i had a escort with 71k miles on it thats after i bought it from a dude! he told me the same thing don't change the fuild but it developed a locking forward ack it wouldnt' shiftinto rev so took it to the shop they changed the fuild and it worked awsome after that. i told them and they laughed and said that the fuild after a time breaks down and dosen't work anymore so id change it