Transmission Fluid and Filter Change

[rasbell]

I'm going to replace the Trans fluid and filter in a few days. I found a How to guide to do so. This will be the first change that it has had. I have no drain plug on my 02 EX sport. So The Fluid will just drain out though the Trans pan. I want to replace the fluid with Synthetic. I was reading that I won't be able to get all the old trans fluid out, Is it ok to go with Synthetic or should I stick with the regular fluid.

 

[rasbell]

I'm going to replace the Trans fluid and filter in a few days. I found a How to guide to do so. This will be the first change that it has had. I have no drain plug on my 02 EX sport. So The Fluid will just drain out though the Trans pan. I want to replace the fluid with Synthetic. I was reading that I won't be able to get all the old trans fluid out, Is it ok to go with Synthetic or should I stick with the regular fluid.

Is the factory fluid already Synthetic on the 02 sport models?

 

[swetrid]

Yes it is mercon v (synthetic)

 

[rasbell]

Yes it is mercon v (synthetic)

Ok Thanks, I did'nt want to mix it if it was non synthetic since I won't be able to get all the fluid out when I change it. I was reading I might be able to get about half of fluid out when I drain it from the pan.

 

[Gus Gorilla]

Bout half. That's right. The torque converter will still be full, and that's a lot of fluid. As for mixing fluids. The ever popular Amsoil can be mixed.

 

[imp]

A rather tedious and wasteful procedure has been described, where the fluid line taking juice away from the trans to the cooler is disconnected, and fluid is allowed to drain from that line, engine at idle, while fresh fluid is being added.

The theory is that as fluid circulates out of the converter, it is sent for cooling, and the fresh fluid then replaces it. Given enough time, the % of old fluid remaining becomes less and less.

Nuts, huh? Still lots easier than yanking that heavy trans. out just to empty the converter.

 

[rocco123]

No plug on the tq converter?

 

[Gus Gorilla]

Nope. I have heard of, and seen, people drill a small 1/8 hole in a Tq Conv to drain it, then tap with 1/8 npt, and plug the hole. But it seems to me that it's too much work and risk for the reward.

 

[imp]

Nope. I have heard of, and seen, people drill a small 1/8 hole in a Tq Conv to drain it, then tap with 1/8 npt, and plug the hole. But it seems to me that it's too much work and risk for the reward.

Years back, Ford converters had 2 plugs, 1/8-inch pipe thread size, located on the front face of the converter. The flex-plate had 2 holes through it, to allow accessing the plugs. No such luck, anymore!

I actually considered drilling & threading my '04's converter, on it's outside diameter, after cutting an access hole in the bottom of the housing. After thinking it through, I decided against it. Not real sure that the forces on the plug located that way could not cause it to loosen. imp