Power Flush?

9

93LINCMK8

Registered
Would getting a power flush help if the valve body is not working properly? I mean would it unclog anything in the valve body? It shifts wierd. I think maybe there's not enough pressure to get into gear unless the rpm's are up.
 
It may or it may not.

Flushes are meant for normal maintainance procedures and will not fix any mechanical/hydraulic faults.
 
Changing (dropping the pan/new filter) the fluid is almost always a better option then flushing. Especially if you are haiving problems with your transmission now.
 
MindyMark said:
Changing (dropping the pan/new filter) the fluid is almost always a better option then flushing. Especially if you are haiving problems with your transmission now.
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And you get to closely inspect the pan, magnet and fluid for a good analysis of the transmission's health and whether or not to pursue the issue further.

No discolorization of the fluid, a clean filter and magnet and no sludge in the pan are all good signs. Chances are your transmission is healthy. If you are experiencing difficulties, you may have a easy fix such as a new MLPS, TCC solenoid, etc...

Discolored fluid, excessive particles on the magnet(or in the fluid) along with sludge in the pan are all bad signs. Chances are your transmission will not live long, new fluid or not. Any drivability problems at this stage are likely mechanical and not going to be fixed with a flush or new fluid.
 
don't forget to drain the torque converter

don't forget to drain the torque converter

MindyMark said:
Changing (dropping the pan/new filter) the fluid is almost always a better option then flushing. Especially if you are haiving problems with your transmission now.[/QUOTE

i agree this is the most cost effective and would be where i start. i have been using mercron/dextron 3 with 30,000 service intervals since i replaced the seals destroyed by the corrosive mercron v. the tranny has over 200k and shifts strong. with the money you save you might want to invest in a transmission cooler.

good luck
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I would obviously change the filter when I have the flush done. The MLPS(manual lever position switch), that is the neutral safety switch on the side of the transmission. I had that replaced last year because I had starting problems. That has nothing to do with the way it shifts. It knows what gear it's in as far as the shift handle goes. It's shifting erratically while driving. I guess there are different opinions on the Mercron V. I also thought these already had a transmission cooler on them.
 
93LINCMK8 said:
I would obviously change the filter when I have the flush done. The MLPS(manual lever position switch), that is the neutral safety switch on the side of the transmission. I had that replaced last year because I had starting problems. That has nothing to do with the way it shifts. It knows what gear it's in as far as the shift handle goes. It's shifting erratically while driving. I guess there are different opinions on the Mercron V. I also thought these already had a transmission cooler on them.
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Most transmission flushes do not include pulling the pan and changing the filter.

The MLPS is more than a neutral safety switch. It must be aligned correctly for proper transmission operation.

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There is only one opinion that counts on the Mercon V - Ford's. It is the defacto fluid for the 4R70W.

The Mark VIII has no 'external' transmission cooler, only the factory heat exchanger tank inside the radiator.
 
The do have a transmission "cooler" in them, although it is intergrated into the radiator which is debatable if it really provides any cooling from in there.
 
icladius said:
MindyMark said:
Changing (dropping the pan/new filter) the fluid is almost always a better option then flushing. Especially if you are haiving problems with your transmission now.[/QUOTE

i agree this is the most cost effective and would be where i start. i have been using mercron/dextron 3 with 30,000 service intervals since i replaced the seals destroyed by the corrosive mercron v. the tranny has over 200k and shifts strong. with the money you save you might want to invest in a transmission cooler.

good luck
Click to expand...

You WILL destroy your tranny using this fluid instead of Mercon V!!!Mercon V is a semi-synthetic and is Ford approved in use for all FLM vehicles that originally had Mercon fluid in them!
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So you're saying that even though the mlps is allowing the car to start in neutral and park but not the other gears, and that it goes into the appropriate gear for the handle position, that it may still be out of adjustment and affecting the drivability?
 
93LINCMK8 said:
So you're saying that even though the mlps is allowing the car to start in neutral and park but not the other gears, and that it goes into the appropriate gear for the handle position, that it may still be out of adjustment and affecting the drivability?
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Any original MLPS will be dirty on the inside and not be making good electrical contact. This causes intermittant/wierd things to happen.

If it's original, replace it.
 
93LINCMK8 said:
So you're saying that even though the mlps is allowing the car to start in neutral and park but not the other gears, and that it goes into the appropriate gear for the handle position, that it may still be out of adjustment and affecting the drivability?
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Precisely.

Usually it causes the tranny to 'drop out' of gear into neutral or it may cause it to inadvertently shift.

The MLPS signals the PCM what gearshift lever position is selected and the PCM controls the shifts based on this information. The 'neutral safety' portion of the MLPS is operationally separate from the lever position sensing circuit.

