[focusse]

Ford is advertising that the Powershift 6 speed automatic transmission is a no maintenance transmission. I personally don't care for this. Servicing it at the proper intervals definitely extends the life of the unit. Will their still be a way of servicing this particular transmission? Is Ford eliminating the drain plug? Additionally, does anyone have more info regarding the 10 year / 150,000 mile life for the Powershift. Seems like these days 150k miles isn't really that high a mileage.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

 

[iamz]

Ford is advertising that the Powershift 6 speed automatic transmission is a no maintenance transmission. I personally don't care for this. Servicing it at the proper intervals definitely extends the life of the unit. Will their still be a way of servicing this particular transmission? Is Ford eliminating the drain plug? Additionally, does anyone have more info regarding the 10 year / 150,000 mile life for the Powershift. Seems like these days 150k miles isn't really that high a mileage.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

I think that the 150,000 mile figure was in reference to the transmission fluid. It's worded weird so I'm not sure though. LMTech said he was going to change the fluid out earlier as will I. I'm thinking he said around 60k which sounds about right to me.

 

[Reddog99]

The way I understood it was that "the life of the Powershift" referred to the life of the clutches. I suppose they figure that the oil is good for that long. It wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a drain plug. The front differential of Ford's 4WD models don't have one. To change the oil, you must either tip the vehicle on it's side to drain the oil out the fill hole, or use a suction pump thru the fill hole. I use the suction pump method.

 

[focusse]

The way I understood it was that "the life of the Powershift" referred to the life of the clutches. I suppose they figure that the oil is good for that long. It wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a drain plug. The front differential of Ford's 4WD models don't have one. To change the oil, you must either tip the vehicle on it's side to drain the oil out the fill hole, or use a suction pump thru the fill hole. I use the suction pump method.

Maybe I'll try tipping it on its side.

 

[LMTech]

I just checked the service manual and the automatic powershift trans has a drain plug and a fill plug just like a manual trans or rear differential. There really isn't anything difficult or that requires any special tools just special fluid which is 1.8 quarts of Motorcraft® Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid
part # XT-11-QDC and lube spec of WSS-M2C200-D2 or filled to the bottom edge of the fill hole. I don't have a price for the fluid yet but I am sure that for 2 quarts it can't be that bad compared to 6 to 16 quarts for any other trans service.

 

[focusse]

I would assume the engineers at Ford put the new Powershift through some very rigorous durability testing over the last several months or year. This is obviously going to be Ford's best selling transmission in both the new Fiesta and the new, next-gen 2012 Focus.

 

[Corvair]

This is a totally different design than the normal automatic. The oil in it is just a lubricant, like in a manual. It doesn't get hot like an auto. Autos often have an oil cooler. Nothing in there to service.
Dan

 

[focusse]

This is a totally different design than the normal automatic. The oil in it is just a lubricant, like in a manual. It doesn't get hot like an auto. Autos often have an oil cooler. Nothing in there to service.
Dan

Very good point, Dan...thanks! There's also no torque converter.

 

[mrbirdman330]

Basically its an automatic clutch transmission, like all manual transmissions excessive maintanence like interval flushes of 30K miles will do more damage than good. Which is why Ford has the service interval of 150K miles. It boils down to an earlier discussion we had where in all honesty if you're good to your manual transmission you don't need to change the fluid except when the clutch goes out. Since they rate standard clutch life at 125 to 150K miles depending on your habits thats when you should technically change your fluid. I haven't touch the fluid in my ST, I have almost 70K miles on it. It still shifts like day one and I haven't had any problems. Excessive maintanence causes premature wear and tear on the transmission gears and reducing transmission life. A real mechanic will tell you that, not somebody at a transmission shop or Jiffy Lube looking for a few extra bucks on his comission. Breaking it down this way is that when a transmission is first broken in it shaves off some of the metal in the gears, these shaving actually turn into an addtional lubricant for the gears helping to extend their lifespan. Flushing the fluid and removing these shavings causes the exact same cycle to begin. So if you're flushing your transmission at 30K intervals you're really really killing your transmission and cutting the gears down to the point they'll slip eventually.

