Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance redline MTL fluid change

I changed my tranny fluid today since my MTX was getting especially hard to shift, and I knew it was only going to get worse as we head further into fall/winter.

Advice for anyone else that's a virgin to this procedure: Make 100% absolutely sure you have an ability to get the new fluid (yummy smelling btw :) into the fill hole quickly. I'd advise elevation by going through the engine bay and a long enough tube to do this comfortably. Even test it with the fluid first since the viscosity is significantly different than something like water...

I had this lame siphon with a smaller tube and it took forever, bah. But hey (!) now my shifting is sooooo much smoother!!

Yea mine is going under the belt this weekend probably

A Mity-Vac hand pump would also be helpful when changing MTX fluid.

Just for info adding, if your tansmission is haveing problems shifting, thats a sign that there are problems (potentialy serious) with your tranny....swtiching to a synthetic, while it seems to fix it, can cause it to become worse in the long run.


I had the smae problem with my 3rd gear. I went to redline MTL...the problem seemed to correct it self, but after 2 months, it returned (hard shifts and grinding) and it was worse than before.

So upon the advise of DemonSVT, i switched to ATF +3....not only did it feel much smoother but there was far less grinding.....Eventuall, it lasted long enough to where i saved up enough to rebuild my transmission completly.


Now,i cannot completly explain why it shifted better with ATF, but i know it has to do with somehting about the MTL being synthetic, and i was told not to use a synthetic when having transmission problems.

Just a little info i picked up that i proved my self right, through trial and error.


Not saying this could happen to you, but its somehting you need to know and consider

Lupe

so, if i've already had synchro work and such on my transmission, id be better off just using the MTL then using the ATF?

my first and second shifts were always a little tough before i rebuilt it....after i did and did the 1000 miles break in with atf 3, and switched to MTl, i had no problems....give ATF +3 a try and see how it is, if it shifts smoother then you may have a problem. But how long it takes to become a major issue, is all;based on your driving habits and how worn the parts are.


Lupe