Transmission Maintenance Schedule

[harrup]

I was reading my Ford Maintenance Guide.

Does the regular 6cyl contour. not SVT, automatic have the CD4E transmission?

I have used the drop & fill on my 00 in the past. How many of these equals the 30,000 complete change Ford recommends for automatic transmissions?

[Big Jim]

The CD4E is the model name of the automatic transmission used in the Contour, both the 4 cylinder and the 6 cylinder cars.

The drop and fill changes out just short of 4 quarts of the 10 quarts that the transmission holds. If you do a single drop and fill ocassionally you will never get a full change out, but you will freshen the fluid with nearly 40% fresh fluid. Often, that is enough.

If you want to aproach the 100% change at the same time, doing a double or triple drop and fill with a short drive between will get closer.

If you feel that you must do a 100% change, do the hose in a bucket flush and push 12 quarts through it.

[Tony2005]

If you do the ATFluid 3X Drain and Refill, you should be close to a flush.

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/sh...5&o=31&fpart=1

Do it at least once every 2 years/24K miles.

[harrup]

I just did the power flush on my 2000 AT. How long should that last--30,000 mi.

Power flush doesn't seemed to have hurt the trans although I know even some transmissions shops don't recommend it. Why all the fuss?

[Matt R]

I just did the power flush on my 2000 AT. How long should that last--30,000 mi.

Power flush doesn't seemed to have hurt the trans although I know even some transmissions shops don't recommend it. Why all the fuss?

Because it can cause problems... all the gunk built up could be holding some parts from breaking, and a power flush might push that part past it's breaking point. Maybe it was just coincidence, but 3,000 miles after my power flush, the band snapped.

[Big Jim]

I think that's mostly an old wives tale. Shops I have worked in have power flushed 1000's of transmissions with no adverse effects.

I have even flushed transmissions with black putrid fluid that had never been changed before with over 150,000 miles on them and the only effect was improvement.

[Beachboy]

I've had the dealer power flush mine every 30,000 miles since new, with no ill effects, and I'm sitting in excess of 275,000 miles on it right now.

[FIND]

Because it can cause problems... all the gunk built up could be holding some parts from breaking, and a power flush might push that part past it's breaking point. Maybe it was just coincidence, but 3,000 miles after my power flush, the band snapped.

Thats probably a coincidence. Only thing I have ever seen a tranny flush cause was a leak. Cleans up the crud that was sealing a leak. Doesnt happen often. I dont think there is any gunk that can be made in your transmission that could hold a metal band together.