 

[focusse]

Basically its an automatic clutch transmission, like all manual transmissions excessive maintanence like interval flushes of 30K miles will do more damage than good. Which is why Ford has the service interval of 150K miles. It boils down to an earlier discussion we had where in all honesty if you're good to your manual transmission you don't need to change the fluid except when the clutch goes out. Since they rate standard clutch life at 125 to 150K miles depending on your habits thats when you should technically change your fluid. I haven't touch the fluid in my ST, I have almost 70K miles on it. It still shifts like day one and I haven't had any problems. Excessive maintanence causes premature wear and tear on the transmission gears and reducing transmission life. A real mechanic will tell you that, not somebody at a transmission shop or Jiffy Lube looking for a few extra bucks on his comission. Breaking it down this way is that when a transmission is first broken in it shaves off some of the metal in the gears, these shaving actually turn into an addtional lubricant for the gears helping to extend their lifespan. Flushing the fluid and removing these shavings causes the exact same cycle to begin. So if you're flushing your transmission at 30K intervals you're really really killing your transmission and cutting the gears down to the point they'll slip eventually.

Thanks for your response. I've never heard of such a thing as "overservicing" your car. That's very interesting. I've always heard from several notable mechanics over the years that your transmission should be flushed at normal prescribed intervals and the filter changed and that by doing this it would extend the life of the transmission. Over time and wear and tear the trans fluid breaksdown and loses its viscous properties.

Thank you!

 

[mrbirdman330]

Oh yes you can over service your car. There are people I know who do 1500 mile oil changes in the realm of believing that its cheaper to change the oil more often than the engine doing regular 3-5K service intervals. In response to your response, both yes and no. That is where the metal shavings come into play in helping the transmission keep its life span. If you're hard on the transmission then perhaps a 50K interval would be fine what I mean is if you take this car to the track or autocross it where hard shifting is required. But if you use it as a daily driver and are considerate to your transmission then it will be fine to do a higher interval change. As I said I'm almost at 70K with no issues. I've driven cars hitting the 300K mile club with original clutch and fluid in the transmission. As long as you take care of it and don't abuse it, they'll last longer than what will be said.

 

[Chan]

Does anyone know about how much power the clutch in the Fiesta can handle? I know the powershift is good for about 170ft/lb of torque.

 

[PowerShift]

A big part of the appeal of this transmission for me is the low maintenance. Not only is it a quantum leap in performance and efficiency over the 4-speed it will replace, it appears to be simpler and more durable as well. A very rare combination. Plus you absolutely cannot call it a "slushbox" since there's no "slush".

 

[LMTech]

30K miles will do more damage than good.Excessive maintanence causes premature wear and tear on the transmission gears and reducing transmission life. A real mechanic will tell you that, not somebody at a transmission shop or Jiffy Lube looking for a few extra bucks on his comission. Breaking it down this way is that when a transmission is first broken in it shaves off some of the metal in the gears, these shaving actually turn into an addtional lubricant for the gears helping to extend their lifespan. Flushing the fluid and removing these shavings causes the exact same cycle to begin. So if you're flushing your transmission at 30K intervals you're really really killing your transmission and cutting the gears down to the point they'll slip eventually.

This is the dumbest stuff I have ever heard of. Number one I have never seen an engine or transmission break or have excessive wear because the fluid was changed too often and was too clean. Number two I have also never seen metal shavings used or classified as a lubricant. Number three while there are mechanics out there that we sell stuff that isn't needed it just takes a little common sense to figure out if they are trying to take advatange of you. If you just had your trans fluid changed within the past 3 years or 30k miles then you either (a) have a mechanic trying to sell you something you don't need or (b) you have a problem that changing the fluid is not going to fix.

I have 246000 miles on my truck with a manual trans in it and have changed the fluid in the trans every 30k and changed the oil every 3-5k and it still runs strong without any knocking or smoking. I have had the trans out 2 times in that mileage and that wasn't because of an internal or clutch failures but because the throwout bearing went out and started ginding. While the trans was out because of a failed throw out bearing I went ahead and put a new clutch and pressure plate in it. The engine has never been apart other than oil pan and valve cover gaskets and while it was open I can tell you that it has no slug buildup in the engine which is what causes an engine to fail. I just thought about this also that is with the factory water pump and radiator not leaking because the coolant has also been changed regularly.

All I know is that my truck is a 19 years old one owner truck and I am not going to get rid of it anytime soon , even though I have had people want to buy it just because they know it has been maintained like it has. The Fiesta will just be added to the mix which will leave the truck for truck use or whenever I want to drive a manual in stop and go traffic to remind me why I decided on a auto. But I know that when I need it it will start and go as long as the battery is still charged. Speaking of batteries it has only had 4 of those and of those only one has actually failed. I changed the others because after 5 years of Florida heat they could fail at anytime without warning.

