Lincoln/Mercury Repair: Transmission Service, wynns products, clutch packs

Question
Dave:

If I don't do anything will the life of the trans be shortened? I guess its a toss-up between the likelyhood a flush will cause a problem vs the likelyhod doing nothing will shorten the life of the trans. I know you can't be definite without seeing the fluid (still a tinge of red and does not smell burnt) but what is your best guess?

If your still firm about not flushng or servicing it, is there anything I can do now to prolong its life? I dive up to the local mountains (6,000 ft elevation change) often with somewhat of a load (wife, 2 dogs and misc things for the stay).

Thank you for your prompt and informative response. It's informed people like you that make allexperts a great service.

Thank you again,

olins@yahoo.com
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Followup To

Question -
Dave:

I have a 96 Merc S/W, 2.4 Duratec Engine with 80,000 mles. It had the trans flushed (10 Qts Mercon) at 25,000 miles. I haven't serviced it since. The fluid is slightly red and mostly brown. It does not smell burnt. The trans shifts smooth and has no problems.

I've heard some bad things about flushing the trans, such as dirt is set loose in the process and trans problems will likely develop as a result. The Ford dealer in town says they use a Ford approved system with Wynns products and use Ford Mercon fluid.

Are there really risks to having it flushed? What do you recommend?

Thank you,

olins@yahoo.com

Answer -
Hi Olins,

Yes, you are correct. Transmission fluid developes a condition we call "varnishing". The brown color in the fluid. Once varnish is present in the transmission it must remain there. If you flush or even just service the transmission, the new fluid will rinse the varnish from the clutch packs that make up your gears. Within a couple of weeks to a month the transmssion will begin to slip. I do like that 2.4. Great motor, never seems to have trouble. Hope this helps and hope it saves you a heartache.

Answer
Hi again Olins and thank you so much for the great feedback. In my years of dealing with transmissions, I have never seen a transmission last longer because someone changed their fluid every 20,000 miles or never changed it at all. Seems that only a few make it past the 120k mark. Most Chrysler transmissions last about 70,000 and I have done an overhaul to a Caravan with just 11,000 miles on it. The highest milage vehicle I have done a transmission on was a Chevy pick-up with 270,000 miles on the original fluid. My Lincoln Navigator has 109,000 on the factory fluid. The fact that it is so risky to change the fluid in a good, working transmission is why I do not even do services at my shop. I refuse to take someone's money to possibly cause them a problem. You should be OK for a few more years with yours. Again, Thank you!