It is critically important for the MLPS to be syncronized with the mechanical control via the shift cable and gear selector. The factory procedure utilizes a special tool for this. Without the tool it can be adjusted by matching up the alignment marks on the MLPS with the shift selector in neutral. Any mis-alignment can be corrected by loosening the 2 mounting screws and slightly rotating the body of the switch so the alignment marks are lined up.

If your MLPS switch was replaced last year, I would highly recommend checking the alignment.
 
I'll do that first. Then I will get the filter changed, flush it, put Mercron V and see what that does. I hope it does something. I just had the transmission rebuilt two years ago. He didn't do a very good job and the warranty is up, what there was of one anyway.
 
i have been trying to kill a lincoln since the civil war,

i have been trying to kill a lincoln since the civil war,

budpytko said:
icladius said:
You WILL destroy your tranny using this fluid instead of Mercon V!!!Mercon V is a semi-synthetic and is Ford approved in use for all FLM vehicles that originally had Mercon fluid in them!
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unlike the president of the same name they are invincible. the current candidate has been in my family for 10 years and 200k plus total miles with 150k using the destructive mer/dex 3. i wonder old sage when will this tranny meet with its untimely death because of my transgression? i hope it is soon, there is a little used 07CL550 in my garage dying to feel the wind rushing about its silver tresses on a daily basis.

on a more serious note the two fluids are like immediate family. one dares not mate them for fear of ending up with a tranny problem akin to the three headed monster, but once the mercon v is completely out of the the transmission and torque converter the old reliable #3 works just fine.

i learned this while living in dc in the 90's. i traveled to the left coast regularly via united. i am bring this up because i used the dulles flyer cab company to take me to and fro the airport. these were all grey crown vic's and it seems every car that livered me had 500k miles. my informal survey found these cars devoid of any major mechanical work to the drive trains including engines, transmissions or third members. what these cars missed in major work they received in fluid transplants. oil at 5k and all other replaceable fluid at 30k, including #3 in the tranny and torque converter.

this is what prompted me to buy my first lincoln, a 94 towncar that i finally retired in 04 with 310k which i serviced like a cab. the car developed a smoking habit near the end but still fetched a buyer and drove into the sunset of life without a major repair. it did get one air bag, 4 sets of plug wires/plugs, some belts and an alternator.

my california mark viii has little use for mechanical parts either having used but three sets of plugs, one coil, a thermostat, water pump, belts and seals over its life.

by the way, the oem transmission cooler is located in the radiator. in my opinion it should be relocated using an after market cooler installed in front of the ac condenser. this will improve the cooling capacity of both the engine and transmission.

lay on macduff
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You may have had good luck with Mercon III in your car as others, but the recommended fluid for our transmissions is Mercon V. This is the first time I've ever heard someone thinking Mercon III is better then Mercon V.

Maybe in some cases it is, maybe others it isn't. However I'll always stick with what Ford says is best for the car. I've got 218k on my transmission running Mercon V since around 30k miles and I can't complain.
 
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icladius said:
budpytko said:
unlike the president of the same name they are invincible. the current candidate has been in my family for 10 years and 200k plus total miles with 150k using the destructive mer/dex 3. i wonder old sage when will this tranny meet with its untimely death because of my transgression? i hope it is soon, there is a little used 07CL550 in my garage dying to feel the wind rushing about its silver tresses on a daily basis.

on a more serious note the two fluids are like immediate family. one dares not mate them for fear of ending up with a tranny problem akin to the three headed monster, but once the mercon v is completely out of the the transmission and torque converter the old reliable #3 works just fine.

i learned this while living in dc in the 90's. i traveled to the left coast regularly via united. i am bring this up because i used the dulles flyer cab company to take me to and fro the airport. these were all grey crown vic's and it seems every car that livered me had 500k miles. my informal survey found these cars devoid of any major mechanical work to the drive trains including engines, transmissions or third members. what these cars missed in major work they received in fluid transplants. oil at 5k and all other replaceable fluid at 30k, including #3 in the tranny and torque converter.

this is what prompted me to buy my first lincoln, a 94 towncar that i finally retired in 04 with 310k which i serviced like a cab. the car developed a smoking habit near the end but still fetched a buyer and drove into the sunset of life without a major repair. it did get one air bag, 4 sets of plug wires/plugs, some belts and an alternator.

my california mark viii has little use for mechanical parts either having used but three sets of plugs, one coil, a thermostat, water pump, belts and seals over its life.

by the way, the oem transmission cooler is located in the radiator. in my opinion it should be relocated using an after market cooler installed in front of the ac condenser. this will improve the cooling capacity of both the engine and transmission.

lay on macduff
Click to expand...

In my years on this board, you are the first to believe #3 better than V. We've got a former Ford engine designer, a former Ford master mechanic with decades of experience, among many who know these cars better than anyone.

But if you've had better luck with #3, have at it.
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