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Change auto tranny fluid or not?

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Offline keith

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Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« on: May 03, 2004, 02:17:22 AM »
My transmission works perfectly, but it's fluid is medium brown and smells.  2000 miles ago I changed the filter and added some Lucas transmission fix.  I put the old fluid back in then.  I have gotten advice to leave the old fluid in because some of the clutch material is probably in the fluid because of it being burned.  What are your thoughts on doing a complete fluid exchange on it?  Should I do it or leave everything alone?
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SpinalTap

Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2004, 03:03:15 AM »
Transmission fluid is cheap...transmissions are expensive...do the math  ;D
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Offline jerryp58

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2004, 03:44:02 AM »
FWIW, I changed my fluid and it almost cost me the transmission.

Shortly after dropping the pan, putting in a new filter, a drain plug, and 3 quarts of fluid (I believe the total capacity including the converter is 5 quarts), the trans developed a problem.

If the vehicle sat for more than a couple of hours without being started, it did not want to shift out of 1st gear.  After a couple of miles in first at high RPM, it would finally shift and then be fine until the next time.

I took it to a shop and they said it needed a rebuild (another shop wanted to try a trans flush first).  Well, I decided to use my new drain plug, and after draining 2 quarts, refilling, running through the gears for a while, and repeating 2 or 3 more times (I figure I got 90% or more of the old fluid out that way), it's back to normal (KNOCK WOOD!).

I know it's something that should be done, but if it wasn't done every 50k miles or so for the life of the vehicle, 150k miles (like mine) is probably not the time to start.

BTW, I've had the trans flush done on my newer cars without any problems.  The only thing I don't like about a trans flush is that they don't change the filter; don't ask me what the logic is there.
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Jerry
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Offline keith

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2004, 06:59:32 AM »
The reason I am aksing the question is that I have heard horror stories like Jerry has said.  On the other hand I want the tranny to last as long as possible!  I will probably take it in to Aamco to see what they think.
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Offline Ronzuki

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2004, 07:19:17 AM »
Take it to a garage that has one of the power flush systems.  It's a closed loop flush.  They pump in a cleaning and seal conditioning solution and circulate for a while.  Then they start pumping in fresh tranny fluid until the color of what goes in is the same as what comes out. As you may or may not know, |removethispart|@ 2/3 of the trans fluid remains in the torque converter during a normal drain. You just end up adding a small amount of new fluid to the mostly spent fluid.  

I have been doing this on our '94 3/4 ton suburban since |removethispart|@ 75,000 miles.  At that time shifting wasn't as crisp as it was new and the GM dealer said everything's fine (I regularly did the drain, clean screen and fill up to this point). When the dealer first got the equipment I had them do the flush treatment and voilla, shifting tight and crisp as new. I do the flush every other service interval. (it costs more because they use the solution and a lot more trans fluid). Truck now has |removethispart|@ 135,000 on it and still shifts like new!
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Offline Ronzuki

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2004, 07:23:16 AM »
Quote

BTW, I've had the trans flush done on my newer cars without any problems.  The only thing I don't like about a trans flush is that they don't change the filter; don't ask me what the logic is there.

Probably should have read all of this before I went on and on..

Anyway, to my knowlege, they never drop the pan when they do the flush. That's why I do the flush every other interval. The ones in between get the pan dropped and filter changed.
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'91, RRO Bolt-On SPO, 32" BFG Muds, 2" BS U.S. Wheels, Breeeze CO, Neon Seats, 5.8:1 T-Case, TT Mighty Kong Bucket, 1.5" RUF, 1.5" Rears, DT Shocks, RRO Sliders ,Rear DetroitEZ, OBA,Celica PS

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Offline lil_Truck

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2004, 12:49:48 PM »
They will change the filter.  It just cost more.

I've heard it both ways.  Don't do it.  Do it.....

I was pulling a trailer with my wifes s-10 blazer and when we got home I noticed the oil looked burnt (135,000 miles).

I took it in, had the filter changed and the trans flushed.

It lasted another 35,000 miles.  That was with a lot more of pulling a trailer, towing the Tracker and other stuff.

When the trans finily did go there was major metal in the pan.  So I did a lot more damage than changing fluid would do.

If it was mine I'd do it.
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2004, 04:51:18 PM »
My auto trans has leaked since it was new,
not a lot, just enough to need a quart every
month or so.

Well I have only pulled the pan on this trans
3 times, the first at 75,000 miles, then at ohh
175,000, and then again at about 245,000

I now have 265,000 miles on the original trans,
Ohh I also added a cooler after the turbo swap
and adding 33" Swampers while I still had the
stock diff gears, I think a trans cooler will help
lots.

I don't see how keeping the old fluid does any
good, old burned fluid needs help, the Lucas
will help for a while but I think brown smelly
fluid needs new stuff, if you want to do something
special, get the truck HD trans fluid, or B&M Trick Shift
or some other HD type Trans Fluid, and make sure
to use Dexron III fluid, not Type A.

