Transmission flush.........Good/Bad/indifferent??????

[redgtxdi]

Dealer wants $150 for a flush

Local BigO tire center wants $70

I could do it but hate the mess.

***OR***..........I could just drain & refill, but I know it's always a good idea to pull the pan, replace the screen filter, etc. etc.

What I'm wondering too is if, when they flush, the shine the pan/filter pull & just *ASSUME* that the "flush" will blow any junk out of the filter and off any of the magnet areas, then just refill with fluid & put the drain plug back in & send you on your way.

??????? Any opinions on it appreciated!!

 

[Ipno]

Don't go to the dealer unless you're talking about something that most mechanics don't work on all the time.

Take it to the shop.

Ask the shop what they are going to do.

 

[jaedaliu]

my understanding is that they flush by dropping the plan, replacing the filter/clean the magnets, replace the pan, and run the engine and shift back and forth constantly refilling and draining the transmission fluid from the return line until the new stuff starts coming out.

You should ask them what they do and spend an hour or 2 to watch them do it. Standing there watching may be a waste of time, but it sure beats getting grimy, and/or a blown transmission from a poor job.

Or you could find a mechanic that you trust to do the job well, and have them fix stuff when you don't have time, and it'd cost less than big O

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Dealer wants $150 for a flush

Local BigO tire center wants $70

I could do it but hate the mess.

***OR***..........I could just drain & refill, but I know it's always a good idea to pull the pan, replace the screen filter, etc. etc.

What I'm wondering too is if, when they flush, the shine the pan/filter pull & just *ASSUME* that the "flush" will blow any junk out of the filter and off any of the magnet areas, then just refill with fluid & put the drain plug back in & send you on your way.

??????? Any opinions on it appreciated!!

A recent post:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...hreadid=1583165&enterthread=y&arctab=y

a good post from that thread:

Never, ever flush a trans. There is no "safe" way to flush a trans unless you own the flush machine and control it yourself.

Flushing a trans has several pitfalls...

The most obviuos is that the last vehicle hooked up to that flushing machine probably was on it's last leg and was generating tons of debris. Most owners, when the trans starts to act up, rush to get a "flush" in the fervent hope that it will cure the problem. So....flush machines, by definition, see the worst of the worst. If the lines aren't cleaned, hooked up improperly, oil is reused or recycled, etc....then you are screwed as your trans gets the dose of debris from the last trans. No matter how good the intentions of the shop, one simple mistake and your trans gets the debris.

Flushing is supposed to negate the need for removing the pan, cleaning the debris and replacing the filter.....BS. There is considerable debris coating the inside of the trans pan with miles as anyone who has done this can attest. That is part of the maintenance, removing the pan, cleaning the screens and replacing the filter and cleaning the pan.

All that debris in the pan is laying around in areas where there is little oil flow by definition...it tends to settle in the areas where the oil is quiet and just lies there not hurting anything....until the "flush" stirs it up and circulates it thru the trans. What a concept....LOL

Reverse flush.....?????.....what logic makes anyone think that it is a good idea to reverse the oil flow path in a reverse flush and flush sediment and debris into areas that are normally protected by filters, etc...???? Stupid idea. Period. No other way to describe it.

"Transmission flush" machines are money makers for the shops and dealerships because they are quick and easy and they can actually charge more money for it under the guise of it being "better" for the trans....when it is really a detriment....suckers born every day......

Read the factory service manuals and point out the place where a transmission "flush" is recommended.

So what if all the oil cannot be removed. A "flush" doesn't remove it all either.


If you really really want to replace as much oil as possible in the trans, drain the pan, service it by removing/cleaning/changing the filter and reassemble. Refill the trans with fresh fluid. Disconnect one of the cooler lines at the radiator, put it into a bucket and start the engine. Let the trans oil pump purge the old oil into the bucket so that nothing is subjected to abnormal oil flow. Start pouring oil into the trans to keep it full while the idling engine/trans oil pump purges the fluid thru the system. Easy and quick and gets ALL the fluid out....and eliminates any risk of hooking up to a "flush machine".

Guys....FORGET THE IDEA OF FLUSHING YOUR TRANSMISSIONS. Normal trans maintenance is a good idea. Drop the bottom pan, change the filter and clean everything up and refill the trans with fresh fluid. Do the cooler line/bucket purge if you are really fastidious about changing all the fluid.....but....DO NOT hook your trans up to a flush machine.

Really now, would you get a blood transfusion from an unknown source that is reusing needles......about the same thing if you think about it. A flush will do absolutly nothing more than a good drain and refill will accomplish...and potentially a lot of harm. Do not take the risk. Just because some have had good experiences (or the lack of a bad experience) with a flush does NOT mean that they will always go good.

 

[redgtxdi]

Hmmmm...............very interesting read.

Wonder what mechanics who own a flush system would say in rebuttal?????????

 

[mchammer]

Sounds like good advice. You would have to be sure the flush machine was operated and maintained properly and they also dropped the pan and changed the filter, etc.

 

[Gravity]

My car had lifetime autotrans fluid in it. NEVER has to be changed. I scoffed at the notion! The car now has 150,000 miles on it and it still shifts like a dream.

Go figure.

 

[Mermaidman]

FWIW,

Oasis number 16717:

0717 - 2001-2003 ESCAPE - AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHUDDER

SOME 2001-2003 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT
AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHUDDER. THIS CONCERN MAYBE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION
CONTROL STRATEGY. DO NOT CHANGE TORQUE CONVERTER. TO SERVICE, DRAIN, FLUSH
AND REFILL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH MERCON XT-2-QDX. THEN, REPROGRAM THE
PCM WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATION AVAILABLE VIA FORDSTAR USING WDS RELEASE
B24.3 OR LATER. THE UPDATED FILE CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.WDSCENTRAL.COM
NOTE: THE SHUDDER WILL NOT COMPLETELY GO AWAY AFTER SERVICE UNTIL THE VEHICLE
HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES."

 

[jaedaliu]

Originally posted by: Gravity
My car had lifetime autotrans fluid in it. NEVER has to be changed. I scoffed at the notion! The car now has 150,000 miles on it and it still shifts like a dream.

Go figure.

what car? 150k is nothing for a modern car, come back at 300k and we'll talk =)

 

[redgtxdi]

Ya, some new vehicles don't even give you access to the trans anymore.

They just plain seal it up & it's good forever. (Forever?)

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
A recent post:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...hreadid=1583165&enterthread=y&arctab=y

a good post from that thread:

If you really really want to replace as much oil as possible in the trans, drain the pan, service it by removing/cleaning/changing the filter and reassemble. Refill the trans with fresh fluid. Disconnect one of the cooler lines at the radiator, put it into a bucket and start the engine. Let the trans oil pump purge the old oil into the bucket so that nothing is subjected to abnormal oil flow. Start pouring oil into the trans to keep it full while the idling engine/trans oil pump purges the fluid thru the system. Easy and quick and gets ALL the fluid out....and eliminates any risk of hooking up to a "flush machine".

Only thing I'd suggest as an amendment is that you will find it very difficult to pour as fast as the fluid pumps out, and swapping bottles just won't work. Instead, fill a clean container/bucket with as much tranny fluid as your tranny takes (and then some) and put the return line in it. And while the prev. post doesn't mention it, it is kinda important to figure out which is feed and which is return line before you do this