Transmission fluid change

[TyphoonFiST]

Jeff, FWIW, I lost my original trans running the OEM Ford DCTF at 6,000 miles due to output bearing shaft failure. 4,000 miles later on the new trans, I switched to Motul 300. I’m currently sitting at 70k miles with zero issues, and you know how much power I’m putting down, so I’d say you’re pretty safe with the Motul 300. I changed it for some fresh Motul at 50k, and noticed it had sheared down some.

Side note: When I drained to DCTF to put in the Motul 300, I actually drained 2.2L out of the trans. I called Ford and spoke to the master tech, who told me that when a FiST came in with a bad output bearing, they’re instructed by engineering to overfill the new trans. Apparently, the standard fill spec is a suspect in causing the bearing to fail. In any case, he told me to put at least 2L in, so that’s what I did. 2 full liters of Motul 300 went in, and again later when I put fresh fluid in. Like I said, zero issues all this time later, not even a leaky axle seal. Shifts smooth and quiet.

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I had my trans done 10k ago...does anyone get a slight bearing noise @60mph in gear in cruise or just normal pedal @60mph...then after 60 there instead a noise?

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[redmoe]

Jeff, FWIW, I lost my original trans running the OEM Ford DCTF at 6,000 miles due to output bearing shaft failure. 4,000 miles later on the new trans, I switched to Motul 300. I’m currently sitting at 70k miles with zero issues, and you know how much power I’m putting down, so I’d say you’re pretty safe with the Motul 300. I changed it for some fresh Motul at 50k, and noticed it had sheared down some.

Side note: When I drained to DCTF to put in the Motul 300, I actually drained 2.2L out of the trans. I called Ford and spoke to the master tech, who told me that when a FiST came in with a bad output bearing, they’re instructed by engineering to overfill the new trans. Apparently, the standard fill spec is a suspect in causing the bearing to fail. In any case, he told me to put at least 2L in, so that’s what I did. 2 full liters of Motul 300 went in, and again later when I put fresh fluid in. Like I said, zero issues all this time later, not even a leaky axle seal. Shifts smooth and quiet.

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Wow this is great info to have, thanks! It’s unfortunate they haven’t updated the manual. I may put in another.3L to be on the safe side. Does anyone have a link to the Ford notice?

 

[redmoe]

Thanks guys for setting me straight on the fluid volume. I put in the remaining fluid I had (ending up at approx 2L total) with no overflow out the fill hole. Ford really needs to update their documentation.

 

[Business6]

I set up an appointment with a shop to do it then arrived a few days later and they said nah.

Hate having my time wasted. It's easy enough to do myself but finding the time to do it, on the other hand...

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I set up an appointment with a shop to do it then arrived a few days later and they said nah.

Hate having my time wasted. It's easy enough to do myself but finding the time to do it, on the other hand...

I'd say buy me a sixer...get the fluid and I'll do it....its that simple!

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[cxwrench]

Head recall?

Not exactly a 'head recall' but possible problems w/ the head if overheated.

 

[jeff]

There was a thread on here a while back about a Ford master technician recommending to put over 2 liters in it due to input shaft bearing failure. Apparently if your original transmission input shaft bearing failed Ford Motor Company had a bulletin for the techs to put over 2 L in it.

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Jeff, FWIW, I lost my original trans running the OEM Ford DCTF at 6,000 miles due to output bearing shaft failure. 4,000 miles later on the new trans, I switched to Motul 300. I’m currently sitting at 70k miles with zero issues, and you know how much power I’m putting down, so I’d say you’re pretty safe with the Motul 300. I changed it for some fresh Motul at 50k, and noticed it had sheared down some.

Side note: When I drained to DCTF to put in the Motul 300, I actually drained 2.2L out of the trans. I called Ford and spoke to the master tech, who told me that when a FiST came in with a bad output bearing, they’re instructed by engineering to overfill the new trans. Apparently, the standard fill spec is a suspect in causing the bearing to fail. In any case, he told me to put at least 2L in, so that’s what I did. 2 full liters of Motul 300 went in, and again later when I put fresh fluid in. Like I said, zero issues all this time later, not even a leaky axle seal. Shifts smooth and quiet.

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Wow this is great info to have, thanks! It’s unfortunate they haven’t updated the manual. I may put in another.3L to be on the safe side. Does anyone have a link to the Ford notice?

Yes [MENTION=3936]MisSTrouble[/MENTION] actually posted the above addressed to me elsewhere...very helpful to know, seems like this info should get out there.

FWIW when I filled mine up with the full 2L and then measured using the "stick a piece of weedeater line in there" method it did end up being an inch so 2.0 lines up with their fill level instructions.

 

[Intuit]

An error was made. My 2016 came with ~1.6L in it. All documentation on the B6 transmission says 1.67L.

But the manual refill instructions state to refill to 1" below the fill hole.

1" below the fill hole is 2.1~2.3L.

The B5 transmission (we have B6) fill capacity is listed at... guess what... 2.1~2.3L per manual.

I can say that correcting the fluid level hasn't really impacted the loud clack on clutch pedal release. (started around 1,000 miles new) It's a tad quieter at best.

EDIT:
Update on the loud clack with clutch pedal release...
https://www.fiestastforum.com/forum...for-the-tranny?p=315609&viewfull=1#post315609

 

[FireRedFiesta]

^^^THIS!!

