auto trans fluid

92 taurus overdrive trans. my tansaxle has been overhauled about 17000 miles ago.
can anyone please tell me the correct type of fluid to put in it. autozone says type H. is that correct ? and does anyone have any tips to keep the trans in good health ? thanks all jason

Are you sure they said type H? Ford didn't switch over to the higher end fluid until 1996, so you car should take the regular Mercon fluid. See this (http://www.taurusclub.com/encyclopedia/Engine/Trans.html) information for your car. Remember, a lot is going to depend on how long you plan on keeping your car. If you plan on keeping it a long time then there is no substitute for synthetic! Yes it costs a little bit more but it is much better and last a lot longer, plus you'll get better performance while you're using it. We use Mobil1 in the tranny and Pennzoil Platinum in the engine and we are convinced that it is one of the reasons why we're getting such good gas milage now. If you plan on selling the car soon then the regular fluid listed should be fine.

Mercon/Dexron III is recommended from Ford. From what I read, that will cause shuddering sometimes. Valvoline synthetic trans fluid will work.

And swap it evert 30000 miles at minimum.

Ford switched to the new transmission fluid in 1998,not in 1996.The person at AutoZone that told it was the type H is wrong trans. fluid and does not know this.Also put in a bottle of Lucas in,for the transmission and that is the best addative out there.It does work like says in the commercial.

Ford switched to the new transmission fluid in 1998,not in 1996.
Sorry, it was the late 96 early 97 model year when Ford first started using Mercon V tranny fluid (back then they called it Mercon 5) in some Lincolns. It didn't go by model year, it went by when the vehicle was built. It was on 9/9/97 that the remainder of the Ford car model line and Ford trucks switched over.

It should be written on the dip stick and I think yours wants straight Mercon where my 03 wants Mercon V. Now then, the Mercon V is part synthetic therefore costs more than Mercon. Full synthetic ATF like Mobil is six bucks a quart so it would cost $100. to put 16 qts in your tranny. No dubt it's good stuff but you can use Mercon V where it calls for Mercon, but you can not use Mercon where it calls for Mercon V. Capish?

The synthetic part of Mercon V helps prevent shudders and more tolertnt to heat and resistant to heat breaking down the lubricating characteristics of fluid. Advance Auto makes their own Mercon V and its good stuff and economical to. Use it in our Taurus and tranny shifts smooth as can be. 49K mi and never had it flushed or changed , but I siphon out old fluid and refurbish it with new.

cool thanks again fellas. i use penzoil platnum in the engine and i can tell a difference. im going to nuy the valvoline synthetic and buy a trans cooler. again thanks all for the great info i used the autozone site and it said type h for a 92 axod. can anyone tell me what year the axod became the axode thanks millermagic, mytaurus8achevy, wafrederick and huney1

You people who are siphoning, not dropping the pan, cleaning it and the washer are leaving out an important part of the transmission service.

Not to worry. I'll have the $100. flush job done at the Ford dealer but in the meantime I believe refurbishing the fluid is good, especially as hot as it gets where I live. Think I'll siphon out 4 qts and make sure I'm ready for Summer heat then maybe Spring of 08 get it flushed. Heck, there's people that go a lot more than 50K miles and never do a thing to the ATF and it keeps on tickin'.
It's late and I'm goin' sleepy town. :sleep:

The most important thing is to change the fluid and filter on an automatic transmission.Do not ever have your transmission flushed and all I hear are horror stories.Problem with the machine is that back flushes,uses more fluid and I know one transmission shop that loves making money doing valve body cleanings because someone had their transmission flushed.The valve body and the lines are top of the filter and the old filter is full of dirt and garbage.The transmission shifts fine after the valve body cleaningThe dirt gets inside the valve body during the flush with the machine,causing the valves inside the valve bodie to stick and will result in shifting problems.You cannot see the condition of the fluid during a flush with the machine.I had to replace one transmission because it acting up after a flush was done.Tried fixing this transmission with no good results and replacing the transmission was the only option

Hmmm . . . Not the first time I heard that about flushes so 'prolly just do the change and drop the pan, replace the filter and put new fluid in. In a thread a while back a member said if you flush make darn sure they clean the valve body, so that's verifies what you said.

Interestingly enough, the Ford place doesn't do fluid changes, only flushes for $100. I asked if they drop the pan and change the filter and said no, the flush back flushes any debris off the filter and out the old ATF dump hose.

I'll ask my private shop tech if he can do it and go from there. I asked a tranny shop about doing the change while I waited and they said I'd have to bring it and leave it and they'd get to it when they could. HUH? You mean I can't make an appointment to have it done? Nope, have to leave it there. Not me because I want to see them do it and the ATF they use. Only put about 8-9K mi a year on it so that's a ways down the road yet.

That is BS,the dirt gets pushed back in and into the valve body when done with the machine.I am not giving out this transmission shop's name and phone number in Muskegon,Mi.I heard another horror story after a flush was done at an oil change place,the transmission shifted fine before being flushed and had to be warmed up to shift the transmission after the flush.Found out later the transmission had to be rebuilt or replaced.The filter was not changed and that is most important thing to do to an automatic transmission.My father does not recomend a flush if a customer asks about one.We replace the fluid and filter with no comebacks and my father stocks the filters and pan gaskets(if not a reusable gasket) from a transmission parts place called D&E.If someone wants a flush,one transmission line comes off and is point to a pan or bucket.Start pouring fluid in while the vehicle is running,make sure not to run the transmission dry and stop when it is clear.Put the line back on and replace the fluid and filterThe advantage is you use less fluid than the machine and you can see the condition of the fluid.

"Heat is the number one reason for automatic transmission failure. By implementing the following pre service diagnostic procedures in your facility, Fast Lube Owners and Managers can greatly reduce the number of heat related transmission failure claims, by identifying pre existing fluid flow problems.

PRIOR TO PERFORMING A TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE

1. Check the vehicles transmission temperature for normal or hot operating temperature. 2. Check the vehicles current transmission fluid level. If the fluid level is very low, dark in color or smells burnt. (Warning Sign)
3. Inspect the vehicles radiator fluid level. The transmission cooler is usually located within the radiator housing, and can be dramatically affected by the radiator’s operating temperature or low fluid level.

Fluid Temp VS. Transmission Life Expectancy

175o= 100,000+ miles, 190o= 90,000 miles
210o (Pressure Drops) = 55,000 miles
230o (Valves Stick) = 25,000 miles
250o (Varnish Forms) = 17,000 miles
270o (Seals & Clutches Burn) = 4000 miles
300o + = TRANSMISSION FAILURE" :angryfire

Obviously heat plays a major role in the life of our transmissions and I wonder how much longer they will last with a tranny cooler.

Scroll down near the bottom of this page and it talks about tranny flush. http://www.lifeautomotive.com/technicaltips/default.asp

This is very interesting flush reading: http://www.gadgetonline.com/TransFlush.htm