I've been using Auto-Rx in my cars since I ordered several bottles back in '04. Great product, and has really done wonders for me on the engine in my 2001 24v Taurus. I'm getting ready to add it to the transmission of the Taurus, and had a few questions. I searched and found that everyone is ok with the T-Tec method (I use Precision Tune for trans fluid replacement, and that is the method they use). Here are my questions:
1) Precision Tune likes to hit you with some additive that they claim is necessary for Ford transmissions. I saw that Frank said "NO ADDITIVES" in a previous post. Does that mean "No additives forever more", after I do the Auto-Rx treatment?
2) Once I hit the 1,000 mile mark and have the trans fluid changed, do I need to rinse it? Or just drive it again until the next change interval (30k, according to my owner's manual)
3) Are you guys simply adding the trans fluid down the tube where the dipstick resides? And is there any issue of overfilling by adding the 6oz?
Thanks in advance!
-Ntwrkguy1
-- Edited by ntwrkguy1 on Wednesday 18th of March 2009 08:36:44 AM
I never thought to bring my own fluid in. Precision Tune is good about letting me bring my own parts in (and I have, in the past).
Do you recommend any particular transmission fluid? And isn't the T-Tec machine dependent on the fluid being pre-loaded into the machine? So as the old fluid gets pulled out, the new fluid comes in? Or is the T-Tec machine just responsible for pulling the old fluid out?
I believe your car is speced for Mercon V, I would recommend Motorcraft Mercon V.
I would stay away from any cheap Mercon V trans fluid out there, if you want to go to synthetic, then Redline D4 or Amsoil ATF is good since they meet the Mercon V spec.
Hopefully you can give the guy a few quarts of fluid to get any different fluid out that was used on the machine before. Your best bet might be to go too a Ford Dealer since probably only Mercon V fluid is in the T-Tech machine.
I have never used the T-Tech machine, I would advise when you get this done too have them drop the pan and changed the trans filter first.
Is there any real advantage to replacing the filter? I have heard from other Taurus owners that the filters rarely if ever are dirty (due to the fact that it is not a paper filter, but rather a metal one inside the transmission).
The T-Tech process is one that does not require dropping the pan. The car has had very regular trans fluid changes (I'm at 148,000 miles and counting) using the T-Tech process, so I'll probably stick with that, and just add the 6oz of ARX and drive it 1,000 miles.
If you are absolutely positive that your transmission filter is the screen type then you do not need to change it.
Sometimes there can be some pieces of metal in the trans filter, its your call.
My trans filter on my El Camino is a screen filter and I still change it.
The shop that does the T-Tech does not want to drop the pan because it is time consuming, but after you run auto-rx for 1000 miles you may want to drop the pan since the bottom of the trans pan may have some gooey metallic junk at the bottom of the pan.
Quick update -- I am only about 350 miles into my transmission treatment (I work from home a lot, so the miles come slowly!). Not sure if I feel any real difference yet -- everything seems to feel about the way it did. I've got some short trips planned for the next few weeks, so the 1,000 mile mark will be coming up pretty soon.
I will be curious to see how the fluid looks when I change it. I was pretty strict on the trans fluid changes (as was the previous owner), so hopefully things are nice and clean inside the transmission. I still haven't decided whether I should do the T-Tec ($80) vs. the "drop the pan/change the filter" ($165 or so).
One thing I can comment on though is how clean the engine is just underneath the oil cap. I changed the oil yesterday, and took a look under the oil cap. It's REALLY clean! I treated this car initially in 2004, and have done a 3oz. maintenance dose at every oil change (5k intervals). It still averages 20 mpg around town, and that is with 148k on it!
Hey there, Your 01 Taurus transmission(and all taurus transmission for that matter) have a cloth filter in them for sure. Been in the transmission business for 25 years. Now do you change it before the flush, after the flush or both that is up to you. Good luck
I'll ask Precision Tune if they can change the filter along with doing a T-Tec. I know for sure that the filter is the original one, so it might be a good piece of preventive maintenance to do.
