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Tranny plug

squeek

Hard-core CEG'er
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Feb 25, 2012
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Blacksburg, VA
Hey guys bought new fluid today. But went to take out the fill plug before I attempted to drain the fluid. And it was stripped out. Any suggestions on how to get it out? And another stupid question where is the drain plug for the tranny? I picked up Lucas synthetic fluid 75 90 something new.
 
Drain plug on the MTX is facing the firewall on the tranny lower left side. However, that fluid AFAIK has never been used by anyone on the site, usually most recommend Royal Purple SyncroMax, though some have recently been saying ATF, though I personally do not think the ATF (which is the current Ford recommended fluid) has enough friction modifier in it for the manual, original Ford spec was manual trans fluid with some of their friction modifier, known around CEG as Ford "honey" due to its color and consistency, added in. I have over 40K on my RP SyncroMax and roughly 30K previously with the original fluid.

I love the RP as it used to be difficult to shift into first and reverse in cold weather and had an ambiguous feel, like shifting a butter knife through a jar of peanut butter, the RP changed that and then my B&M shifter made shifting even better.
 
Yeah I have read and researched about rp and even amsoil. I have read many good things as I know about Lucas in general. Thought I would try and see how it performs. If I can get this plug out lol.
 
I think you have to use a hex tool to get the drain plug out if im not mistaken took me an hour to realize that lol....i used royal purple synchromax seems to be good stuff but price went way up i paid almost 60 bucks for 3 bottles wish it took my 3rd gear grind away lol.....i have to granny shift 3rd and let rpms drop and put it in slow
 
It looked like a torx I believe I tried a 55 but just seems stripped. I believe there is Pennzoil synchromesh and it sucks.
 
You really should reconsider putting Lucas 75W-90 gear oil in a Contour manual transaxle. If this is indeed the stuff you have: Lucas Synthetic SAE 75W-90 Gear Oil (click for spec sheet), it has 3.5 times the viscosity (142 cST) at 40ºC of the recommended fluids for this transaxle, which typically should be 38 to 40 cST (centiStokes) at 40ºC, and 40ºC is not cold by any stretch, it's 104ºF.

Lucas 75W-90 Gear Oil is meant for high performance rear axles and differentials, if you pour this in an MTX-75, you're going to be lucky to even move the gear lever when it's cold.

You'd be much better off to use the Ford Honey (Ford XT-M5-QS), or Royal Purple Synchromax (click for spec sheet), as others have recommended. I've run my one-owner '99 CSVT on Mobil 1 synthetic ATF to 110,000 miles, and never had a single transaxle issue.
 
you don't do you?

you don't do you?

though some have recently been saying ATF, though I personally do not think the ATF (which is the current Ford recommended fluid) has enough friction modifier in it for the manual.

And your personal opinion is worth more than the engineers at ford who have studied the fluids and transmission, and the bean counters in the warranty department who will have to cough up millions if the engineers got it wrong?

People are damn funny about lubricants. You can find folks with half of a highschool degree vigorously defending the lubricity and properties of their particular brand of oil. Simply put, with very rare exceptions, the factory recommended oils will suit most of us just fine.
 
Ah, so that's why I didn't put "I personally think" in there huh? My entire post was information, with my personal recommendation, nowhere did I say this was objectively the case nor did I champion against using ATF. But you go ahead and keep insulting me, people will totally believe someone who can't recognize the difference between informing and injecting personal opinion from a factually based argument, right?:shrug:
 
Oh and for the OP's information and any others who may read this, ATF was the originally recommended fluid, MTF + the aforementioned "honey" is current.
 
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Wooow easy now guys. Isn't the saying information is power? I am wiling to accept any and all personal and professional information. Helps me make a proper and informed decision.
 
Oh and for the OP's information and any others who may read this, ATF was NOT the originally recommended fluid, MTF + the aforementioned "honey" was.

Ford honey is the current spec. The factory fill was ATX fluid.

I recommend Royal Purple. I had Ford Honey and I couldn't drive my car in really cold winter weather. Switched to RP and all was good.

This is where I get it. Cheap and free shipping to.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/royal-purple-synchromax-manual-transmission-fluid.html
 
To add a few data points, the fluid recommendations in the 1999 Contour owner's manual calls for ATF, MERCON XT-2-QDX for both the automatic and 5-speed manual gearbags. I am also aware that these recommendations have been superseded by several TSB's.

XT-2-QDX doesn't seem to be specified in the Ford Chemicals and Lubricants catalog anymore, and I believe it's been replaced by newer MERCON V formulations.

Ford manual transmission lubricant cross reference chart here (pdf):
Motorcraft chemical and lubricants catalog, Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid cross-reference. <clicky, pdf>

Specifications for Ford Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid, XT-M5-QS, a.aka. "Honey". <clicky>

Specifications for Ford MERCON V Automatic Transmission and Power Steering Fluid. <clicky, pdf>

The Honey has moderate viscosity at 40ºC: 76 cST, which is about double that of a typical ATF, MERCONV, or RP Synchromax. This explains (to me at least...) why some Honey users here have commented about difficult shifting in very cold weather, do a search in the transaxle subforum. This makes me think that Ford was especially concerned with improving warm shift quality, synchronizer action/lifetime, and quieting gear noise, and less concerned with very cold shift quality.

With manual gearbags comprising fewer than 5% of domestic vehicle sales these days, frankly, I'm stunned that Ford would cook up a full synthetic lubricant solution like Honey, but apparently, there were enough complaints about shift quality to warrant a new formulation.
 
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I heard pennzoil synchromesh is a no no for our fords something to do with brass synchros i read awhile back.......Royal purple synchromax and Ford oem is the only way to go people say
 
Haven't changed my fluid yet. Pulled the plug today and dang she was tight. Some fluid came out and was almost like water. Call around and no one has rp or amsoil. Might just end up going to Ford in the AM. Have developed a rattle sound when you clutch in. Any thoughts?
 
Running Pennzoil syncromesh and not happy. How is the gear roll over sounding? Do you change it regularly?

Is this it?

atf_synthetic_top.gif
 
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