To sum it all up I am a Lincoln/Mercury tech who fixes cars for people who think that cars don't need regular maintance and also take care of peoples cars who know the importance of a regular maintance schedule. The latter customers are always glad they fixed stuff before it breaks because it is cheaper and takes less time than sitting on the side of the road waiting on a tow truck and then hope that it doesn't happen on vacation,on the way home or to work or at some other very inconvient time. I am not saying that I am right I am saying that I would rather be safe than stuck and broken down.

Every person must decide what they think is right for themselves and their car and budget. I would rather treat cars with respect that they deserve for doing all the stuff that you ask it to do than have it break at the wrong time.

 

[Reddog99]

This is the dumbest stuff I have ever heard of....

Double ditto!
My jaw dropped in astonishment at that one.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded!

Going by that line of logic, we should never change our oil! In fact, we should bypass our oil filters because of all the good metal particles that it removes. I ought to create a new line "oil life extenders" that would contain metal particles to "fill in the irregularities caused by normal wear". I could make a real killing! I could make it a kit by including the filter bypass.

It reminds me of my sister, who used to believe that using an electric blanket in cold weather would make you colder because it would suck the heat out of you. Someone told her that and she believed it...

 

[iamz]

Triple ditto. Wow. I'm speechless.

 

[focusse]

Quadruple ditto. Sorry, I don't mean to pile on here. But as you can tell from my earlier response I too found this very hard to believe. I've always been a person who strongly believes in the proper service and maintenance of a car.

 

[mrbirdman330]

Yeah and I constantly see issues of transmissions ripping themselves to pieces on a daily basis, engines that blow up and tire out too easily because of over zealous work to try and keep them in a pristine shape. Why because of the excessive maintanence done on them. I've done very little to my Focus, tire rotation, oil change every 5K miles. Nothing else no problems. I deal with trucks that are on their third engine on a daily basis, some of them probably their fourth or fifth. I've got a thirty three year old hulk of a truck that has had four engine rebuilds and only has 167K on the odometer which are authenticated miles due to service maintanence records. Why, not really the fact the equipment works hard, our limits are outstanding in making sure the equipment isn't over stressed. My truck is rated to only haul max MAX 8 thousand pounds when it has the engine transmission and rear end of a Ford F600 which can tow twice that much. Its the insane maintanence program they have for them. You can excessively maintanence your vehicle and wear it out quicker. My philosophy is, if it isn't broke don't fix it. Pay attention to it when it needs it, Ford shows you can go long intervals before doing maintanence. But more than likely a dealer is going to say service it at 30K miles, just wait and see. A transmission that is self sealed can be left alone for the clutch life, more than likely the clutches are designed to last basic life 150K miles, when the clutch gets changed so does the fluid like proper procedure. Excessive Maintanence can wear out components faster on your car. Its going to be interesting to see if people can extend these clutches beyond 150K without doing anything to them. I bet it can be done. A good conservative driver might be able to squeeze 300K miles out of one of these transmissions. You can excessively maintanence a car.

 

[iamz]

You're free to believe that if you want. No one, I guess, is going to convince you otherwise.

 

[LMTech]

Yeah and I constantly see issues of transmissions ripping themselves to pieces on a daily basis, engines that blow up and tire out too easily because of over zealous work to try and keep them in a pristine shape. Why because of the excessive maintanence done on them. I've done very little to my Focus, tire rotation, oil change every 5K miles. Nothing else no problems. I deal with trucks that are on their third engine on a daily basis, some of them probably their fourth or fifth. I've got a thirty three year old hulk of a truck that has had four engine rebuilds and only has 167K on the odometer which are authenticated miles due to service maintanence records. Why, not really the fact the equipment works hard, our limits are outstanding in making sure the equipment isn't over stressed. My truck is rated to only haul max MAX 8 thousand pounds when it has the engine transmission and rear end of a Ford F600 which can tow twice that much. Its the insane maintanence program they have for them. You can excessively maintanence your vehicle and wear it out quicker. My philosophy is, if it isn't broke don't fix it. Pay attention to it when it needs it, Ford shows you can go long intervals before doing maintanence. But more than likely a dealer is going to say service it at 30K miles, just wait and see. A transmission that is self sealed can be left alone for the clutch life, more than likely the clutches are designed to last basic life 150K miles, when the clutch gets changed so does the fluid like proper procedure. Excessive Maintanence can wear out components faster on your car. Its going to be interesting to see if people can extend these clutches beyond 150K without doing anything to them. I bet it can be done. A good conservative driver might be able to squeeze 300K miles out of one of these transmissions. You can excessively maintanence a car.

Golf is that you ??