The tranny fluid in the 74 I just got looks more like motor oil than tranny fluid. I plan on replacing the filter and fluid. Would the torque convertor in this year car have a drain on it so I can remove all the fluid? Does anyone recommend tranmission power flushing that many shops do now? THanks ...
The power flushing is good but I am concerned about the shape of the fluid your referencing and what the filter might look like. Does the fluid smell burnt?
I didn't smell it ... it is very dark. I am guessing that with 93,000 miles on the car it may possibly have never been changed ....
You may have to change the fluid a couple of times. My opinion is budget for a transmission rebuild in the future.
I was in the business for years. I like the flush. First you get 100% of the fluid, even the stuff hiding in the torque converter. Additionally, there are no new leaks, or drain plugs to foul up. You do not get the filter, however. IMO, in most cases, the filter change is useless. Rarely did we ever find anything in the filter. The discoloration is a bad thing, indicating you have overheated the fluid, either thru drag racing monkey business, or towing. The fluid has probably lost its lubricating qualities. It is not as slippery as new stuff. What this means is that the new fluid may cause the tranny to slip more than before. Ya gotta do it, though. In our shop we would not change discolored fluid. It was not worth the risk, for the small amount we charged.
Well .. the C4 is behind a 250. The car was originally bought by a 58 year old women. I bought the car from her a couple of weeks ago ... she is now 88. I don't think she has done any drag racing or towing with it! I just don't think she changed it ... It's been a long time since I drove in a car with a C4 but it seems to shift at a higher RPM than it should ... but the fluid is also low and I haven't had a chance to buy some TYPE F and fill it up either ...
Maybe it was not MERCON, but there is a tranny fluid that is factory colored brown. I had a 1979 F150 with a 351M and automatic. It did not use Type F or Dextron II - something else and I can't remember what type it was. I do remember having it up on the hoist, draining it and the TC, and not having that type of fluid on hand because it was something odd ball. We had too call all around to get some. Anybody know what type I'm referring to? :confused:
dan, like 396 said, some shops would tell you that it may not pull off the lift after they change it. so be ready for anything ...frank...
most of the '70s converters had a drain plug in them. the odd shifting could be from an old/stuck modulator valve or a vacuum leak in the old dry line going to it. might be worth looking at. try the fluid and filter change. what can you be out? about 6-8 qts of fluid, a filter and a pan gasket?
OK- FOUND IT I remember now - it was Ford Type G fluid in that 79 truck :bananaman Here is a list of Ford ATF's found at motor.com "The first unmodified ATF was Type F, introduced by Ford in 1959 and used in all Ford transmissions through 1976 (and several after that date). ATF choices stayed pretty simple through the '60s and '70s. At the end of the latter decade, however, variations in ATF were increasing. Dexron had evolved into Dexron-II, and Ford introduced Type CJ, a friction-modified ATF, in the late '70s. Ford also specified Types G and H fluid for specific transmissions. Types H and CJ didn't last very long, as Mercon was developed to reduce the number of fluids required for Ford products. Mercon is a friction-modified fluid, similar to Dexron. Mercon specifically does not replace Type F or G fluids for transmissions requiring unmodified fluid. Mercon, however, is the preferred fluid for most 1983 and later Ford automatics, all Nissans and some Mazdas, Jeeps and Eagles. Dexron-II is a secondary recommendation or okay for topping up some transmissions. Today, Mercon-V is specified for some Ford transmissions, and Mercon-SP is used in some 2003 and later Ford trucks.
To be honest here I would not worry about the filter(screen) I would worry about the new high detergent fluid running thru your old tranny, it will wash out everything,including the sludge that is allowing your rock hard lipseals to still hold pressure but hey thats just me. I'm poor so I'll just give ya my 1 cent worth.
What elliott said! I had mine changed at the local shop and tranny slipped real bad between shifts, I suspected the little valve and spring so I dropped the pan and filter, sure nuff! the spring was there but no valve, you can burn up a tran. pretty fast, luckly I didn't drive it very far. the filter holds the spring and valve in so lower the filter slow and catch the little guys!