I've NEVER EVER heard of a transaxle failure from OVER-maintaining it (which is what I've always done with mine), and changing out the fluid every 10-15K miles/or annually.

Exactly. But the majority of the drivers out there NEVER change anything except the oil and don't have a clue about the rest of the moving parts. That's what scares me about buying used cars. I like people who go overboard with their maintenance. Like you said... never a failure from OVER-maintaining it. The U.S. lacks good public transportation. The last thing you want is to be STUCK!

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Exactly. But the majority of the drivers out there NEVER change anything except the oil and don't have a clue about the rest of the moving parts. That's what scares me about buying used cars. I like people who go overboard with their maintenance. Like you said... never a failure from OVER-maintaining it. The U.S. lacks good public transportation. The last thing you want is to be STUCK!

Same thing goes with cleaning and re-greasing brake pins and all affiliating hardware. That's a real barn burner....same with coolant...brake fluid.....god I can go on and on with maintenance.

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[Quisp]

Google Waddington effect .

At that time, conventional wisdom held that if more preventive maintenance were performed on each aircraft, fewer problems would arise and more incipient problems would be caught and fixed—and thus fleet readiness would surely improve. It turned out that conventional wisdom was wrong. It would take C.H. Waddington and his Operational Research team to prove just how wrong.

 

[Flaco]

An error was made. My 2016 came with ~1.6L in it. All documentation on the B6 transmission says 1.67L.

But the manual refill instructions state to refill to 1" below the fill hole.

1" below the fill hole is 2.1~2.3L.

The B5 transmission (we have B6) fill capacity is listed at... guess what... 2.1~2.3L per manual.

I can say that correcting the fluid level hasn't really impacted the loud clack on clutch pedal release. (started around 1,000 miles new) It's a tad quieter at best.

I changed my gearbox fluid a couple of weeks ago with Motul DCTF. I like it better than the 300. After reading these post I went back and added .3 liter to top up to 2 liters. The gearbox is definitly quieter now

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I changed my gearbox fluid a couple of weeks ago with Motul DCTF. I like it better than the 300. After reading these post I went back and added .3 liter to top up to 2 liters. The gearbox is definitly quieter now

What kind of noise was it making that makes it quieter now?

 

[Flaco]

What kind of noise was it making that makes it quieter now?

Just the normal gearbox noise I suppose, you know gears messing together and high revs !

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Just the normal gearbox noise I suppose, you know gears messing together and high revs !

Do you get any whine in any gear or at any mph?

 

[Flaco]

Do you get any whine in any gear or at any mph?

No whine that I can hear

 

[Intuit]

Well over 300k, never had to change the manual transmission fluid in my 'scort. I initially drained it when it had... I guess around 100-120k on it. It was just as fresh and red as the day it was put in. That told me I never needed to bother.

What made me want to change it for the FiST, was the clickity clackity shifting, in addition to the loud clack on clutch release. The fluid change impacted the former noises, had virtually no impact on the latter. So I can say that the later noise is probably axle shaft(s).

 

[Ford ST]

Well over 300k, never had to change the manual transmission fluid in my 'scort. I initially drained it when it had... I guess around 100-120k on it. It was just as fresh and red as the day it was put in. That told me I never needed to bother.

What made me want to change it for the FiST, was the clickity clackity shifting, in addition to the loud clack on clutch release. The fluid change impacted the former noises, had virtually no impact on the latter. So I can say that the later noise is probably axle shaft(s).

I had a Ford Escort and I blew a hole in the transmission the size of my fist next to the input shaft at 200k. It also made 88 horsepower I don't know how much strain that really puts on transmission fluid. It was in a half model year update and a junkyard transmission was $800. I rebuilt the entire front suspension and steering as well as the rear. $2000 plus in parts 6 months later the engine blew. I learned one hell of a lesson if you have a old car and the engine, or transmission goes burn it down.

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[M-Sport fan]

Well over 300k, never had to change the manual transmission fluid in my 'scort. I initially drained it when it had... I guess around 100-120k on it. It was just as fresh and red as the day it was put in. That told me I never needed to bother.

It may have looked, seemed, and even smelled 'fresh' and red, but that does NOT mean it was not sheared to all hell, and subsequently 'worn out'.

It will NOT get filthy like engine oil since there is no combustion blowby, nor any other dirt entering the sealed system (I believe that our vent tube has a one way check valve on the end??).
Of course, looking dirty (OR 'clean') is not even a good indicator for engine oil being '"still good" EITHER.

 

[Intuit]

I had a Ford Escort and I blew a hole in the transmission the size of my fist next to the input shaft at 200k. It also made 88 horsepower I don't know how much strain that really puts on transmission fluid. It was in a half model year update and a junkyard transmission was $800. I rebuilt the entire front suspension and steering as well as the rear. $2000 plus in parts 6 months later the engine blew. I learned one hell of a lesson if you have a old car and the engine, or transmission goes burn it down.

The automatic transmissions routinely failed. The cooler they were run, the more you tweaked the line pressures, the longer they lasted. I still would never spend money on an automatic transmission. The manual trans in that car were extremely reliable. Only work I had to do was on the hydraulics, specifically the master cylinder.