Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle fluid filters

Okay so I hear that using ATX oil filters is a great way to remove metal from the ATX fluid.

What other fluids within the contour would removing metal shavings be beneficial?

I have read that power steering fluid for rack steering systems benefit from using filters to remove metal shaving that a moving rack produces.

Are there any other fluids that are not being filtered that would benefit from metal filtering.

droped car off at ford dealer for the 61k service and asked the simple question can an ATX oil filter be added to the V6 engined contour and he replied that there was no room for the filter and that was why it was never added?

any comments moderators posters

Since Ford Dealers are scrupulously honest, and completely informed, I believe him (NOT!).

Value Engineering is what it is called...I.E. what is the least expensive way to give a functional product. If they believe an external filter will not meet the needs of "functional", you don't get one.

All mfg. look to make a product with a reasonable life (what the MFG considers reasonable) at a reasonable cost (again, what the MFG thinks the market will bear). I would have to believe that the cost and performance of an additional filter did not give the COMPANY the return on their investment. MFG's don't want their products lasting forever, just a "reasonable time" I am sure Ford feels the internal filter will last long enough to be out of warranty and still have a few more good years. Ford (or any Car Mfg. is not interested in a car that lasts 30 years.

You can ask why ford didn't put an engine oil cooler on the non-svt engines. Same reason, the SVT needs it for reasonable durability. The non-svt would benefit from it, but not enough for Ford to justify the expense. And as consumers, we don't seem to want to pay too much either.

Years ago I had a similiar problem with my dealer.
I had a 1995 Ford Escort SE Wagon.
I brought it in for its 45,000 mile service.

Freinds of mine had told me that the timing belt of the 2.0L,
used in the Escort, won't hold up to 60,000 miles.
So I asked the Service Writer to replace the timing belt and check the Water Pump,
since it is driven by the Timing Belt.

He gave me a long explanation of why it doesn't need to be done at 45,000 miles.

I looked at him and said...
"This is MY car. I am paying for it, not you.
I want the Timing Belt REPLACED TODAY, or when it finally breaks,
you can rebuild or replace my engine for FREE,
since you are so adamant about it not needing to be replaced."

When I picked up the car, the timing belt had been replaced.

Sometimes you just have to say...
"This is what I want done, I am paying for it...DO IT !"
If they don't do it, they have to have a better explanation than 'There isn't any room for it.'.

Not quite the same thing....

A timing belt is a wear item and a stock replacement part that the Ford shop has in stock, for the car.

ATX external filter??? The shop has never seen one of these and Ford doesn't specify one (FWIK) for the tour. A dealer service department is not going to customize your cars mechanical design for you, at least not willingly. They are just not in that business and only want to put parts on that Ford will pay for if it breaks or causes problems. They just can't stand behind some 3rd party part added to your ATX hydraulic system, but might do it if they can void any warranty on the car.

Originally posted by tw0wheelin:

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Not quite the same thing....

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Why isn't it ?

My dealer INSTALLED my SVT Exhaust ?
My SE Sport wasn't equipped with that.

Originally posted by RoadRunner:

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Originally posted by tw0wheelin:

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Not quite the same thing....

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Why isn't it ?

My dealer INSTALLED my SVT Exhaust ?
My SE Sport wasn't equipped with that.

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There is a big difference between installing a bolt-on exhaust and installing something that requires the modification of fluid carrying devices for the car's transmission.

Do an exhaust wrong and you get noise, maybe an exhaust leak, and an annoyed customer and a second chance to fix it.

Do an ATX filter wrong and you can destroy a multi-thousand dollar transmission in short order.

Just because it CAN be done doesn't mean the dealer IS REQUIRED to do it. They can turn down anything they want to. The dealership is trying to decide which is a better risk: Standing behind an unauthorized (by Ford Motor Co.) job that could cost big $$$ if done wrong or losing the potential future business of that same customer by refusing.

Makes sense that installing the SVT exhaust is a good risk and installing an ATX filter is a bad risk, from the dealership's point of view.

Besides, the last post already clearly explained why installing something with a Ford Part Number is different from installing some unknown third party part (that may or may not work as intended). I'm just reason #2.

There is a ford part number and kit for an external transmission filter, see this thread:

Transmission Filter

We already have a discussion going on about this part.
It is ONLY available on ONE site
fordparts.com
and it is not available anywhere else.

My FORD Dealer has researched this number and has come up with only an invalid part number.
They have even tried to look up the individual parts in the kit, and those numbers come up invalid as well.

Someone already ordered the kit and we are waiting to see if it is a genuine FORD part.

my ford dealer had this instock, but I have held off on ordering it until I check out a few more things.