Ford 1996 Aspire Manual page 210

If you must add transaxle fluid in an emergency,
use only MERCON fluid, such as Motorcraft
MERCON Multi-Purpose ATF. Add the fluid in
1/2-pint increments until you raise the fluid
level to within the crosshatched area on the
dipstick. Never overfill the transaxle. If the fluid
level gets too high, remove the excess fluid as
soon as possible; otherwise, you could damage
the transaxle.
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive
fluids in a responsible manner. Follow
your community's standards for
disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out
about recycling automotive fluids.
Manual Transaxle Fluid
The lubricant level and quality should not
deteriorate under normal use. However, you
should periodically have your Ford Dealer check
the fluid level during regular oil changes.
Checking manual transaxle oil level
1. Remove the speedometer cable and driven
gear from the transaxle case.
2. Wipe the gear clean and reinsert it.
3. Pull it out again. The oil level should be
between the F and L marks, as indicated in
the illustration.
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