2009 Fusion 2.3L first tranny fluid change at 100K

[lowfatmajia]

Would you do your first tranny fluid change at 100K? Or is it too far gone?

 

Background, I have a 2009 Fusion 2.3L, 100K miles. Never have transmission fluid changed,  because the maintenance schedule says you only need to change it at 150K. The car drives well though, never have shifting issues

 

Lately I discovered Scotty Kilmer on Youtube, and his videos got me nervous. "if you have not changed transmission fluid every 60K, your transmission is on borrowed time".

 

2009 fusion has transmission fluid dipstick, so it's easy to check fluid color. It's dark and certainly not pink, but no burnt smell. Then all of a sudden I feel the urge to take my car to a transmission shop and have fluid changed, also occasionally my shifter will feel stiff going from "R" to "Park", better to have the shop to take a look at that, too.

 

But the shop said no, they don't change fluid for cars with 100K it's the first time do it. The guy said the same thing as Scotty Kilmer, if I change my fluid now, the transmission will overheat and slip easily and it can do more harm than good. Just drive until it breaks down. A year from now, two years from now, a week from now, who knows. 

 

I am confused and anxious. I don't want to give up this car, I want to put another 100K mile to it. But what do I do now? change fluid now? Wait till 150K (if I can reach 150K at all)? 

 

[bbf2530]

14 minutes ago, lowfatmajia said:

Would you do your first tranny fluid change at 100K? Or is it too far gone?

 

Background, I have a 2009 Fusion 2.3L, 100K miles. Never have transmission fluid changed,  because the maintenance schedule says you only need to change it at 150K. The car drives well though, never have shifting issues

 

Lately I discovered Scotty Kilmer on Youtube, and his videos got me nervous. "if you have not changed transmission fluid every 60K, your transmission is on borrowed time".

 

2009 fusion has transmission fluid dipstick, so it's easy to check fluid color. It's dark and certainly not pink, but no burnt smell. Then all of a sudden I feel the urge to take my car to a transmission shop and have fluid changed, also occasionally my shifter will feel stiff going from "R" to "Park", better to have the shop to take a look at that, too.

 

But the shop said no, they don't change fluid for cars with 100K it's the first time do it. The guy said the same thing as Scotty Kilmer, if I change my fluid now, the transmission will overheat and slip easily and it can do more harm than good. Just drive until it breaks down. A year from now, two years from now, a week from now, who knows. 

 

I am confused and anxious. I don't want to give up this car, I want to put another 100K mile to it. But what do I do now? change fluid now? Wait till 150K (if I can reach 150K at all)? 

 

 

Hi lowfat and welcome to the Ford Fusion Forum. My opinion: Change the fluid now. Find a dependable shop that will change it now, even if you need to go to a Ford Dealer.

 

As far as that shop goes...They are telling you not to change it and to drive the car until it dies? So if that shop won't change it at 100,000, they won't change it at 150,000 either. So why would you listen to them now, but then change at 150,000?

 

I had the trans fluid flushed and filled in my older MKZ at ~100,000 miles. Have gone ~10,000 miles since then with no issues.

 

In the future, I will change no later than 75,000 miles, if not earlier, although I constantly checked the condition of the fluid in that car and it was always red and good. I drive my cars relatively easily and keep them well maintained.

 

Let us now how you make out and good luck.

Edited October 14, 2021 by bbf2530

[lowfatmajia]

Thanks for the quick reply bbf2530. Yes the shop told me to drive the car until it dies. I just got scared by both the shop and Scotty Kilmer, because they are saying pretty much the same thing. You are probably right, I can ask around and see what other shops say. It's just confusing information, the manual say 150k, then shops say 60K. In the age of too much information, it's hard to decide who to listen to.

[drolds1]

15 hours ago, lowfatmajia said:

Thanks for the quick reply bbf2530. Yes the shop told me to drive the car until it dies. I just got scared by both the shop and Scotty Kilmer, because they are saying pretty much the same thing. You are probably right, I can ask around and see what other shops say. It's just confusing information, the manual say 150k, then shops say 60K. In the age of too much information, it's hard to decide who to listen to.

If the manual recommends changing at 150K, then what harm would changing it at 100K do?  As counter-intuitive as it sounds, this would qualify as extra maintenance.

 

Yes. It is hard to decide who to listen to, but I know who I wouldn't listen to: Scotty Kilmer.

[lowfatmajia]

I ended up taking my car to a different shop, have fluid changed, have the shifter lubricated and fixed. Have driven the car for 100mile. No problem yet. Fingers crossed.