Any tips or "should do" when changing the Tranny Fluid for a 94 Escort Wagon?

[mitch311]

Hi,

My car has about 70,000 miles and this will be the first time I will be changing the Tranny Fluid. I have a 94 Ford Escort Wagon with Automatic Transmission, and would like to know if their's a certain way I need to drain and fill the Tranny fluid.

For example, certain cars require you to have your engine running and then start filling the tranny with fluid.

Any tips or advice would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[Arnoldtheskier]

You're probablly going to end up changing it twice..if there is ANY accumulation at all in the trans.then it is doubtfull you will get it all out the first time.What I do is to siphon(giant syringe,suction pump,siphon,pump,) as much fluid as I can by getting a hose down the fill tube.Have the trans.warm.On these trans. you will get almost 3 quarts out.I use one of those Walmart siphon pumps.Pump out into another container..pour in the exact same amount.Drive it for a while..lol..some you have to do it again in 5 minutes..depending on how long it has been since it was changed.ANY..and I mean,any,any.any changes in the trans. behaviour after this..do the filter right then.Otherwise..pull the stick..feel the fluid..look at it..smell it..after like I said..5 minutes to a few days/weeks whatever..if you have to do this a few times..so be it..WHEN you again get clean.nice fluid..THEN I do the filter,fluid.I was listening to a talk show/car show by a trans.EXPERT..actually there were 2 car experts 1 trans(in the business reputable) expert.People were calling in with trans. queries..a few had major failures right after service.He said that it is not uncommon for transmissions to FAIL RIGHT AFTER SERVICE..flush/filter etc.,the longer it has been since service.the harder the trans., has been used..the more muck inside it.The sudden change in fluid viscosity,the addition of new fluid/mixing with large deposits and recirculating them through todays highly complex..solenoid activated,electronic/computer controlled transmissions causes the transmissions/computers to attempt to adjust to these changes improperly..often changes in pressure.He said some trans. are so dirty that they start with a change of a quart or two at a time..when they have fairly good fluid (provided that the trans. still acts the same and the filter is not plugged)THEN they change the fluid, fliter.He said this is especially good advice if you are NOT going to drain/flush the convertor.Some cars have convertor drains..or the trans/ service shops put one in.He also said to NEVER put ANYTHING into transmissions other than transmission fluid.LOL..91 trans.,200k on it NEVER serviced..trans is acting up..(ya think!)..fluid was like MUCK..changed a couple quarts..trans. is almost like new..3 times I have done this! the fluid is NOW almost ok..ready to change the filter..

[Jet-Lee]

Ruined the tranny in my Bronco. The mechanic fixed the gears, but put the original fluid back in. Took about a month and a half of changing a quart at a time (lotsa quarts!!!) before it was clean enough to change the filter. The mechanic charged us $1800 to fix the tranny, he could of at least flushed it and left it with clean circulating fluid and a clean filter. The thing ran like a champ after that.

[Arnoldtheskier]

No way man..REALLY..OBVIOUSLLY if ya take it apart..OF COURSE you put new fluid in..circulating old fluid in a new trans..sorry..it's laughable..SURELY he didn't think this was proper..now THAT would be scary..

Some guys run a filter in the cooling lines..just run it and filter it..I guess if it was a high perf./high dollar FRESH trans. I could see it..BUT for a dirty trans..you filter it there..and you end up providing a restricion/back pressure..naa..

LOL..I used to have this BEAT old Chev cop car..and I had ZERO money..I'd run this thing/beat on it..till the trans. was BAD..break out the caulking gun,big tube of exterior HOUSE silicone,drain the fluid,clean the filter..filter the fluid through..rags..whatever..PUT IT back in..there used to be so much clutch material in the fluid.pan,fliter I wonder how it even ran..ya ya..REVVING it up in the winter..IN DRIVE to get going..HA HA..