what transmission fluid?

[murphmobile2]

I'm going to be doing a filter change sometime this spring... and I have an old B&M Shift Improver Kit that's been in my room for about four years now... so I'm just going to put that in while I'm at it since it's not going to cost me any extra.

The kit says you should use Trick Shift ATF, but knowing how it's a B&M product in the first place, I can see them saying you should use their product. And since I've heard that the shifts aren't really snappy even with the kit in...

Do I really need to use the Trick Shift ATF? I was honestly debating between Valvoline MaxLife or Castrol GTX High-Mileage for the fluid, since it's an older transmission. I'd much rather use a high-mileage transmission fluid.

I will also be putting a tranny cooler in this year to boot.

[351wcrayz]

Can't help ya there Murph, Scott or Pete may know...My tranny has been makin a weird clicking sound lately, happens only from 0-40mph and stops, or until you kick the passing gear in...idk, seems strong still so it beats me....Good luck with the shifts tho.

-Wes

[1987cp]

I will say, when I put on my TorkMaster converter I topped the trans up with maybe 3 quarts of Synthetic TrickShift (that's the stuff they say to use with Mercon/Dextron applications; regular TrickShift is supposed to replace only Type F and similar). To be sure, my transmission does shift very well, but then, it apparently was treated to a very nice rebuild last time it was out of the car. My experience in using the B&M Shift Improver kit in a high-mileage stock transmission with a stock converter was that it made next to no difference whatsoever. Which leaves me wondering what to do with the extra kit I ended up with a few years ago.

[gadget73]

Regular Dexron/Mercon III is fine. I use WalMart stuff because I'm a tightwad and its made by some major manufacturer.

[Glen]

I kinda like the Valvoline MaxLife myself.

[mrltd]

I like Merc V

[88grandmarq]

I like Merc V

x2 on that.

I have built several AODs and a couple 4R70Ws
never had a problem with Mercon V. Ford recommends this fluid in all AODE and 4R70/75W transmissions.

If you have the stock torque converter, pull the inspection plate and check the converter for a drain plug. if you have one, drain all the fluid out when you service the transmission. fill it with some Mercon V, should hold 9-10 qts.

[1987cp]

What's the difference in Mercon V and Mercon III?

[P72Ford]

If you have the stock torque converter, pull the inspection plate and check the converter for a drain plug. if you have one, drain all the fluid out when you service the transmission. fill it with some Mercon V, should hold 9-10 qts.

I always drain the converter when I do a fluid change (AOD with factory converter). However, I add 14 quarts to fill the transmission. Thats when the correct level shows on the stick, and thats what my service manual says as well. I have a regular pan as well.

[Lincolnmania]

+3 on the mercon V
drain the convertor also
mercon V is semi synthetic

[91waggin]

+1 for the Wal-Mart stuff. Been running it for a year with no problems, and driving it almost every day. And I sure as hell can't argue with the price.

[murphmobile2]

Is it that easy to drain it all out? If that's the case then I'll just do it that way. I'm sure it needs it too.

I think I'll be using the MaxLife, it says it meets Mercon V standards... but what are the best Mercon V's out there for an older transmission? Any high mileage variants?

[gadget73]

V is actually recommended by Ford for all their trannys going back to like 1980 or something, so it will work just fine. I should have switched mine over when I serviced it, but I wasn't thinking about it.


Easy, yes, easy to do it without making a mess? hahaha. Basically you remove about 2/3 of the pan bolts, all at one end and slowly loosen the rest to allow the pan to drop in one corner. Pop a scraper or putty knife or something between the pan and trans if it doesn't come apart on it's own. After you're done with the trans shower, slowly remove the rest of the bolts and take the pan down. The rest comes out through the torque converter drain plug. Remove the aluminum panels cross the bottom of the trans bellhouse, and rotate the engine with a breaker bar till you find the plug. Its visible through the flexplate. Remove that and the rest of the fluid comes out.

I installed a drain plug in my pan to make future service less messy. It was like 5 bucks and required only a couple minutes to install.

[85crownHPP]

I bought one of those big flat rubbermaid storge bins to use as a large drip/drain pan... works great for radiator jobs and trans pan drains.

[91waggin]

I didn't really wanna mess around with installing a drain plug. I bought this awhile back, and it's some of the best money I ever spent. I don't think I got it at this particular store, but it's the same thing. It'll do oil, trans fluid, gasoline, even 140 weight gear oil!
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...d+extractor.do
Just stick the tube down the trans dipstick tube and it'll suck 95% of the fluid out. that way, when you get underneath to change the filter, you only get a couple drops.