Coolant Change and Trans Flush - When

[totalrecall]

Hi - 2002 Continental with 33,000 miles. Haven't changed the coolant or flushed the trans. In the service book recommendations all I see are milage settings, no time suggestions.

Ford suggests coolant change at 45,000. Will the green coolant really make it that long - I don't want to rot the engine? Just surprised there are no time lines for service, only miles.

Trans flush recommended at 30,000. I know our tans isn't the best, do you folks keep up with trans flushes or is there more you can do?

I have a local Ford dealer that I trust and would be more than willing to do the work.

Thanks

Mike

[Steve Moran]

Hi Mike.

Welcome to Lincolns Online

I would like to thank you on behalf of your car; the amount of money you will save in the end will be amazing. As a rule of thumb, you should change the antifreeze every two years, the time is as important as the mileage, when a vehicle sits the electrolysis still eats away at gaskets and all the metals in your cooling system as well as the rubber.
If you would rather test the PH level of your cooling system you sure can, test strips are available at most any parts store.

You will extend the life of the cooling system, as a whole by removing the electrolysis that builds up in the cooling system, this build up will degrade every part of the cooling system including the rubber hoses.

As for the transmission, what the manual shows is fine.

The transmission will last much longer because you will remove debris that builds up in the passages and valves of the transmission causing solenoids, valves, and accumulator pistons to stick.
You will extend the life or the torque converter, clutches and bands due to the loss of friction modifying additives in the fluid as well as the cooling properties of the fluid.

I am sure you know all this or you would not be going threw all it entails I just want to emphasize to everyone what good preventative maintenance will do for a car.
Happy motoring, and again, Welcome!

[Sysanalyst]

Ditto what Steve says. I'm a "chage it more often" kind of freak and don't let any fluids stick around in any of my vehicles for longer than a year, but that is just me. Heck, the fluids are cheap, much cheaper than the repairs caused by not changing them. What is that quote... something like "pay me now, or pay me later".

[Nick]

I thought the coolant and transmission was lifetime on these cars. Regardless, changing the fluid more often never hurts.

[98TC-Cartier]

I thought the coolant and transmission was lifetime on these cars.

Yes, when it dies, you are supposed to replace the car, but if you do it that way, don't expect it to last more than 6-7 years.

[Steve Moran]

I'd still say that you should check the PH level from time to time.

[pro-five-oh]

Change them! Also check your serpentine belt. And your tires: if they are original, they're nice and slippery (dry rot) when it gets wet.

If you really wanna keep this car a loooooong time, I'd recommend getting another external transmission cooler. The stock one has to cool both the PS fluid and the Transmisson.

[totalrecall]

Thanks to all - I did used to really over maintain my cars, but finally decided that at least doing things at the recommended intervals was ok - you know as coolant got a little better you didn't have to change it every year.

I had an F250 diesel for a long time, so I know all about test strips for the coolant - don't want to eat holes in the engine - got to love the FW16!

Well, looks like coolant change and trans flush time - it is a nice car. OH - did replace 2 tires after a flat, 2 still have lots of tread, but I agree - sooner or later much to slippery for me.

Thanks again

Mike

[Silver Cobra]

I agree to the above statements. The last thing you wanna do to a beautiful Conti is pull out the engine to do major repairs that could have been averted by changing the fluids more often :eek: ;)

[v8_dave]

The 2002 trans was supposed to be updated so it should last longer than most of our axod's. But a change every 30K cant hurt anything.

The Catapillar brand diesel coolant with an extended change interval was a fix to that horrible design. Atlleast you knew about the problem before it happened to your truck.

[Nick]

Does the stock cooler really handle PS fluid too? I thought it was just tranny fluid. It is a pretty big cooler if it is just for a single fluid, at least on the later cars past '98.

[v8_dave]

Does the stock cooler really handle PS fluid too? I thought it was just tranny fluid. It is a pretty big cooler if it is just for a single fluid, at least on the later cars past '98.

On my '97 bit handles both. 3/8" tubing too! But does the power steering really get that hot? I would think that would actually help cool the trans fluid.

[pro-five-oh]

On my '97 bit handles both. 3/8" tubing too! But does the power steering really get that hot? I would think that would actually help cool the trans fluid.

I'm thinking it just cooks the PS fluid. :)