Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting how often should mtx-75 fluid be changed?

XR-3 is the 'new' FORD part number,it now comes in a Motorcraft' bottle...

AirKnight what I said is that I have heard/read from several sources that in the case of atx if you have never changed it and mileage is high (I don't know about the 50K number) you might be better off leaving it alone.

The site I happened to quote said ..."Changing the fluid on a high mileage transmission can sometimes lead to transmission problems...". I'd say that is pretty clear. I also was once told by owner or mgr of a quicky lube place that if someone comes in with 100K mi and has never changed atx trans fluid he tells them not to do it. A while back I had read elsewhere, could not find it again, that thing that happens is something like the accumulated deposits are the only thing holding parts of the trans together or something like that.

Maybe these sources are totally wrong, I don't know. My question was just whether the same factor might be a consideration w/mtx. And my other question is if mtx needs fluid change why do mfrs not recommend it...the argument that they want your car to die so you buy a new one is not logical since 90% of US vehicles are atx and they all tell you to change fluid on those.

Some pretty wishy-washy words. Let's see ..."Changing the fluid on a high mileage transmission can sometimes lead to transmission problems..."

Of course, you could also say that NOT Changing the fluid on a high mileage transmission can sometimes lead to transmission problems.

I do understand where the author of that statement is coming from and agree to an extent, but there is not a lot of meat to it.

Granted, my statement above was pretty much void of content as well.

It would be hard to argue that bi-annual changes of transmission fluid and brake fluid are a bad thing.

I honestly believe that the reason manufacturers are recommending less comprehensive as well as longer maintenance intervals is to sell the car.

No, I don't mean that the car you buy will fall apart because of maintenance short cuts.

Rather, look at how many vehicles are marketed with such long tune-up intervals.

"The Belchfire X6000 doesn't need a tuneup in 100K miles." Some of you may have experienced this type of statement in an automobile ad.

So, a less comprehensive list of scheduled maintenance is used as a selling point of the vehicle.

Doesn't mean that's the best way to care for the vehicle.

It's just my opinion. I'm somewhat attached to it, but it won't break my heart if you choose to have your own, different opinion

TB

I do agree with you to some extent java. Even I replaced my 100K plugs after 5 years in a windstar at 60K mi.

Those plugs did not look too bad after all that time, btw. But in the case of plugs the issue is not that the plugs won't last it is that they may not come out after say 8-10 years and 100K mi.

There is somewhat of a difference between extending service intervals and eliminating them altogether. I am guessing mfr could even say you only need to change oil every 10,000 mi and probably get away with it as any problems would not show up until long after warranty ends in most cases. Don't think they would want to try I was looking around the web on transmission fluid changes in general and apparently some mfrs are now saying 100K mi or no change at all unless fluid is brown or something like that.

In the case of my atx windstar I change fluid every 30K as mfr recommends. I never heard of changing brake fluid or mtx fluid until recently (and I have been around a while).

Don't misunderstand my questioning of this stuff is not meant to dispute the advisability of doing it, I am just some idiot trying to understand reasoning for it. In the case of atx fluid my understanding is the high temps cause the fluid to break down...just like engine oil will. I don't think that this reasoning would apply to mtx fluid (I could be wrong...its not like I know anything about cars) or especially to brake fluid or power steering fluid for that matter.

haynes says 60k miles.

do the tranny cocktail. it's worth it.

SVTimulate,

I'm interested to know your thoughts on which fluid you liked better, Redline or mobil1. I am running amsoil right now myself, and I might be giving something else a try if persuaded by some good comments.

TIA

I've used only Mobil 1 synth fluid since I bought the car. Works great. Changed twice since 99. Never used friction modifier, but now I see the T-man saying to use it even with synth, so you can guess what I'll be doing next time.

Sorry I'm and idjut...but is Haynes generally considered to be the bible of car maintenance? And you are saying they recommend changing mtx fluid at 60K mi, right?

The reason you do brake fluid is it is hygroscopic. (A big EdwardC word that means it absorbs water.) Water in your brake fluid is not a good thing. It lowers the boiling point of the fluid. The reason fluid is used is so it doesn't compress. If water turns to steam (a gas) then your brakes get really spongy, if they are even there at all.

Likewise, water can cause parts to corrode. So change your brake fluid.

Similar for other fluids, such as transmission fluid. While oils retain their lubricating powers nearly forever, the additives only last so long. For example, the additive that combat acids that form in your engine and transmission can get used up. When oil analysis is performed on engine oil (and I suspect transmission fluid) one of the values returned is TBN or Total Base Number. That is essentially a measure of an oils ability to neutralize acids. These additives are consumed until the lubricant can no longer combat acids and they begin to do nasty things to the bearings in your engine or transmission.

So while oil and transmission fluid may be slippery forever, the additives don't last forever, and begin to wear out.

Bottom line, change your fluids.

Since it is rarely cost effective to do the analysis (usually costs as much if not more than the fluid change) it is simpler to just change the fluid in question.

Very cheap insurance, and your car will thank you for it.

TB

Redline and Mobil 1 are both good.
I would say the Mobil 1 provided a little better shifting. Maybe it's because the trans. was already coated with the Redline syn fluid. I'm guessing the more times you change the trans fluid with any good syn(Redline, Mobil 1, AMSOIL...) the better the shifting gets.