Trans flush and filter change?

[ThinkBlue89]

Whats the best way to do it? Have someone else to do it (Dealer, Jiffy lube etc.)
Running it through the machine to flush and doing the conventional filter/fluid change/gasket change? or this way ?
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00075.html
My car leaked some fluid (from being improperly in the air and leaking through the tail shaft and thus leaking from the back) and it is riding dangerously below the lower mark ( Or as Ford calls The " DO NOT DRIVE" marker") And I figured at 150 K it came to change it because judging the slight darkening of the fluid and the smell of it (plus due to the fact that most people dont do it or completely oblivious to it) pretty much serves justice in doing so but I'm stuck at making a good decision of doing it right and saving money and getting my car on the road again as for the time being its all it needs to ride safely for the time being, as never really doing a flush and just changing the fluid and filter, I would highly appreciate input from those that have experienced this before me. Besides I am aware that the T/C has the majority of the fluid but there is no telling the state of condition it is in, but to drop the trans and seeing if there is a drain plug (at the T/C) so I dont end up overfilling the tranny(Thus getting fluid aeration) especially at 11-12 3/4 quarts.

 

[Lincolnlov]

Whats the best way to do it? Have someone else to do it (Dealer, Jiffy lube etc.)
Running it through the machine to flush and doing the conventional filter/fluid change/gasket change? or this way ?
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00075.html
My car leaked some fluid (from being improperly in the air and leaking through the tail shaft and thus leaking from the back) and it is riding dangerously below the lower mark ( Or as Ford calls The " DO NOT DRIVE" marker") And I figured at 150 K it came to change it because judging the slight darkening of the fluid and the smell of it (plus due to the fact that most people dont do it or completely oblivious to it) pretty much serves justice in doing so but I'm stuck at making a good decision of doing it right and saving money and getting my car on the road again as for the time being its all it needs to ride safely for the time being, as never really doing a flush and just changing the fluid and filter, I would highly appreciate input from those that have experienced this before me. Besides I am aware that the T/C has the majority of the fluid but there is no telling the state of condition it is in, but to drop the trans and seeing if there is a drain plug (at the T/C) so I dont end up overfilling the tranny(Thus getting fluid aeration) especially at 11-12 3/4 quarts.

ThinkBlue
I've used the method in your link from LoL with a minor modification. I disconnected the fluid cooling line at the radiator rather than at the trans. Seemed to work well. As I recal it took about 10 or 11 qts. Its fairly easy to tell when the new fluid begins to be pumped out. However, if you are leaking from the rear seal it could get worse with a change of fluid. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[ThinkBlue89]

flushed the pan and tc even though it was a PITA to get to the dust cover but after losing some fluid...(don't use Vaseline regardless of what it says it just doesn't work that well in reality and made it leak like a sieve, used 3m gasket sealant instead)clean it, refilled, hand tightened it, then followed with a socket/w ext. then when around "hand torque" using a wrench to a snug fit, and went to O'reillys to refill the w/some Valvoline MercV fluid and some of the fluid i managed to keep clean and saved and 3 qt to top off, turn on the engine for several minutes to let it warm up at idle, check the level, and at the cross hatches not too much not too little on the marks, and then cycled it through all gears, shifted right and success, Im glad its behind me but I'm still leery of the state the DOA(AOD i mean lmao) is in, but didn't really see any big changes except for cleaner fluid than what the old stuff was ( it was a darker red) but yea it was worth it.