I just came inside from draining and replacing the Mercon fluid in my 5sp manual. It had 132000 on the trans, and I don't think it had ever been changed. It was FILTHY! Metal particles like I have never seen. It was all gooked up on the end of the drain plug. Also i might add that when i filled it, it held about 5 quarts, but I only took 3 quarts out! It was a little low.

Well even though I have already refilled it, and when I drove it I didn't notice muc difference, except maybe a little quieter, but anyway, is there any kind of flush for manual trannys that I can add to the new stuff, drive a few miles and then drain?

Also, when (if) I do this, is there any kind of additive that you all would recommend.

Would going with a synthetic at 132k on the tranny make it leak? I don't want it attacking seals~!



[This message has been edited by rtifactman (edited 02-10-2001).]

 

uhm, as far as I know, a manual only take 3.75 quarts of fluid. You want to fill it until fluid starts coming out of the inlet, that's it. I have heard that overfilling the box can damage it (but I can't see how that would happen). Double check your manual for the tranny fluid capacity.

Good luck!!

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Black 2000 F-150 XLT Sport
4.6L V8 5-spd Manual
3.55 Limited slip Rear Axle
Towing Package

 

According to my manual, the m5od trans takes about 7.5 pints, which is one gallon. (almost)
it also says that it can be more or less, to fill it until it comes out the fill plug, which is what I did.

 

My mistake! I assumed you had a different tranny. If you followed the manual specification then you should be okay, and as far as it leaking, I doubt that switching to synthetic this late would cause that. When I flushed my transmission (not quite at 132K miles), I just drained it, moved through all the gears, closed the drain and pumped it full of mobil 1 synthetic. You could search the board for "friction modifier" and I'm sure you'll come up with information on additives.

Have fun.

 

Synthetics will not cause leaks; if they already exist, that's different. They do not attack seals; they have to meet the same specifications. That's a long time for fluid. For a safe flush, with no worries and little work, I would at the least change it a few times (putting some mileage on between each change).

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.