Changing ATF in an old car

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What are your thoughts on changing the Automatic Transmission Fluid on a 33 year old car that has the original Fluid and 50,000 miles.Fluid is Red and appears clean.I have heard a suggestion of draining out and replacing a litre of fluid every few thousand miles,instead of replacing the entire amount at one change,what is the reasoning behind this idea? is there any merit to this,or is it nonsense? Would you just replace all the Fluid,and fit a new strainer/filter in a single drain and refill,and maintain from there?
 
The standard recommendation is to change it. But not to use a flush machine, just a drain and fill and change the filter and clean the magnet. The only reason you hear people telling you not to do it is from the mechanics who don't want the liability of the transmission failing soon afterwards and being blamed for it. If it's going to fail, it will fail regardless of whether you change the fluid or not. Usually people think of changing the fluid when they start having transmission problems so the two sometimes goes hand in hand. You could always get a suction machine and suck out as much as you can out of the fill tube and refill with fresh fluid, but that still doesn't get to the filter or magnet which is why a pan drop and fill is still recommended.
 
Believe it or not, I try to do most of my own work, and MONEY is NOT my motivation; (I can afford to pay a mechanic) vehicle longevity is. I do a combination of the above; I use a Pela 6000 mighty vac (manual suction pump) to pull the ATF out prior to dropping the pan. It minimizes the mess under the car. I also a 15 quart clear plastic rectangular salad bowl that I bought at a flea market for $10 as a transmission drain pan. Leave one side of the pan bolts partially in so that when the pan seal is broken (maybe with a putty knife), the pan doesn't drop completely and splash fluid everywhere. Protect under the vehicle with scrap cardboard and I don't end up with a drop of fluid on my clean garage floor. Wipe the pan out clean, wash the debris off the magnet, use silicon grease to lubricate the new gasket (so you don't have to PRY the pan off next time), torque the bolts to 120 inch pounds (or whatever the spec is for yours) and I do this better than the local mechanic. The difference is I'm not being paid by the hour and I don't care how long it takes on Saturday morning. Have a cup of coffee and listen to favorite music while you take care of your car.
 
Originally Posted By: Wolf359
The standard recommendation is to change it. But not to use a flush machine, just a drain and fill and change the filter and clean the magnet.


+1
 
Originally Posted By: Ihatetochangeoil
Believe it or not, I try to do most of my own work, and MONEY is NOT my motivation; (I can afford to pay a mechanic) vehicle longevity is. I do a combination of the above; I use a Pela 6000 mighty vac (manual suction pump) to pull the ATF out prior to dropping the pan. It minimizes the mess under the car. I also a 15 quart clear plastic rectangular salad bowl that I bought at a flea market for $10 as a transmission drain pan. Leave one side of the pan bolts partially in so that when the pan seal is broken (maybe with a putty knife), the pan doesn't drop completely and splash fluid everywhere. Protect under the vehicle with scrap cardboard and I don't end up with a drop of fluid on my clean garage floor. Wipe the pan out clean, wash the debris off the magnet, use silicon grease to lubricate the new gasket (so you don't have to PRY the pan off next time), torque the bolts to 120 inch pounds (or whatever the spec is for yours) and I do this better than the local mechanic. The difference is I'm not being paid by the hour and I don't care how long it takes on Saturday morning. Have a cup of coffee and listen to favorite music while you take care of your car.


Yeah! - Right on!
 
I'd replace it. The logic with not doing older transmissions if they've never had fluid is because the friction material is shot, and the particulate floating in the fluid is what allows the clutches to continue to grab.

But based on what you've described on fluid color and mileage, I doubt that's the case here.

I'd say go ahead and change it. Based on the mileage and age, I'd suggest dropping the pan and tossing a new filter in as well. I like to swap my trans filters every 30-50k and do fluid at the same time
 
Originally Posted By: Ether
What are your thoughts on changing the Automatic Transmission Fluid on a 33 year old car that has the original Fluid and 50,000 miles.Fluid is Red and appears clean.I have heard a suggestion of draining out and replacing a litre of fluid every few thousand miles,instead of replacing the entire amount at one change,what is the reasoning behind this idea? is there any merit to this,or is it nonsense? Would you just replace all the Fluid,and fit a new strainer/filter in a single drain and refill,and maintain from there?


Pan drop, change filter, refill. Repeat every 50k.
 
ihatetochangeoil and i_hate_autofraud are in the "Zen zone".

Just avoiding the chatter one encounters when having a car serviced is worth any effort. Savings are gravy.
 
Do it. I saved a 20 y/o cutlass ciera with a clogged up filter that would slip in all gears except 1st. The filter reduced pump pressure which reduced the clutch holding ability.

It didn't need any more "silt" floating around in the fluid.

Get the filter! If you drop the pan you get half the fluid which 1) is procedure anyway and 2) will let the TC fluid "mix in" if that's what you really want.

Don't let someone flush it because that creates a weak spot in your cooler line hoses.

I'd go in for another filter and fluid in a year, regardless of mileage.
 
Thanks to everyone for your replies.I will do a fluid change myself,drop the pan as there is no drain bolt,and replace the filter,no flush.The vehicle is a European Ford Escort that has the Ford ATX Transmission,the same Automatic as used in the US Spec Escort/Lynx.The Transmission calls for Fluid meeting Spec M2C- 166-H which i believe is conventional ATF Dexron 11/111 so i have chosen Fuchs Multi purpose Titan 3000 for the change.
 
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