# 2012 Lincoln MKZ - Trans Flush? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 7, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347 "2019-11-07T23:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RichardKast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@RichardKast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RichardKast)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/1 "2019-11-07T23:05:59Z")
previously, you guys said not to flush your older automatic xmission, as that would make it fail. What about flushing the coolant system ? called for at 100k miles on the MKZ ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/2 "2019-11-07T23:21:19Z")
> [@RichardKast](#): > > called for at 100k miles on the MKZ Yes, replacing the coolant is good . So is replacing the brake fluid that should have been done at least twice by now. Most of the mechanics here recommend changing the transmission fluid every 30000 miles. As for making it fail now , who knows. So just do what ever makes you feel good. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/3 "2019-11-08T00:14:30Z")
Old wives tale that replacing trans fluid causing a failure is no longer valid. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/4 "2019-11-08T14:10:12Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Old wives tale that replacing trans fluid causing a failure is no longer valid. Correct, The problem is when people are having minor transmission problems and hoping a drain and fill or a flush will fix it, when it doesn’t and their transmission fails they blame it on the last work done. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/5 "2019-11-08T14:23:27Z")
> [@It\_s\_Me](#): > > hoping a drain and fill or a flush will fix it And it is something we suggest since sometimes it works. It won’t fix a worn out or neglected transmission but the cost is small compared to a reman trans. It is a gamble. I know I have heard Tom and Ray explain this on the show when people ask about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/6 "2019-11-09T00:33:19Z")
> **[Today: Best Way to Change Transmission Fluid?](https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/tom-ray/today-best-way-change-transmission-fluid)** > > Jim needs to change the transmission fluid in his 2005 Chrysler 300C, but he's a little nervous about it. The last time he got this done (on his previous car) the transmission went out a week later. Tom and Ray explain the different methods and try... Tester ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/7 "2019-11-09T00:47:58Z")
If the transmission fluid has never been changed it’s a bad idea to do it now. If it’s been changed regularly at 30k mile intervals go ahead. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/8 "2019-11-09T00:54:40Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > And it is something we suggest since sometimes it works. It won’t fix a worn out or neglected transmission but the cost is small compared to a reman trans. It is a gamble. Worked for me once. My daughter’s first brand new car was a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The ATF was supposed to be lifetime fluid. At around 75k miles she complained that it was slipping and shifting hard. I checked the ATF and it was almost black. I drained it, it had a drain plug and was going to remove the pan and replace the filter, but could not find a gasket to fit. So I just drained and refilled. Within a few days, the transmission was working like new again. at 90k, I got a gasket from the dealer and a filter, drained and removed the pan. The filter didn’t fit, but the old filter was a stainless steel screen and it was clean, so I reused it, reinstalled the pan with the new gasket and refilled the ATF. After that I just drained the tranny and replaced the ATF about every 30-40k until the car was totalled at around 240k miles. Never had another moment of trouble out of it. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/9 "2019-11-09T16:42:17Z")
> [@keith](#): > > I got a gasket from the dealer and a filter, drained and removed the pan. The filter didn’t fit That is absolutely pathetic . . . on the dealer’s part Of all the possible placs to buy car parts, you’d figure the dealer would be able to give you the correct filter ☹ ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/10 "2019-11-09T17:43:02Z")
Out of 2 Fords I ever owned, the Mercury “something” (analogue to Ford Escort) had 100K+ miles on it when I bought it and I also had an idea to drop pan and replace filter. The one dealer sold me was totally different in form-factor, but fortunately the gasket was a fit. Old filter looked brand new and indeed was a metal screen, so everything could be assembled in one go. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/11 "2019-11-09T19:40:35Z")
You would think if you went to the Ford dealer with your registration or proof of insurance . . . which both have the vin . . . that they would be able figure out exactly which transmission you have, thus being able to sell you the correct filter By the way, the Mercury cousin of Escort was Tracer or Lynx, depending on the model year ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-lincoln-mkz-trans-flush/152347/12 "2019-11-09T21:27:28Z")
I had '96 Tracer and my wife loved it. It had 1.8 engine, I believe cousin of Mazda’s one and it was much more dynamic than Ford’s old 2.0 on other trim levels. Unfortunately I did not know how it would age past 110K or so as it was smashed by some drugged guy who hit it standing on a traffic light with around 40 MPH speed from the back, two more cars in the front received bumper damage.