Tran fluid flush change
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
Automatic Tran fluid flush or drain?
My 98 has 34k on it , I have no history on the maintenance so I want to have the trans fluid replaced, the local chevy dealer said they hook up a machine to flush the old out and replace it but no filter change. Do any of you think this is a bad idea or should this just be a drain and fill compared to the flush they will do? I just don't want any problems, the trans is shifting fine currently. I just want fresh trans fluid in it.
Last edited by thunder1951; Sep 18, 2016 at 11:44 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 67
From: Redding ca.
I don't do the power flush.just have the pan dropped,change filter and fluid.good to go.just look for a reputable trans shop near you to do
It,it's a messy job let someone else have the fun and clean up,$75.00
It,it's a messy job let someone else have the fun and clean up,$75.00
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
i had an auto, swapped to manual. i meticulously maintain my vehicles, even in instances where the Audi says the transmission fluid is "good for life" type of rhetoric.
the general consensus is that power flushes arent necessary desirable because they can allegedly force debris into areas it otherwise wouldnt have made it on its own. ive personally never done that, but i have personally always changed auto fluid + filter every 35-50, and manual probably more often because i sodomize those cars on tracks, and in ~300,000 accumulative miles over the years, never had a transmission problem. take that for what it's worth.
beware that when you do the A4 fluid, you'll make a glorious mess. even the shop manual has a black/white drawing of them making a mess. its a "fill-til-spill" process.
the general consensus is that power flushes arent necessary desirable because they can allegedly force debris into areas it otherwise wouldnt have made it on its own. ive personally never done that, but i have personally always changed auto fluid + filter every 35-50, and manual probably more often because i sodomize those cars on tracks, and in ~300,000 accumulative miles over the years, never had a transmission problem. take that for what it's worth.
beware that when you do the A4 fluid, you'll make a glorious mess. even the shop manual has a black/white drawing of them making a mess. its a "fill-til-spill" process.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 85
Likes: 11
From: Boca Raton Florida
My drivetrain is out of the car so I changed the auto transmission fluid, filter, pan gasket, and bushing. Probably didn't need to change the filter bushing since it was nice and tight. Yes, a huge mess. I ran a pint of fluid through with the pan off just to clean out. I cleaned the pan and there was thick magnetized sludge around the magnet. I have to wonder if they do a "flush" does that sludge get stirred up.
Last edited by pgandy; Sep 18, 2016 at 07:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
Don't Do the Flush.. Especially if you don't know when filter was replaced last.
If you really want the flush, then do the pan/filter service first..
Then do the flush.. Otherwise you'll send all the crap the filter and pan have
built up back thru the trans
If you really want the flush, then do the pan/filter service first..
Then do the flush.. Otherwise you'll send all the crap the filter and pan have
built up back thru the trans
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
only way to do a flush properly is to pull a cooler line where it pumps out, put that in a bucket, drain the pan, pump in what you drained, start the car, pump a quart or two into the bucket, stop car, pump in what went in the bucket, repeat. this cycles new fluid through on a one way trip. ideally you pull the pan and clean or change the filter before you start this. you're also using the trans to pump fluid out, not a machine forcing it through
flush machines stir up all the tiny bits that can be trapped in a filter. most good auto trans shops recommend against these and i have never questioned that
flush machines stir up all the tiny bits that can be trapped in a filter. most good auto trans shops recommend against these and i have never questioned that
Last edited by racebum; Sep 20, 2016 at 04:29 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
My drivetrain is out of the car so I changed the auto transmission fluid, filter, pan gasket, and bushing. Probably didn't need to change the filter bushing since it was nice and tight. Yes, a huge mess. I ran a pint of fluid through with the pan off just to clean out. I cleaned the pan and there was thick magnetized sludge around the magnet. I have to wonder if they do a "flush" does that sludge get stirred up.