OK, I am wanting to change the transmission fluid in both my 2000 LS V8 Sport and my Mitsubishi Montero Limited. Is there anything more to it than draining the existing fluid and refilling it? I appreciate any help!
Transmission
- Thread starter shltn
- Start date
I would consider taking your Lincoln to a dealership if you wish to flush the transmission system. There isn't a dipstick to put the fluid in........which means you will have to find a way to pump it in through a line, etc. I am sure someone else will chime in on this if they have a better idea.shltn said:
2001LS8Sport
Dedicated LVC Member
I have been told you pump the fluid back in through the drain hole. It has a "lip" that controls the proper amount of fluid. You fill it until it runs back out. You may need to do this a couple times or so after you start it up and run it through the gears. Dealers have the equipment to make this easy. You can do it at home with squeeze bottles, but it's going to be a pain.
The tranny on my Montero has a drain plug in the bottom and a fill hole in the top. So I know where to pick up one of those fluid "syringes" with flexible hose at the end. So I just need to drain it, replace the drain plug and use that to fill in top hole. Does that sound right?
My understanding is that you drain the fluid via the drain plug, then refill it just like you'd do with a manual, through the fill hole on the side. What you do about the torque converter, I don't know. It's been a long time (almost 15 years) since I did a tranny service on a slushbox, but I seem to recall having to fill it up, start the engine and let it idle, then periodically add more fluid over the next few minutes as the torque converter refilled itself...
Somebody with Alldata access should look this up...
Somebody with Alldata access should look this up...
SilverLS
Dedicated LVC Member
shltn said:
drain from the bottom and fill from the side(TOP??) Its a pain but that the way it has to be done on the ls.....its gonna take some time and I hope you have a lift....I did mine on a lift and its still not fun.....we had to lower the car and let it run to see if it was full.....Hope that helps....
2001LS8Sport
Dedicated LVC Member
Make sure you cycle it through the gears too before you do your final fluid check. Then drive it...then check it again when hot. It's a pain...but that's what really needs to be done.
Jim Henderson
Dedicated LVC Member
This does sound like one maintenance item where it probably is easier and maybe almost as cheap to have a shop do it.
I usually like dropping the pan and changing my own fluid since it gives me a chance to inspect, but the fill and checking level routine sounds like a real PITA.
From the sounds of it, possibly the easiest method would be to drop the pan etc and then close off the drain plug and fill with the proper amount of fluid(depends on whether we can drain the converter or not), run the car and then raise it on jacks and check the level one or more times. The problem is that to do this properly, you should level the car on 4 jack stands. This is the real PITA part. Why couldn't Ford have just put in a $10 dipstick? Maybe they wanted to sell us tranny fluid changes, but then isn't this one of those 100K mile forgettabout its?
Maybe just leaving it on stands thru the entire process is the way to go, altho I really hate being under cars on jack stands. Makes me appreciate the ground clearance of my F250, I never need to jack it up to service, just walk right under.
I may try this once at my 30,000 service, and I figure it will be enough PITB that I will just take it to a shop next time. I think the last tranny shop that offered this service on my Chebby quoted something like $50 to drop the pan, change the fluids etc.
Oh Well, 5,000 miles more to go before I give it a shot.
Jim Henderson
I usually like dropping the pan and changing my own fluid since it gives me a chance to inspect, but the fill and checking level routine sounds like a real PITA.
From the sounds of it, possibly the easiest method would be to drop the pan etc and then close off the drain plug and fill with the proper amount of fluid(depends on whether we can drain the converter or not), run the car and then raise it on jacks and check the level one or more times. The problem is that to do this properly, you should level the car on 4 jack stands. This is the real PITA part. Why couldn't Ford have just put in a $10 dipstick? Maybe they wanted to sell us tranny fluid changes, but then isn't this one of those 100K mile forgettabout its?
Maybe just leaving it on stands thru the entire process is the way to go, altho I really hate being under cars on jack stands. Makes me appreciate the ground clearance of my F250, I never need to jack it up to service, just walk right under.
I may try this once at my 30,000 service, and I figure it will be enough PITB that I will just take it to a shop next time. I think the last tranny shop that offered this service on my Chebby quoted something like $50 to drop the pan, change the fluids etc.
Oh Well, 5,000 miles more to go before I give it a shot.
Jim Henderson
mharrison
Dedicated LVC Member
The only way I know of to get the fluid out of the torque convertor is to run it. On an old Lincoln Town Car I emptied the pan, replaced the gasket, filled the tranni, removed the return line from the radiator, started it up and ran it until clean fluid came out of the return line. (This is EASY to see when the fluid is real dirty. I'm not so sure about relatively clean fluid.) It is a nasty job. Probably more of a PITA on the LS than it was on that old Town Car.
I'd probably pay somebody to do it on the LS....as picky as these transmissions are, there is no telling how badly you could possibly screw it up.
I'd probably pay somebody to do it on the LS....as picky as these transmissions are, there is no telling how badly you could possibly screw it up.