2000 Taurus SES FFV Sythentic Tranny Fluid

I just purchased this vehicle with 100,000 miles on it. Have driven it 1800 miles in the past 10 days. Tranny shifts fine. Fluid is clean. Overall, the car runs great. Several of my friends are suggesting that I drain the fluid and replace with synthetic. Crawled under the car, and I don't see any evidence of tranny fluid leakage. I know that the Taurus had major tranny issues in the nineties. Are the 2000's any better? Should I leave well enough alone or go synthetic? I have changed tranny fluid on several cars over my long history of "knuckle scrapping", so I'm willing to tackle it myself. Thanks for your input!

Owner's manual for my '02 calls for fluid change every 30,000 Mi and to use Mercon V. When I changed at 30K the fluid looked clean but the pan had a thin layer of sludge and the magnet was loaded. Took 7 1/2 qts to drain and refill, cheapest place I found it was Wal Mart for $2.88. I also changed the filter.

I just purchased this vehicle with 100,000 miles on it. Have driven it 1800 miles in the past 10 days. Tranny shifts fine. Fluid is clean. Overall, the car runs great. Several of my friends are suggesting that I drain the fluid and replace with synthetic. Crawled under the car, and I don't see any evidence of tranny fluid leakage. I know that the Taurus had major tranny issues in the nineties. Are the 2000's any better? Should I leave well enough alone or go synthetic? I have changed tranny fluid on several cars over my long history of "knuckle scrapping", so I'm willing to tackle it myself. Thanks for your input!

Everybody I've asked, including manufacturer of aamco synthetic (blend)Mercon V have told me that the regular MerconV and thd synthetic blends don't mix or should not be mixed....If you change the fluid in thre pan and replace with synthetic...you still have a lot of the old stuff in the converter......that will mix.....Since I cant't get a good answer from anybody..I'm staying with the Ford Motorcraft product...Its $3.50 or so from the dealer per quart

Everybody I've asked, including manufacturer of aamco synthetic (blend)Mercon V have told me that the regular MerconV and thd synthetic blends don't mix or should not be mixed....If you change the fluid in thre pan and replace with synthetic...you still have a lot of the old stuff in the converter......that will mix.....Since I cant't get a good answer from anybody..I'm staying with the Ford Motorcraft product...Its $3.50 or so from the dealer per quart

I gather that the Taurus doesn't have a drain plug on the converter like my 84 Benz 300D. Guess I'll leave well enough alone. Thanks for the input!