I just use Chevron Dexron III that I buy at Costco
it's like $12-$13 a case and has worked fine, the only
thing other than changing the fluid was I added a bottle
of Slick50 Auto Trans Treatment at the first change when
I had 75,000 miles on the trans, I don't know if it made
the trans last longer, but I can't complain, it did solve a
funny shift problem that was like a neutral drop after
freeway cruising so you might try that too.

Wild
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Offline keith

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2004, 05:27:18 AM »
Today I took my Tracker to Aamco.  They drove it and said it shifted fine.  They agreed the fluid was a bit burnt and agreed to change the fluid.  I then told them that I put the Lucas transfix in it.  At that point the manager changed his mind and said that they wouln't change the fluid because they Lucas stuff was GOING to cause a problem before long.  He said that changing the fluid wouldn't hurt any and suggested I take it to Jiffy Lube.  Which I did.  They flushed it.  On the way back to work it drives the same as it always has.  I hope everything stays working correctly!
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Offline keith

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2004, 07:27:52 AM »
I have just found an interesting site about trans fluid changes.  http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000383#000000.  If it had read it before I changed the fluid I might not have changed it.  Jiffy Lube does not change the filter.  I hope I am okay since I changed it myself not too long ago.  I may drive it for a week or two and change the filter again.
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Offline DSHornet

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2004, 09:53:36 AM »
The Kia Sportage I bought to replace my late 'Kick conveniently has a drain plug on the tranny pan. Therefore, I plan to replace the 2.5 quarts that is in the pan at every other oil change, about 6K miles for the ATF, and drop the pan and replace the filter at about 100K miles. The car has 79K miles on it now, so that will probably be summer of next year.

I used some transmission "seal conditioner" in another car years ago to try to slow down a seal leak. After a very expensive transmission repair the stuff caused, I steer clear of putting anything in my transmissions except the recommended ATF.
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Offline THORSZUKI

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2004, 04:11:03 PM »
I went to get a estimate on a full tranny flush with gasket and filter change...not very cheap $160 canadian....
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2004, 04:28:39 PM »
A word of caution, stay away from Aamco,
I have heard more horror stories from people
about $1500-$2500 repairs that last for a year or
two then blow up again, my dad is one of them.

I just don't think they are as good as they would
like to think they are

Wild
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Offline DoRoN

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2004, 11:30:50 PM »
Quote
FWIW, I changed my fluid and it almost cost me the transmission.



Shortly after dropping the pan, putting in a new filter, a drain plug, and 3 quarts of fluid (I believe the total capacity including the converter is 5 quarts), the trans developed a problem.



If the vehicle sat for more than a couple of hours without being started, it did not want to shift out of 1st gear.  After a couple of miles in first at high RPM, it would finally shift and then be fine until the next time.



I took it to a shop and they said it needed a rebuild (another shop wanted to try a trans flush first).  Well, I decided to use my new drain plug, and after draining 2 quarts, refilling, running through the gears for a while, and repeating 2 or 3 more times (I figure I got 90% or more of the old fluid out that way), it's back to normal (KNOCK WOOD!).





Well, I had the same problem exactly as you describe it.

10K miles ago I've replaced the filter and add new fluid. I've also put in a JB's gear fluid cleaning additive.



After the change everything was OK, but 2K miles later, the gear started to 'slip', and now it began to get stuck in 1st like before.



- Is it possible that the cleaning additive did a good   job, and the filter is clogged again?



- Jerry, did you replaced the filter after the draining cycle? And how much driving did you do between cycles?







DoRoN  ???



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Offline twopeanuts

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Re: Change auto tranny fluid or not?
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2005, 10:17:13 AM »
An update on my auto transmission shifting problem:

When I bought it (91 kick w/ 130k auto), I would have to drive about 10 minutes before it would shift out of first - then it would be fine the rest of the drive.  If I stopped and it cooled off any, it would have to go about 10 minutes to warm backup again.

After I reworked the valve body and put it all back together, including new filter/fluid, and replaced the vacuume modulator, it had the same problem.  Only it didn't take as long to warm up - maybe 5 minutes or so of driving with it in first and it would then shift fine the rest of the day.  I think the fluid change is what made the difference.

This weekend I took it to Jiffy Lube and paid $86 bucks for a flush.  They tried to talk me out of it, saying the hoses were to old and might crack, etc...  I said if the end cracks, cut a little off, or I'll go buy new hoses and come back.  So they finally agreed to do the flush - hooked it up to this machine that said Mega Flush.  They cranked the engine to leave it running to cycle the fluid.  They said there was 14 quarts of new fluid loaded in the machine, and that it would cycle that in and through - they let it run maybe 10 minutes and unhooked it.  If I understand right, that means some of the old fluid still has to be in there as it mixed during the flushing cycle with the new fluid in the machine. 

As I drove off - it slipped right away - but after a few seconds it caught and shifted fine the rest of the day.

The real test was this morning, after it had been sitting all night.   Jumped in for a drive, didn't expect it to have worked - but after 30 seconds of driving, less than 1/2 mile, it started shifting fine.  I am very happy.

So I think the flush got a lot of the old fluid out - cutting the problem down to almost nothing.  I'm going to change the filter and fluid again next weekend and see if that will completely fix it.
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