an older vehicle. I've noticed the tranny on my '87 Ford F-150 hasn't been happy lately. It hasn't wanted to shift easily into first and second particularly. After about the first 10 minutes or 10 miles, it's shifting better. So Saturday morning, between Altar Guild duty and working at the Studio, I thought I'd check it out.
There's a QT and an O'Reilly's close to church, so I stopped in to check my tires and everything else. Filled up the tires at QT, then went to O'Reilly's and did a little reading in my truck manual first.
Went in and asked the guys about transmission fluid, based on the diagnosis in the little manual. They got me the right fluid for my vehicle, and recommended that I may want to try this stuff called Lucas if I'm really low. They also loaned me a funnel and answered my questions about where to put the tranny fluid. I learned several things -- for starters, on my truck, you fill the tranny fluid at the same place that has the tranny dipstick. It's different from the oil -- dipstick location and the place where you fill the oil is different.
So... I followed the directions. Took off my jewelry, started up the truck and checked the tranny fluid. The dipstick was hitting air. GROAN. So, I used the Lucas stuff (which takes a long time to drain in -- very thick) and then followed it with half a quart of tranny fluid. The tip of the dipstick was wet, so I followed it up with the rest of the quart. Mind you, this took around 40 minutes, between waiting for the Lucas stuff to drain in and then every 10 minutes, shifting the tranny through all gears to get the stuff worked in.
The tranny is happy now. I need to check the level again today or tomorrow. And I realize I'm very fortunate that I didn't have SERIOUS problems. But I know how to check it now, what to listen for, and how to fill up the transmission fluid.
The guys at O'Reilly's were GREAT. They answered my questions, came out to check on me and in general were just terrific. I was one of two women there in 45 minutes -- more women should know how to deal with these things!
A father was there with his twin daughters and I told them that I was glad they were there. More girls need to visit their auto parts store. The father told me that he does bring them with him so they can learn about what's there -- and that they watch him (and help) when he works on their vehicles.
That brought back memories of my dad. I would hold the timing light for him, or get him the right wrench or other tool. I would go with him to the NAPA store in our hometown. Dad would have known right away what to do -- but at least he trained me well enough to have the sense to read manuals and ask questions!
Just whatever you do, do not CHANGE the transmission fluid (like you'd change the oil). If your older transmission is dying that's a sure way to finish it off quick. Adding fluid was the right thing to do for the moment, but eventually you're probably going to need a new transmission.
---Wife of a Mechanic
Posted by: Nancy | Thursday, 18 May 2006 at 08:15 AM
Nancy, thanks for your feedback. I guess 125,500+ miles on one tranny is good performance???
Posted by: lauragayle | Thursday, 18 May 2006 at 10:56 AM
You are my hero!
Posted by: squiggles | Thursday, 18 May 2006 at 11:08 AM
Way to go, LGG! You are quite the woman! Isn't nice to have something during your day bring back a great set of memories of time spent with your dad?
Posted by: Rustee | Thursday, 18 May 2006 at 06:00 PM
Congrats on being a woman of action! Glad you got it up and working smoothly again.
Posted by: Carl V. | Friday, 19 May 2006 at 07:51 AM
125,000 miles on one tranny IS good performance, but my 14 year old Nissan Quest has 260,000 miles and is still on its first!
Posted by: Nancy | Friday, 19 May 2006 at 08:10 AM
Sweet. 260,000. I hope my truck holds out as long! I should mention that The truck was originally my Dad's, and my mom gave it to me in May 2001 after he died in March of that year. The truck had less than 60,000 miles on it then (I think -- would have to double check my records). So I've put the majority of the miles on it in 5 years! My dad was a mechanic -- on farm machinery, but he kept his vehicles in great shape. My cousin (also a mechanic) tuned it up and did a fair amount of replacement work on it before I took it to the Midwest in 2001.
Posted by: lauragayle | Saturday, 20 May 2006 at 08:37 AM