Tranny Fluid Change
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1
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From: Portland USA
Tranny Fluid Change
I have a 1990 F-150 with the 300 CI straight 6 and manual 5 Speed (4-Speed W/overdrive), and the tranny fluid has never been changed at 112,000 miles. The little owners manual that came with it is confusing. So my questions are:
1. Should I change the tranny fluid?
2. Is there a filter inside of the tranny I need to change also?
3. What fluid should I use and how many quarts?
4. I crawled underneath and found a drain plug on the bottom and what I think is the fill plug on the drivers side of the tranny. If this is the filler point, how the heck do I get the fluid in?
Thanks
BruceM
1. Should I change the tranny fluid?
2. Is there a filter inside of the tranny I need to change also?
3. What fluid should I use and how many quarts?
4. I crawled underneath and found a drain plug on the bottom and what I think is the fill plug on the drivers side of the tranny. If this is the filler point, how the heck do I get the fluid in?
Thanks
BruceM
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 0
From: Southern MD
Tranny Fluid Change
>I have a 1990 F-150 with the 300 CI straight 6 and manual 5
>Speed (4-Speed W/overdrive), and the tranny fluid has never
>been changed at 112,000 miles. The little owners manual that
>came with it is confusing. So my questions are:
>
>1. Should I change the tranny fluid?
Probably
>2. Is there a filter inside of the tranny I need to change
>also?
No
>3. What fluid should I use and how many quarts?
I think you use ATF, but check your owner's manual to make sure. I believe a little less than 2 quarts. Fill til it's even with bottom of fill hole.
>4. I crawled underneath and found a drain plug on the bottom
>and what I think is the fill plug on the drivers side of the
>tranny. If this is the filler point, how the heck do I get
>the fluid in?
Filler plug should have a pipe plug with a square head, or indented for a ratchet. Be careful, one is a bolt that holds in a shaft
>
>Thanks
>
>BruceM
-------------------------
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'94 E-150 Conversion Van 4.9 / C-6 -- '89 Mustang LX 5.0
>Speed (4-Speed W/overdrive), and the tranny fluid has never
>been changed at 112,000 miles. The little owners manual that
>came with it is confusing. So my questions are:
>
>1. Should I change the tranny fluid?
Probably
>2. Is there a filter inside of the tranny I need to change
>also?
No
>3. What fluid should I use and how many quarts?
I think you use ATF, but check your owner's manual to make sure. I believe a little less than 2 quarts. Fill til it's even with bottom of fill hole.
>4. I crawled underneath and found a drain plug on the bottom
>and what I think is the fill plug on the drivers side of the
>tranny. If this is the filler point, how the heck do I get
>the fluid in?
Filler plug should have a pipe plug with a square head, or indented for a ratchet. Be careful, one is a bolt that holds in a shaft
>
>Thanks
>
>BruceM
-------------------------
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Tranny Fluid Change
I have the same transmission. It is a Mazda unit.
You should change the fluid every 90K miles, so you are overdue.
The transmission uses Automatic Transmission Fluid. It takes more than 2 quarts... see the owner's manual for the capacity. But you measure how much goes in by filling it until fluid seeps out of the filler hole that is on the left side of the transmission.
Remove the left side filler hole's plug using a 1/4" socket wrench. Then remove the bottom drain plug the same way. This drains out the old fluid. Replace the bottom drain plug. Then get a small funnel, and pour in ATF through the side hole until it starts to seep out of the hole. Replace the side hole plug.
Just fill until it seeps out. Overfilling is not a good thing.
It is pretty simple. The mazda units are bulletproof, so good maintenance will make it last a long, long time.
You should change the fluid every 90K miles, so you are overdue.
The transmission uses Automatic Transmission Fluid. It takes more than 2 quarts... see the owner's manual for the capacity. But you measure how much goes in by filling it until fluid seeps out of the filler hole that is on the left side of the transmission.
Remove the left side filler hole's plug using a 1/4" socket wrench. Then remove the bottom drain plug the same way. This drains out the old fluid. Replace the bottom drain plug. Then get a small funnel, and pour in ATF through the side hole until it starts to seep out of the hole. Replace the side hole plug.
Just fill until it seeps out. Overfilling is not a good thing.
It is pretty simple. The mazda units are bulletproof, so good maintenance will make it last a long, long time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 1
From: Rural Florida Panhandle
Tranny Fluid Change
I would change the fluid every 30K miles.
You can buy a plastic pump that will screw into a one gallon jug of atf (Mercom III). It has a plastic hose on it with a tapered tip and hooks on the end so it will stay in the transmission while you pump.
I never had much luck trying to fill with a funnel because I could never get the supply bottle higher than the transmission.
I now own and have owned several manual Ford transmissions, in Mustangs, explorers, F150's and Rangers. They all use Mercon III.
Sometimes a cure for hard shifting is simply to change the fluid.
Winford
You can buy a plastic pump that will screw into a one gallon jug of atf (Mercom III). It has a plastic hose on it with a tapered tip and hooks on the end so it will stay in the transmission while you pump.
I never had much luck trying to fill with a funnel because I could never get the supply bottle higher than the transmission.
I now own and have owned several manual Ford transmissions, in Mustangs, explorers, F150's and Rangers. They all use Mercon III.
Sometimes a cure for hard shifting is simply to change the fluid.
Winford
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Tranny Fluid Change
I think the manual says 60k, but i'm not sure. I bought one of those valves that screw ontop of the bottle of ATF, it has a long rubber hose on it. I cut about 1/2 of the hose, and what I did was snuck the bottle above the tranny, and snaked the hose into the filler hole. Filled it until it started coming out the filler hole, about 4-5 quarts. Mercon III is what it needs, the manual will tell you.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.
That's it for mods now, saving for a Stang. Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.That's it for mods now, saving for a Stang. Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
