Trans Flushes
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
Trans Flushes
What's your opinion on transmission flushes on automatics?
Not necessarily the c6, but on auto cars in general.
I know some people think they are not necessary.
yes?
no?
how many miles?
Not necessarily the c6, but on auto cars in general.
I know some people think they are not necessary.
yes?
no?
how many miles?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I guess it depends on who you believe. I'm on the fence about them.
I've had the regular drain and fill on another car (and had it done every 30K miles up until I sold the car with 176K on it). And while it supposedly doesn't "flush" all the old fluid out, I'm not sure that's a requirement or even needed.
I would say, at the very least, have a drain and fill on a regular basis. I have no idea what it costs to repair these trans, but it isn't cheap. My friend yesterday got a quote from an indy shop on a Pontiac 4 speed auto rebuild; $2600.
I've had the regular drain and fill on another car (and had it done every 30K miles up until I sold the car with 176K on it). And while it supposedly doesn't "flush" all the old fluid out, I'm not sure that's a requirement or even needed.
I would say, at the very least, have a drain and fill on a regular basis. I have no idea what it costs to repair these trans, but it isn't cheap. My friend yesterday got a quote from an indy shop on a Pontiac 4 speed auto rebuild; $2600.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
Those flushing machines at dealers are good for one thing. Flushing money out of your wallet.
Folllow the owner's manual recommendations, on Vettes it's 100,000 miles for normal use or 50,000 miles for severe use. Those are the intervals for changing the trans fluid.
Pickups that tow are much harder on the trans fluid. I changed my truck at 40K and it was starting to get pretty dark from a lot of towing.
Car trans fluid generally stays bright red for much longer.
My trucks I've always just changed the fluid myself. I just do it twice in a row to try to get most of the fluid out. I've found doing it twice leaves it with bright red new fluid. I don't trust those flushing machines, I seen tons of problems caused by them. I've known many people whose trans was working just fine until they got it flushed, then it shot craps. I don't know if they stir up debris, or the machines themselves get debris build up that craps back into your trans.
Same thing with the engine oil flushing machines. Perfect for flushing your wallet, that's it. Anyone that tries to sell you an engine oil flushing is basically attempting to rob you.
Folllow the owner's manual recommendations, on Vettes it's 100,000 miles for normal use or 50,000 miles for severe use. Those are the intervals for changing the trans fluid.
Pickups that tow are much harder on the trans fluid. I changed my truck at 40K and it was starting to get pretty dark from a lot of towing.
Car trans fluid generally stays bright red for much longer.
My trucks I've always just changed the fluid myself. I just do it twice in a row to try to get most of the fluid out. I've found doing it twice leaves it with bright red new fluid. I don't trust those flushing machines, I seen tons of problems caused by them. I've known many people whose trans was working just fine until they got it flushed, then it shot craps. I don't know if they stir up debris, or the machines themselves get debris build up that craps back into your trans.
Same thing with the engine oil flushing machines. Perfect for flushing your wallet, that's it. Anyone that tries to sell you an engine oil flushing is basically attempting to rob you.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
Well, ive got a mechanic that i've gone to a few times for my nissan altima and he suggests flushing the trans every 30k or so.. Ive never done it and I have 80k miles now so I told him to go ahead and do it...
How can it cause problems?
How can it cause problems?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
It's not a matter of causing problems... is it necessary is the real question. I for one would rather do a normal fluid change which done at normal intervals would be more than sufficient.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,300
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio Texas
I manually change my fluid every 25k. If I am really ****, I will drop pain again in about a week and repeat the process. That way, I get about a 70% change. Mathematician can calculate the exact %age.
Done this for years and years. In older cars, it might have been a necessity. With newer cars, who knows??
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 14
From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
I prefer the new flush method. The machine uses the pump from the trans to circulate the fluid. It hooks inline with the trans cooler lines. The machine has two separate tanks for the new fluid and the old.
I always recommended a trans service whether it's by flushing or dropping the pan at 20 - 25K miles. After about 50K if the trans has never been serviced I highly recommend not doing it, not good for the clutches.
The problem with dropping the pan on many newer cars today is that there is no fill tube as in the past.
GM's recommendation to service the trans at 100k miles is going to bite them in the *** with their new warranty. I see alot of trans overhauls and valvebody replacements with less than 5 years service and 50K miles.
I also highly recommend when servicing the trans to add a bottle of RED LubeGard
http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/index.html
I always recommended a trans service whether it's by flushing or dropping the pan at 20 - 25K miles. After about 50K if the trans has never been serviced I highly recommend not doing it, not good for the clutches.
The problem with dropping the pan on many newer cars today is that there is no fill tube as in the past.
GM's recommendation to service the trans at 100k miles is going to bite them in the *** with their new warranty. I see alot of trans overhauls and valvebody replacements with less than 5 years service and 50K miles.
I also highly recommend when servicing the trans to add a bottle of RED LubeGard
http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/index.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 14
From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
Same clutches, steels and seals. The reason the OEM's went to synthetic fluid was because of the contacts in the electronic valve body. And they still have problems.
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