Lincoln/Mercury Repair: how do you change the tramisssion oil in a 1992 Mercury Topaz?, mercury topaz, clutch packs

Question
How do I get the tramission oil(Fluid) chaged/drained out of my car to put in new specialty oil for the tramission to help it with slippage and shifting? thank you

Answer
HI Vivian,

To change your fluid or service the transmission the traditional method would be to remove the transmission pan, pan gasket and filter. Replace the gasket and filter, re-install the pan and top off the fluid. I see also you want to exchange the type of fluid in the transmission. I strongly do not recommend putting anything in the transmission but transmission fluid. The ATX transmission in your car was designed to use DEXRON® -III MERCON or better. There is no magic potion in a bottle that will stop your transmission from slipping nor make it perform better. I am suggesting this so you don't waste your money. But if you are sure you want to do this then you will need to take it to a shop that has a transmission flushing machine. Have them load it with your additives and have them exchange the fluid. If you look at some earlier posts you will see I do not recommend even changing fluid in transmissions. Especially ones with higher milage. There is a condition we call varnishing that developes in transmission fluid. Your transmission relies on this varnish to work as well as it does. If you change the fluid or use an additive it will rinse the varnish from the clutch packs and will make the transmission slip. I have seen cars not move minutes after a flush. I just want you to be careful. I would hate to see you trying to do the right thing by servicing your transmission only to accidently make things worse. Incidently, the only cure for a slipping transmission is overhauling. There are no band ajustments, no magic sercet fomula. I know it's wishful thinking and it sounds to good to be true, we all know how the rest of that goes. I hope I have been some help. If you have further questions, please resubmit. I know I may not have supplied you with the answer you want to hear, but it is the truth and the facts.