Transmission Info

Just yesterday I finally broke down and changed the filter on my 2001 winstar as there is a post below. I thought it would be important to pass along this info in a new thread. As you may have learned in other post on here the transmission is a weak link... If you are new on here this info may save you money down the road.The dealer suggest you change your fluid about every 35,000 miles but they dont recommend a filter change to 150,000 miles. To me this is unaceptable!!! I would change the fluid about once a year or no more than 35,000 miles. I would also change the filter at no more than 35,000 miles.Its really imposable even with the fluid exchange to get all the fluid out of the torque converter it basicly mixes with it. So droping the pan and changing the filter once a year or 35,000 miles should help the tranmission hold up. My fluid was changed by the fluid exchange system from the dealer when I first bought it used after the transmission started slipping. It ran great after that so every year since then I have my fluid changed. This year I wanted to change the filter so I did and this is what I found after a little over 97,000 miles with the factory filter..The pan magnet looked like a rubber groment a first it had so much metal shavings. The bottom of the pan had a thin film on it as well. Almost scary to look at thinking after this filter and fluid change could cause me a problem. But all went well and the trans seem to be running strong. Feels like there's more torque and smooth shifts.. Hope it stays that way.. This is a look at the pan drop and filter replacement.http://community.webshots.com/album/557341448nNXypM

To facilitate faster, cleaner, and easier changes, it helps to install a drain plug in the trans pan. I've done several on the A4XS/AXOD types and found this to be a good location:

http://72.19.213.157/files/AXODPanConversion.jpg

This makes routine fluid and filter changes a lot more enjoyable project. I'll second the notion that changing the fluid and filter regularly is the best thing you can do to prolong the transmission. Use the original type EPDM/steel spacer gasket whenever possible. The replacement gaskets usually provided with a filter kit are not suitable, and are generally only a leak waiting to happen.

Chances are that most of the metal fines you are finding in the pan and on the magnet are from the chain and sprockets wearing slightly, and that is not a major point of concern.

I still prefer using my LiquidVac and getting 7qts out of the trans dipstick. One less hole I have to drill and plug. Still a good idea if it gets you replace the fluid on a regular basis though.

I still prefer using my LiquidVac and getting 7qts out of the trans dipstick. One less hole I have to drill and plug. Still a good idea if it gets you replace the fluid on a regular basis though.

Sorry- duplicate post.

Note that even dropping the pan doesn't get the fluid in the torque converter.

I was doing a tranny fluid/filter job on a friend's '96 Mustang 3.8 - and was surprised to discover a torque converter access point and removable plug! The engine had to be rotated by hand to line the plug up with the access point, but it worked like a charm, draining the entire converter. The realities of FWD packaging probably made that too difficult to implement for the Windstar, but it would have been a nice feature.

Nice work Gary. Thanks for taking the time to take some pics. That amount of goo on the magnet is very typical. I've found the same amount on GM, fords and Jeeps @ ~36Kmi. I was surprized at the amount of black paste on the magnet on the inside of the cover when I changed the rear diff gear oil on my 2005 trailblazer at 20Kmi.:uhoh: It's good to do a couple of clean-outs during the life of the unit. Oh... and you have to love those reusable gaskets! They make the job so much easier. Have the same thing on the rear diff cover on my GM.

Joel

Blue Bowtie I have a B&M plug i won off ebay.. I am thinking there may be some clearance issues.. So I may this spring drop the pan and take it up to my cousin's machine shop and let him put up a set up like you have.. I want the bigger hole so it will be faster for fluid replinishment..

Also my mother has a 91 buick 3800 with 77,000 miles and her trans, fluid looked clean when I drop her pan.Also her pan was spotless on the inside. I dont recall seeing a magnet though but her pan was so clean I just took off the filter and replaced it.. Thanks for the info!!! Gary

Also my mother has a 91 buick 3800 with 77,000 miles and her trans, fluid looked clean when I drop her pan.Also her pan was spotless on the inside...

Yep, that engine/transaxle combo was nearly indestructable! My BIL had one run out to around 200Kmi before the body got rough on it.

Joel