Thanks for all the input & info!
I guess I'll go with Mobil One + FM. (The Ford syn fluid is just a syn mix??)
Do you have to get the FM from Ford, or does someone else have it cheaper? Do we know who makes it for Ford? Same as other brand FM's?
Does anyone know if these trannys came from the factory w/the FM already in them? My '96 Ford Shop Manual, which I purchased at the time I bought my '96 Contour new, in 9/95, says to add the FM anytime any fluid is added or changed. So they knew in '95 that it needed it, just wondering if they figured that out before or after my car was built.
Also, here's a tip to help w/hard shifing. With every manual trans I have ever had, when shifting into first or reverse, I always pull it into second gear, first, then into first or reverse gear...it just takes a second & comes as second nature for me, as I have been doing it forever - don't even think about it. It always slides right into first or reverse very easily when I do this. I have a '74 Mustang II that my family also bought new, & I learned this trick back when I was stuggling with it - it would grind when going into first if I didn't do this. Like my Contour, from day one, it just didn't like to go into first. I just figured it was a quirk w/these cars & no big deal. I know w/many older vehicles you had to do this to prevent grinding, so I tried it w/the Mustang - worked like a charm, & have been doing it ever since. It has to be easier on the trans, right? No grinding, no forcing necessary.
