should i change tran fluid

[jonny141]

I just bought a 97 tarus 156 k miles and i dont think its had a tran fluid chnge befor should i chang it or run it til it dies. the tran is rough.........

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by jonny141

I just bought a 97 tarus 156 k miles and i dont think its had a tran fluid chnge befor should i chang it or run it til it dies. the tran is rough.........

With out even looking at the post, the answer is Yes. My trans was rough and was serviced. It's now out of commission. You know anyone who wants to buy a good running 3.8L with recently changed head gaskets? You might check the CV joints. The cost for a transmission shop is not cheap. I wish I could afford it, I have to put a used AOD in my girlfriends car tomorrow that she just bought for $400. It's strait, my friends parents know the owner of a big junk yard in town and was able to get a good used tranny (with t/c) for $225. I was just pissed cause she bought a car with a smoked tranny and oil shooting out of the valve covers.

Good Luck,
Pete

[drdisque]

old transmissions that have never been serviced tend to blow within a thousand miles of service if done that overdue.

[sfontain]

From my research online, I have to agree. If it really hasn't been changed, I wouldn't do it. In fact, it seems as though you are one of the luckier ones, having a pre-Gen4 transmission last beyond 150K, especially with no fluid changes. There are lots of people who've done the tranny service and had them crap out sooner than that!

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by sfontain

From my research online, I have to agree. If it really hasn't been changed, I wouldn't do it. In fact, it seems as though you are one of the luckier ones, having a pre-Gen4 transmission last beyond 150K, especially with no fluid changes. There are lots of people who've done the tranny service and had them crap out sooner than that!

From what I understand the failure is caused by a mix of bad engineering and bad fluid. If he continues to run the tranny on bad fluid, it's going to go out a lot sooner. Do what you want though.

Pete

[mwt]

Drop the pan change the filter and add new fluid.

Don't power flush it or run it until it all drains out.

Mike

[Gravesubject]

For what it's worth: my '95 Taurus had pan-drop at 120,000 and power flush at 180,000, and is still running strong, although it leaks a little now, at 211,000.

Good luck.

[maspoon]

I have always been told not to change the tranny fluid, could cause more problems

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by maspoon

I have always been told not to change the tranny fluid, could cause more problems

Please clarify how not getting rid of metal shavings in your tranny fluid is better for it...

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by Psychopete

Please clarify how not getting rid of metal shavings in your tranny fluid is better for it...

Theoretically most of those metal shavings should be held to the magnet in the pan.

The idea is that you have a lot of gunk built up on your transmission going that long without a fluid change. Many people believe that when you do a complete transmission flush, all that fresh fluid will dislodge big chunks of crap from your transmission and cause a failure quickly. Many people have reported having had this happen; after 100K or 150K, they do a transmission flush, only to have it die 500 miles later. Some feel this is coincidence. Others feel that people only decide to flush at 150K because there is already a problem and they are trying to fix it, so the transmission is nearly hosed anyway.

I agree with mwt: Drop the pan, clean it out, change the filter, and refill. If the transmission is on its way out anyway, you won't be paying a dealer $140 to flush a dying tranny. And if it still has some life left, you'll be cleaning out a lot of gunk in the pan and on the magnet, and you'll add a sort of booster dose of fresh lubricant--enough to help, and hopefully not enough to cause any major shock to the transmission.

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by sfontain

Theoretically most of those metal shavings should be held to the magnet in the pan.

Hey, I hear you there. It's not always the case though. I dropped an AOD Metric on a 87' Marquis and it was FULL of metal shavings. All over the bottom of the pan, not just on the magnet. I knew it was bad when my g/f bought the piece home and I checked the fluid. The smell when I drained the fluid made me sicker than a dog. You could literally see the shavings. I think the magnet can only catch a small amount particles throughout it's life time. I don't think it's intention was to collect all the metal shavings from a shot tranny.

The point was, I don't see how leaving bad fluid full of metal shavings in your transmission is better for it. I'm just not seeing a connection, but I could be wrong.

Pete

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by Psychopete

The point was, I don't see how leaving bad fluid full of metal shavings in your transmission is better for it. I'm just not seeing a connection, but I could be wrong.

Pete

Yeah, I don't think the metal shavings are doing it any good. If there are really that many shaving in the fluid, I suspect that there's usually not much hope for the transmission anyway.

Heh, I suppose you could drop the pan, collect the fluid that comes out, clean the pan and magnet, change the filter, and filter and pour old fluid back in...

In any event... I think what I've seen stated before is that new ATF will have detergents that detach gunk from the transmission in cars that haven't had a fluid change in a very long time. I believe I've also read the same thing about engine oil concerning people who change to synthetic after 150K miles...whatever.

But, as far as jonny is concerned: Frankly, I suspect your tranny is nearly toast. 156K is pretty damned good for a Taurus automatic with no fluid changes, and whether you do a complete flush or not, I don't imagine you're going to see another 15K out of this transmission, depending how rough it is now.

[maspoon]

im sorry I didnt realize there was metal shavings, He asked , I seen the thread , and I gave my opinion. I didnt say dont I didnt say do just gave my opinion from what I have always been told, even by auto tecs.