pinellas50
  • Mar 9, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
277
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Pinellas50
P
R
New Member, needs help with built '04 engine
  • rollo19
  • Aug 6, 2025
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
1
Views
145
The Welcome Wagon Aug 6, 2025
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?