I've got a focus wagon '01 with 115k miles, and the way I got it was with the return hose from the cooler cut in the middle, for easy flushes I guess..
I'm on about 1k miles on auto-rx and wanted to do the flush soon.
I plan to drop the pan / replace filter and add that much oil to the dipstick.
Then, take the returning hose to a bucket, and use a funnel to add ATF into the other half of the hose, going into the transmission.. I was thinking to do it at once.. - start the car - pour ATF all the time - stop when clear liquid goes into the bucket (I'll use transparent hose)..
What do you think of this?
Should I do it at several steps, like - start the car - wait for a quart or two to come out - stop the car - add same amount - repeat
Also, should I be in Park only, or should I switch between gears during this procedure (with the brakes on)?
Can't you just disconnect the bottom hose instead of cutting it, I mean if you cut it how will you put it back together. I would get somebody to help you, maybe even 2 other people, 1 person pours, the 2nd person sits in the car, and the 3rd person monitors what is coming out of your return line.
The hose is already cut by prev owner. It's connected back again with a smaller tube going into both ends and using hose clamps (those that you use a screwdriver to open/close).
I'll probably replace this hose as having a smaller tube inside it, decreases flow / increases pressure, so it may not be good for the pump...
So what do you think, should I do it all at once by pouring in/out atf all the time (with someone helping me to start/stop the engine) or should I pump out a liter at once and fill in a liter?
Another option to replacing the hose is to keep the splice in there for future flushes, but get rid of the makeshift tube which could restrict flow. Instead, get a true splice that has a large enough hole in the center to not restrict flow. This will be a double-ended barbed fitting that is brass and is designed for air hose splices or fluid. You can find something like this at the hardware stores or Home Depot/Lowe's, or one of the common auto parts like Advance Auto or Auto Zone. This will probably say it is a 3/8" size.
BTW, I have found that it is better for me to do the 2-4 quarts at a time flush (stopping the engine in between). The 2-4 quarts will depend on how much fluid the pan on your transmission holds. If you try to pour fluid in as the fluid is being pumped out, you will probably not be able to keep up with the amount being pumped out under pressure. Plus you need that extra person or 2 which I never seem to have around. Plus it frees me up to briefly shift through the gears a bit while flushing to work the new fluid through all the passages and most of the clutches and servos.
