I am going to change my tranny fluid (manuel) and my rear diff fluid.

How do I do this?

From what I hear its really easy as far as the tranny goes... just unblot the drain pulg and re-fill. My question is were is the drain plug and do I re-fill it in the engine compartment via the tranny check thing. Also with the rear diff is there a way to change is with out taking off the diff cover?

 

Manual Transmission:
there is 2 plugs on the driver side of the tranny. One is labled "Drain" (the lower, rear plug) and one is labled "Fill" (the upper front plug). They are fairly large bolts (something like 1" i believe). Take the "Fill" plug off FIRST! then with a drain pan under the "Drain" plug, remove the "Drain" plug. Re-install the "Drain" plug after all the fluid has ran out. You will probably have to use a hand pump to fill the transmission up since the "Fill" plug is in a difficult spot...

Rear diff:
Remove the cover off the rear. Drain all the fluids out and clean the cover mounting surfaces. Apply a nice bead of black silicone or Form-A-Gasket and re-install the cover. Remove the fill bolt on the upper front driver side of the diff cover (it takes a 3/8" ratchet without a socket on it to remove it). use a small funnel and fill the diff with 75w90 gear oil until it reaches the bottom of this fill hole. Re-install the fill plug.

 

couldn't have said it better but just so you know i would use automatic transmission fluid something sythenic for the transmission

 

Damn... that seems to easy to take it and have it done by grease monkey.

Also I was thinking about running sysnthetic but why use automatic fluids Marcus?

 

the Ford manual is what calls for Mecron V automatic transmission fluid for the manual transmission and 75w90 gear oil for the diff...

 

Is it true that you need an additive for limited slip? I was thinkin about doing this soon also but I wasnt sure on what amsoil fluids to get.
Also..will the cork gasket that comes with a polished diff cover work alright?

 

Hey Maurice do you have that info on changing a Automatic Tranny too? When should you change your tranny and gear fluid?

 

if you use full synthetic gear oil (75w90), then you don't need to add the friction modifier for a limited slip....yes the cork gasket will work fine...


completely changing the automatic transmission fluid is a little more tricky because there is no drain plug in the torque converter. Here is a link on AMSOIL's website that is a PDF file on how to do a complete flush and fill of an automatic transmission:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx
look down for the link that says "ATF and Transmission Filter Change Procedures" under the picture......

you should change your transmission fluid about every 25,000 to 30,000 miles and your rear diffs about every 60,000 miles or every time you cross water that is over the diff....

 

dang maurice changed yours a couple of time huh? i try and change out all my fluids including raditor fluids rechargeing the a/c if nessary. only thing i haven't done yet is the diff. kinda nervous to do that one

 

i have done my truck 4 times in 98,000 miles and my mom's Explorer 2 times......

diff fluids are by FAR easier than the transmissions......remove the rear diff cover and re-install, then fill with new fluid.....easy as cake...

 

In my manual it calls for 80W90 in the rear, and for the trans it just says Mercon ATF in the manual trans. Im running 75W90 in the rear with no problems though, and for the trans... I called Ford and asked them about Mercon ATF since Ive never just seen "Mercon ATF" in the store, and they said they were going to start using Mercon V in everything, and that is what I should get when I do the trans because I may not be able to find just the "Mercon ATF" anymore.

Edit: I believe in the manual it does say on some models like the level II FX4s to use the 75W90.

 

ya my 01 calls for 80w90 for the rear, thats what i;ve been running.
ur 97 is older so it may be different, i donno

 

im gonna hijack really quick, im looking to get a chrome 7.5 cover and it has a gasket with it, should i use a liquid sealer along with it or just the gasket that comes with it. Not sure if its cork or not so i dont know if that matters

 

i would trust the black silicone before the gasket, but thats just me.

 

Edit again, I just looked at the manual and it says for the rear axle lubracant...

All - (except FX4) 80W90

FX4 - 75W140

I scanned these just for some general reference.

 

I agree, I wouldn't use the cork, just run some silicone around it. That's how I've always done it and it's never leaked.

 

Good stuff Mike. I will try to get a "how to" or some pics going when I do this.

 

I used the cork gasket on mine, works great. It's the thin paper gaskets you don't want. The cork is good, I just find it less of a hassle than the messy goop. I have to use that stuff enough at work on tractors.

 

Im going to bump an old thread to throw my $.02 in on refilling a manual tranny.

The first time I drained/refilled my 5 speed I didnt have a pump to refill with. I managed to get it done with a turkey baster (bad idea come time to cook the turkey though). Later when I put the new tranny in (tranny was toast before the turkey baster incident) I put the bottom (drain) plug in, left the top (fill) plug out and since the shifter was out anyway, I poured the ATF through a funnel through the shifter hole. I poured it in slowly and waited for overflow from the fill plug. I found it is easier to remove the shifter than it is to pump ATF into the fill hole

 

quick question... im going to be changing my rear differential fluid tuesday and i need too know if i should clean out the pumpkin when i have the cover off? im worried about getting the old gasket debris into the rear end. any advice? i was going to try and get an air compressor and just blow out the old fluid and debris and such

 

Get a small magnet and run it around in the bottom of the pumpkin right after you remove the cover.You don't need any extra metal shavings floating in there.

 

Can't you just take some brake clean and spray it out?

 

Since no one answered you, yes you can just make sure to let it dry before refilling the diff. This months Off Road Adventures has a good article about how to change all the fluids.

 

[QUOTE=lifted97ranger;829652]Manual Transmission:
there is 2 plugs on the driver side of the tranny. One is labled "Drain" (the lower, rear plug) and one is labled "Fill" (the upper front plug). They are fairly large bolts (something like 1" i believe).

It looked like a 23mm bolt on my truck.