2000 Windstar 3.8L Transmission Fluid Change
OldFaithful
01-08-2006, 07:21 PM
First of all, many thanks to the responders to my posts and the previous posts and responses on this subject.
The oil changes on both 2000 Windstars went well. I elected to disconnect the oil cooler return line and insert that line in a clear plastic hose, 1 inch outside diameter with 7/8 inch inside diameter and 4 feet long from Home Depot. The swedged fitting on that return line was a snug fit inside that clear hose and 4 feet long meant that the receptical, I used clear 1 gal jugs from window washer fluid, sat just beside the left front tire. That hose also just fits inside the opening of those jugs. I found a 30 quart clear 20 inch by 24 inch by 6 inches deep rubber maid storage container at Home Depot for 4 bucks and change. I put it at the left front tire to set the gallon jugs in just to contain any spillage. This setup allowed me to stand outside the car, watch the filling of the jug and to start and stop the engine as each jug filled. The only spillage I had was the drips from that clear hose as I move it to a new jug.
To start, I pumped until it stopped pumping as the oil level dropped below pickup level in the oil pan. That was a gallon, four quarts.
I then took my storage container under the car, which was up on ramps, and dropped the pan, keeping two screws loosened in the wide end of the pan and slowly dropping the pointed end of the pan to empty the rest of the fluid into the clear storage container. The filter seal was not a problem. Just push a screwdriver tip into the seal and gently pry down and it comes loose very easily. That container is big enough to catch all of the dripping while I took the oil pan out to clean it. That made six quarts of old fluid drained and I never spilled a drop.
I removed the magnet from the oil pan to clean it and the pan and here is where I accumulated some experience, experience being what you have left over after you have made a mistake! That magnet squirted right out of my hands and fell on the floor and shattered like pottery. The magnet has attracted the fine metal particles in the oil and is slippery. It is an OEM part and a Ford dealer told me that only one dealer in the state of Illinois stocked one. It is Victor Ford in Waucondo in the northwest surburbs of Chicago.
I went to pick up a new magnet and the parts man went to the bin and picked one up and handed it to me without even looking it up. He had been there before. I said that you guys are the only dealer in the state stocking these things and that means that you must be the only dealer that takes the pan off and cleans the magnets. He smiled and responded that the guys there tried to do the job the right way.
Next, I remounted the oil pan and poured in 10 quarts of new Mercron V. I had wondered if it would contain that much fluid without spilling and it does.
Then I started the engine and pumped out another 6 quarts, the rest of the half full jug and another whole jug, shutting down the engine to swap jugs, an easy one man job for a total of 3 full jugs or 12 quarts of old fluid.
Then I put in 5 more quarts of Mercron V and pumped out three more quarts of old fluid for a total of 15 quarts. I had taken that last jug to the kitchen sink and measured 3 quarts of water into it and using a black marker pen put a line at that 3 quart water level and of course emptied the water before heading back to the garage. I drained 15 quarts and put in 15 quarts and the transmission was full when I started and full when I finished. The fluid does not pump out very fast so timing a full jug was easy while standing outside the car reaching through the window to shutdown the engine. That sweaty smell of the Mercron V is unmistakeable but I must admit that the old fluid in neither of these two cars had that smell and that prior to this both cars were only serviced at a Ford dealer.
If you decide to flush out your transmission fluid, I hope your experience is as pleasant as mine.
Regards,
Jim
The oil changes on both 2000 Windstars went well. I elected to disconnect the oil cooler return line and insert that line in a clear plastic hose, 1 inch outside diameter with 7/8 inch inside diameter and 4 feet long from Home Depot. The swedged fitting on that return line was a snug fit inside that clear hose and 4 feet long meant that the receptical, I used clear 1 gal jugs from window washer fluid, sat just beside the left front tire. That hose also just fits inside the opening of those jugs. I found a 30 quart clear 20 inch by 24 inch by 6 inches deep rubber maid storage container at Home Depot for 4 bucks and change. I put it at the left front tire to set the gallon jugs in just to contain any spillage. This setup allowed me to stand outside the car, watch the filling of the jug and to start and stop the engine as each jug filled. The only spillage I had was the drips from that clear hose as I move it to a new jug.
To start, I pumped until it stopped pumping as the oil level dropped below pickup level in the oil pan. That was a gallon, four quarts.
I then took my storage container under the car, which was up on ramps, and dropped the pan, keeping two screws loosened in the wide end of the pan and slowly dropping the pointed end of the pan to empty the rest of the fluid into the clear storage container. The filter seal was not a problem. Just push a screwdriver tip into the seal and gently pry down and it comes loose very easily. That container is big enough to catch all of the dripping while I took the oil pan out to clean it. That made six quarts of old fluid drained and I never spilled a drop.
I removed the magnet from the oil pan to clean it and the pan and here is where I accumulated some experience, experience being what you have left over after you have made a mistake! That magnet squirted right out of my hands and fell on the floor and shattered like pottery. The magnet has attracted the fine metal particles in the oil and is slippery. It is an OEM part and a Ford dealer told me that only one dealer in the state of Illinois stocked one. It is Victor Ford in Waucondo in the northwest surburbs of Chicago.
I went to pick up a new magnet and the parts man went to the bin and picked one up and handed it to me without even looking it up. He had been there before. I said that you guys are the only dealer in the state stocking these things and that means that you must be the only dealer that takes the pan off and cleans the magnets. He smiled and responded that the guys there tried to do the job the right way.
Next, I remounted the oil pan and poured in 10 quarts of new Mercron V. I had wondered if it would contain that much fluid without spilling and it does.
Then I started the engine and pumped out another 6 quarts, the rest of the half full jug and another whole jug, shutting down the engine to swap jugs, an easy one man job for a total of 3 full jugs or 12 quarts of old fluid.
Then I put in 5 more quarts of Mercron V and pumped out three more quarts of old fluid for a total of 15 quarts. I had taken that last jug to the kitchen sink and measured 3 quarts of water into it and using a black marker pen put a line at that 3 quart water level and of course emptied the water before heading back to the garage. I drained 15 quarts and put in 15 quarts and the transmission was full when I started and full when I finished. The fluid does not pump out very fast so timing a full jug was easy while standing outside the car reaching through the window to shutdown the engine. That sweaty smell of the Mercron V is unmistakeable but I must admit that the old fluid in neither of these two cars had that smell and that prior to this both cars were only serviced at a Ford dealer.
If you decide to flush out your transmission fluid, I hope your experience is as pleasant as mine.
Regards,
Jim
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