So I was bored today and thought I would try some stuff on my own with the stupid tranny after multiple service visits with no real change. 1st off....the original pre-TSB's dip stick is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get an accurate reading from. Even with several dips one after the other it is very hard to tell exactly where it comes up on the stick, and each time seems to be drasticly different. I get the feeling that when the dealer says they checked the level (assuming they really did), they were probably not getting a good accurate read. Anyhow, after getting the escape good and hot vs just up to temp and doing a check....I see lots of bubbles on the stick despite my best guess with multiple dips appears to be about 25% up the crosshatch...so while that SHOULD be comfortably in range if not a bit on the low side, it is pretty clear to me that it is NOT in a good range and either overfilled or underfilled. From there I thought it best to remove some fluid vs put more in. Adding more if it was already overfilled wouldnt be as noticeable and immediate change as taking more out if it was underfilled. End result:
1) sucked out 8oz.....no change
2) sucked out another 8oz for 1/2qt total...wow, almost immeadiate difference. Shifts much easier and the whole drivetrain just felt like it operated more freely. Still got a bit of a rise on the tach with a couple gears although not near as prominent before. Just slipped 100 or 2 vs 300+ like very often happens before.
3) sucked out another 8oz for a full qt out of it.....Still feels good like the last attempt, and shifts at all gears are perfectly normal. Also after the escape was initially warmed up, did about a 20 mi highway loop no stops with the MPG reset as sort of a ghetto way to see if there was any difference with engine load. That yielded 25.9mpg. Did the same loop again, same speed (55 even for testing purposes), same tank of gas, same day with no significant change in wind or anything....and this time it was 31.8mpg. Now I know those numbers dont mean squat and arent real average MPG numbers with it freshly reset...but it calculates the same way each time so it does demonstrate the fluid removal being easier on the drivetrain.
It is dark out now so since that damn dipstick is hard enough to use in the daylight, I figure I will look at it tomorow as well as see how it behaves from a cold start. I did pull it real quick to check for bubbles though, which there wer none now. So if that stick is totally wrong, the fluid should be at a useable level at least. As far as the fluid itself goes...didnt smell burnt, and looks ok with the white paper towl test, but sitting in the jar it is pretty dark and used up. Now what sucks is there is probably no easy way to convince them to flush it under warranty even though it shouldnt look like that with 10k. Def gunna push to get the new model dipstick in.
1) sucked out 8oz.....no change
2) sucked out another 8oz for 1/2qt total...wow, almost immeadiate difference. Shifts much easier and the whole drivetrain just felt like it operated more freely. Still got a bit of a rise on the tach with a couple gears although not near as prominent before. Just slipped 100 or 2 vs 300+ like very often happens before.
3) sucked out another 8oz for a full qt out of it.....Still feels good like the last attempt, and shifts at all gears are perfectly normal. Also after the escape was initially warmed up, did about a 20 mi highway loop no stops with the MPG reset as sort of a ghetto way to see if there was any difference with engine load. That yielded 25.9mpg. Did the same loop again, same speed (55 even for testing purposes), same tank of gas, same day with no significant change in wind or anything....and this time it was 31.8mpg. Now I know those numbers dont mean squat and arent real average MPG numbers with it freshly reset...but it calculates the same way each time so it does demonstrate the fluid removal being easier on the drivetrain.
It is dark out now so since that damn dipstick is hard enough to use in the daylight, I figure I will look at it tomorow as well as see how it behaves from a cold start. I did pull it real quick to check for bubbles though, which there wer none now. So if that stick is totally wrong, the fluid should be at a useable level at least. As far as the fluid itself goes...didnt smell burnt, and looks ok with the white paper towl test, but sitting in the jar it is pretty dark and used up. Now what sucks is there is probably no easy way to convince them to flush it under warranty even though it shouldnt look like that with 10k. Def gunna push to get the new model dipstick in.