When the fluid is changed, I need to tell them "No" to the additive they want to sell me, right? They always claim that it's necessary per Ford, and in the past, I have always added it. But I seem to remember reading on this forum that we should NOT add anything to the trans fluid after the 1,000 mile cleaning.
That is correct Auto-Rx will only remove the additive. I agree with geeaea you should change the filter after the 1000 mile cleaning has been completed.
I'm just about at the 1,000 mile mark (910 and counting). It's strange -- I've been driving this car daily for the last 7 years, and it's never really given me the feeling that it has any transmission trouble. I did the Auto-Rx treatment as a preventative measure, since the transmission does have 148k on it. As of right now, I don't feel a real noticeable difference. The car shifts as smoothly as it had before. Hopefully that's a testament to the frequent trans fluid changes I gave the car the last 7 years.
I will be getting the T-tec service done at Precision tune in the next two weeks, and will be sure to give everyone a review afterwards. I'm going to request that Precision Tune change the filter, and will see if they will let me in the garage to take some pictures of the transmission. Hopefully it is nice and clean, and shifting smooth!
A mechanic once told me automatic transmissions either work or they don't work, if you use auto-rx in your transmission you will fall under the category of it always working.
Your transmission may be working fine today, but when problems develop it can be very expensive, auto-rx in the transmission every 50,000 miles or so is cheap insurance.
I just want to add that in addition to using Auto-Rx in my transmissions when ever I am getting ready to change the fluid, I migrated quite a few years ago toward higher quality fluids that are compatible with the oem recommendations. I live in the hot South and any improvements to the quality of the fluid or additional cooling and filtration, go a long way toward making these automatic transmissions last a long time, and is all the more important if doing any towing.
Granted, using cheaper, minimal quality stuff and changing it out more often will work too-if you have that kind of time and money that it takes, remembering that labor cost is high for this compared to engine oil changes, for example.
Using this method has allowed me and my customers have transmissions last well beyond the expected or normal time and mileage. Usually the rest of the car has begun to literally fall apart before the engines or transmissions show any signs of failing. I have a 91 Chevy 305/700R4 with 270k miles on original powertrain and all is well. Engine and transmission run like a new car. Auto-Rx has been a powerful tool to help make this happen.
I just want to add that in addition to using Auto-Rx in my transmissions when ever I am getting ready to change the fluid, I migrated quite a few years ago toward higher quality fluids that are compatible with the oem recommendations. I live in the hot South and any improvements to the quality of the fluid or additional cooling and filtration, go a long way toward making these automatic transmissions last a long time, and is all the more important if doing any towing.
Granted, using cheaper, minimal quality stuff and changing it out more often will work too-if you have that kind of time and money that it takes, remembering that labor cost is high for this compared to engine oil changes, for example.
Using this method has allowed me and my customers have transmissions last well beyond the expected or normal time and mileage. Usually the rest of the car has begun to literally fall apart before the engines or transmissions show any signs of failing. I have a 91 Chevy 305/700R4 with 270k miles on original powertrain and all is well. Engine and transmission run like a new car. Auto-Rx has been a powerful tool to help make this happen.
I wanted too add here that I agree with everything bmtechguy has said. I have a 1983 Chevrolet El Camino with 371,000 miles that still has the original engine and automatic transmission. The higher end synthetic atf's not only handle the heat but also provide better shifting in the colder weather.
If you can get a transmission pan with more capacity this is also a good idea, I also have a rare earth magnet on the bottom of my transmission pan and it does work in catching junk that the trans filter misses.
After doing auto-rx in my transmission it now shifts better than it ever did before using auto-rx.
Interesting feedback guys -- do you have any recommendations for a synthetic atf? The only one I have any experience with is Mobil 1, and that was a few years back.
Because of the limited miles this car sees (approximately 5500 a year), I almost wonder if it is more cost-effective to simply change the trans fluid once every two years with whatever Precision Tune uses. I switched to a 15k interval a couple of years ago, because it would take me a long time to hit 30k on new fluid.
With that limited mileage, I'd probably skip the synthetic. Now if you're in Frostbite Falls, ND and have experienced shifting or engagement delay due to too cold a fluid ..then maybe. Otherwise the standard fare should work fine.
