changed trans fluid/filter

[Mark Rudy]

Just changed transmission fluid and filter in my 1990 ford escort and when I try to add new fluid it seems like it takes an extraordinarily long time for the fluid to get down the tube into the transfer case... now, the weather is in the 30's so I expect the fluid to be a bit on the thick side but is it normal for 1/2 a quart to take 2 hours to completely clear the filler tube?

More on the reason for the fluid/filter change.... car ran perfectly well up until yesterday... on the way home from work the car suddenly developed a condition where during shift change from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to drive, it would just slip and never engage the next gear up. I ended up just putting it down in 1 and driving home at 20 mph (no fun when I had 30 some miles to drive like that after a 12 hour shift at work). I bought the car from a lein sale 6 months ago and never did any work to it other than an oil change and put 2 new front tires on it so who knows how old the existing fluid/filter were. I guessed with 99800 miles on the car that it was probably time for a change assuming noone had done it prior to me owning it.

Old fluid and filter drained and removed ok, new filter compared to old filter and it is the same filter. it went on flawlessly (new grommet as well), transfer case pan went on flawlessly with new exact match gasket. Car is still up on jack stands (though the Kragen bought repair manual for the car said to lower the car (this wouldn't be an issue would it?).

[jamesmetairie]

there,s alot of discussion on these forums about the bad effects of changing tranny fluid for the first time with high mileage. hopefully some previous owner changed it around 40 or 50,000 miles. alot of foks say that the old fluid has a gummy effect that helps to keep things stuck together in the tranny . when it,s changed at high mileage for the first time a few months later big problems develop. Jim.

[Davescort97]

Sure you've done this, but did you put the dipstick in and move it up and down to get rid of any obstructions? I recently flushed my power steering. The manual said to have it up in the front to fill it as it was flushing out. I could see no reason for this, but did it anyway. There must be a reason or they wouldn't have put it in there. I don't know.................Dave

[12Ounce]

Be sure to use a funnel, but make sure the funnel doesn't stick tightly into the dipstick tube. If the funnel is in tight, it is possible to get an air-lock that will keep the fluid from dropping down the tube. If the fluid does lock ... just lift the funnel a bit to cause some venting.

This kinda indicates that the normal tranny vent (assuming your model has one) may be gummed up. Blast it with some cleaner the next time you have the pan off.