In-line transmission fluid filters

[Muse]

Are these optional add-ons a good idea? I asked at Mazda 626 forums, and the tone was negative: http://mazda626.net/topic/42734-suggest-inline-filter-for-626-transmission/"]http://mazda626.net/topic/42734-suggest-inline-filter-for-626-transmission/. However, the A-Team (who presumably know more about my car than anyone, a Mazda 1997 626LX 2.0L ATX) evidently favor them.

In that thread a moderator responded that "I dont see a inline filter having enough surface area to really help. And it would clog up pretty quickly."

I'm wondering if that's just him, though, what he does. At Amazon, some of those filters get good reviews, saw one that people said was failing, and could cause transmission failure due to leaks, and/or just falling apart!

I figure maybe if I replace the in-line filter every 12000 miles or so at the same time I replace fluid it will really help. The filter in my transmission (CD4E transmission) isn't easily replaced and the dealership who flushed my trany a few weeks ago didn't replace it... they didn't even admit it existed! They actually claimed that the trany filter in my car had been phased out.

 

[Raizinman]

Most serious car people are against them. Not sure about the new ones, but the old ones would restrict flow when partially clogged. There just isn't a need if you take care of your transmission. If you are truly concerned about your tranny, just change the fluid and filter more frequent than normal. Most owners manual have a schedule for heavy duty usage. I would believe a transmission cooler would give you better results than an external filter, but I would only go with a cooler if I was towing a trailer or boat on a very regular basis.

 

[skyking]

Many cars do not have a serviceable filter, Honda is famous for that. If you get a proper bypass filter adapter it won't restrict flow appreciably.

 

[Miramonti]

I have magnafine filter and external cooler in a 2k accord, infamous for a glass tranny. Since I put it in a couple years ago, my tranny fluid is still very clean. I highly doubt it collects enough to be restrictive, particularly after reading what people said who've cut theirs open after 15k or 30k miles.

 

[thescreensavers]

I have magnafine filter and external cooler in a 2k accord, infamous for a glass tranny. Since I put it in a couple years ago, my tranny fluid is still very clean. I highly doubt it collects enough to be restrictive, particularly after reading what people said who've cut theirs open after 15k or 30k miles.

I used the magnafine filter in my G when I had it after I installed a cooler.

In about 1k miles I got rear ended and totaled my G so I took it off so I could take it apart to see what it collected

Its a decent filter it has a bypass if it clogs, it really shouldn't clog since the cooler lines are usually screened/filtered.

 

[Miramonti]

I used the magnafine filter in my G when I had it after I installed a cooler.

In about 1k miles I got rear ended and totaled my G so I took it off so I could take it apart to see what it collected

Its a decent filter it has a bypass if it clogs, it really shouldn't clog since the cooler lines are usually screened/filtered.

Is that some definite particles on the magnet and filter? 1k miles isn't much but if it didn't have a filter for years previously, that can be a very productive filtering time.

I didn't realize they can be disassembled so easy. I'm wondering if replacement filters are available for purchase as a stand alone item. Otherwise they're fairly expensive.

 

[Muse]

Most serious car people are against them. Not sure about the new ones, but the old ones would restrict flow when partially clogged. There just isn't a need if you take care of your transmission. If you are truly concerned about your tranny, just change the fluid and filter more frequent than normal. Most owners manual have a schedule for heavy duty usage. I would believe a transmission cooler would give you better results than an external filter, but I would only go with a cooler if I was towing a trailer or boat on a very regular basis.

My owner's manual is conspicuously silent on the subject of transmission maintenance... not a word.

My '97 Mazda 626LX 2.0L 4 cylinder (and the other 626's from '93-'02) are notorious for having underengineered transmissions for the weight of the car (mine's 3801 lb.). They put a Ford CD4E trany in it and early failures are/were an epidemic. A Mazda tech here said it's been dubbed the 60k transmission (many have died before that!). Mazda put out a couple of service bulletins on it around 2000 recommending an external cooler be installed (at the owner's expense!). I installed a Hayden 403 external cooler last weekend.

The dealership didn't replace the filter when they flushed my trany a few weeks ago, so that's my reason for considering an external filter. If it's not recommended, I won't do it, of course, and will just try to change the fluid at reasonable intervals.

 

[Muse]

I have magnafine filter and external cooler in a 2k accord, infamous for a glass tranny. Since I put it in a couple years ago, my tranny fluid is still very clean. I highly doubt it collects enough to be restrictive, particularly after reading what people said who've cut theirs open after 15k or 30k miles.

The ones that have gotten my attention at Amazon (maybe 2 out of ~5 available) indicate that they have bypass characteristics such that higher pressure will not restrict sufficient flow regardless of the restrictiveness of the filtering itself. Just how reliable that is, is of course pretty critical, and I wouldn't know.

A ~$20 filter seems to me to be cheap insurance when you consider the cost and hassle of fixing/replacing a transmission (assuming there's no real issue with potential flow restriction), plus I imagine that installing it is a lot easier than the installation I did last weekend of an external cooler (I made it a lot harder than it had to be, but I'm satisfied it's OK).

One thing that has me wondering is the optional size for different hose size. The hose I'd put it on is the one that came with the car, going from the radiator back to the transmission. I don't know the internal diameter of that hose. The filters indicate they are for 5/16 or 3/8 inches. The hose that came with my external cooler measures 11/32" which is in between. That fit on the connector from the radiator. I suppose I could go with the 5/16, and figure a clamp would prevent leaking if tightened sufficiently. 3/8" and I might not be able to get the hose on. I fought that battle last weekend and think I've had enough. I won the battle but it was tough. I'm not about to remove that hose and measure it right now, it would probably be a nasty affair.

 

[thescreensavers]

Is that some definite particles on the magnet and filter? 1k miles isn't much but if it didn't have a filter for years previously, that can be a very productive filtering time.

I didn't realize they can be disassembled so easy. I'm wondering if replacement filters are available for purchase as a stand alone item. Otherwise they're fairly expensive.

Once it's taken apart you can't reuse it. They do sell a model which you can replace the filter but it's more expensive.

What you see is that it picked up a good amount of ferrous material which it filtered out. I had no issues with my transmission with it installed