Procedures

Transmission Fluid Cooler Tubes-Backflushing and Cleaning

Material:

CAUTION: MERCON (R), MERCON (R) V, MERCON (R) SP, Motorcraft Premium Automatic Transmission Fluid and Motorcraft Continuously Variable Chain Type Transmission Fluid are not interchangeable transmission fluids. The use of any fluid other than what is recommended for this transmission will cause transmission damage.

CAUTION: The transmission fluid used for the continuously variable transaxle (CVT) is unique. When using any type of flushing equipment to flush the fluid cooler tubes on this transaxle, the machine must be fully cleaned of any solvent or residual transmission fluid not matching the type used on this transaxle. The smallest amount of the wrong transmission fluid or solvents will contaminate and damage this transaxle.

CAUTION: The transmission fluid used for the CVT transaxle is unique. Do not use water-based cleaners to clean or flush the cooler tubes or transmission damage will occur. Mineral spirits can be used to clean the cooler tubes, providing the cooler tubes are blown dry with shop air and flushed with clean CVT automatic transmission fluid. Use only clean CVT transmission fluid designated for the transmission.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to clean or flush the oil-to-air (OTA) transmission fluid cooler. Contamination may remain in the cooler and eventually be returned to the transaxle causing internal transaxle damage. If the transaxle is to be overhauled or if installing a new transaxle, install a new OTA transmission fluid cooler.

NOTE: This transaxle has a thermal bypass valve located in the high pressure filter case cover. The transmission fluid cooler tubes need to be disconnected from the transmission fluid cooler and the high pressure filter case cover in order to carry out the backflushing and cleaning of the cooler tubes.

1. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tubes from the transmission fluid cooler.
2. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tubes from the high pressure filter case cover.
3. Clean and flush cooler tubes using clean CVT transmission fluid. If there is a lot of dirt and contaminates, it is acceptable to use mineral spirits to clean the fluid cooler tubes providing they are blown dry with shop air and any residue cleaned out by final flushing with clean CVT transmission fluid.
4. Once the cooler tubes have been cleaned and flushed out, install a new OTA transmission fluid cooler.