I do think some early pioneers like John Backus and Grace Hopper don't get enough recognition
Is 112k miles too high mileage for a Transmission service?
- Thread starter MrBaumTastic
- Start date
Best time to do trans fluid and filter, probably about 50k miles ago.
Second best time, now.
Second best time, now.
Once again, that trans doesn't have pan and filter isn't a serviceable item unless trans is split.
Unless something happens to the transmission using it, then all that attractive goes away real quick. There is no one size fits all trans fluid, period. When is says compatible that is just a sales pitch. Listen to Professor John Kelly on youtube about how they fudge the truth.
Yet Maxlife works great for many on here including myself. Hundreds of thousands of miles of use in multiple vehicles including my newer Tiguan. How can that be? It’s still attractive to myself and others, period.
And how is it that you know so much more than Valvoline? Have you contacted them about Mr. Kelly?
Yeah you're not wrong. I checked it though it's compatible. Thanks for your input
You didn't check it, unless you listened to that guy.
Here is the video, about the information on the labels.
Disclaimer to BITOG members: I'm not a certified auto mechanic. Please do not take this to anything more than entertaining and (hopefully) informative. This is not mechanic advice nor guidance on any service to the transmission.
So I went ahead and did the drain and fill. It was surprisingly easy and straightforward. I had a tutorial video to ensure I was doing everything correctly. To speed things up, because I hate typing on my phone, I'll walk through my steps real quick:
- I was going to do this on a cold transmission, but last minute run to AZ left it warm (but not HOT, yet)
- removed drain plug, allowed fluid to drain into pan. I got 3.5 qts out.
- Drain plug had a thick, sludge-like build up of goop with metal shavings (see pictures). Fluid was a dark, brownish red (I'll post a video of how it drained out).
- Drain plug was cleaned off with paper towels and brake cleaner. Removed as much of the sludge and shavings as possible.
- Next, While the transmission was still draining, I performed the oil change.
- I let the trans drain until drops were about 10 seconds in between. Id finished the oil change by this time. Reinstalled drain plug.
- Removed the fill port nut, stuck a long funnel (hypertough from Walmart) in the hole, and filled the transmission with 4qts of the Valvoline Extended Performance ATF. It got a little messy because even when going slow, it burbs quite easily.
- Fill port nut reinstalled.
- Car was started, and with the engine running, I cycled through the gears (PRND-DNRP). I stayed in each gear for about 5 seconds before shifting, from P to D and D to P was 1 cycle. I did this three times, for a total of about 2 minutes. Engine shut off.
- Checked fluid level through fluid level port. I drained excess fluid until a trickle started and popped it back in.
- went for a very easy, slow test drive of 2 miles through my neighborhood, never exceeded 2500 RPMs or 25mph under acceleration (coasting down one hill got me up to more than that).
- Overall, it seems slightly improved, but I'm still noticing all of the same symptoms, but they feel less frequent and abrupt.
- Honestly, not sure if I should proceed with another drain and fill or take it in.
What does BITOG think?
So I went ahead and did the drain and fill. It was surprisingly easy and straightforward. I had a tutorial video to ensure I was doing everything correctly. To speed things up, because I hate typing on my phone, I'll walk through my steps real quick:
- I was going to do this on a cold transmission, but last minute run to AZ left it warm (but not HOT, yet)
- removed drain plug, allowed fluid to drain into pan. I got 3.5 qts out.
- Drain plug had a thick, sludge-like build up of goop with metal shavings (see pictures). Fluid was a dark, brownish red (I'll post a video of how it drained out).
- Drain plug was cleaned off with paper towels and brake cleaner. Removed as much of the sludge and shavings as possible.
- Next, While the transmission was still draining, I performed the oil change.
- I let the trans drain until drops were about 10 seconds in between. Id finished the oil change by this time. Reinstalled drain plug.
- Removed the fill port nut, stuck a long funnel (hypertough from Walmart) in the hole, and filled the transmission with 4qts of the Valvoline Extended Performance ATF. It got a little messy because even when going slow, it burbs quite easily.
- Fill port nut reinstalled.
- Car was started, and with the engine running, I cycled through the gears (PRND-DNRP). I stayed in each gear for about 5 seconds before shifting, from P to D and D to P was 1 cycle. I did this three times, for a total of about 2 minutes. Engine shut off.
- Checked fluid level through fluid level port. I drained excess fluid until a trickle started and popped it back in.
- went for a very easy, slow test drive of 2 miles through my neighborhood, never exceeded 2500 RPMs or 25mph under acceleration (coasting down one hill got me up to more than that).
- Overall, it seems slightly improved, but I'm still noticing all of the same symptoms, but they feel less frequent and abrupt.
- Honestly, not sure if I should proceed with another drain and fill or take it in.
What does BITOG think?
Nevermind, apparently my 7 second video is too large to upload 
Try uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, or Rumble and post the link instead. That should work.Nevermind, apparently my 7 second video is too large to upload
If you want to try to imrove it further I would go with another drain and fill. You could see how dirty the second change is and whether it warrants a 3rd.
2 or 3 changes should give you close to the same fluid replacement that a flush would give.
Since you already started the DIY route it doesn't make sense to take it in. With dealers it's also a lottery which technician you get.
2 or 3 changes should give you close to the same fluid replacement that a flush would give.
Since you already started the DIY route it doesn't make sense to take it in. With dealers it's also a lottery which technician you get.
Understand there is really no "power flush". Better to call it a complete fluid exchange. Some places add a cleaner/solvent and run the vehicle for 20 to 30 minutes before doing a complete fluid exchange.
Whether the dealer uses his machine or you you do it yourself, the pump in the transmission does the pushing of fluid through the transmission. The only thing the machine does is to add new transmission fluid at the same rate old transmission fluid is being pushed out.
The alternative is to drain out what you can and add back that exact amount. But that does not do a complete fluid exchange. Just a partial.
If you want to get to close to 100% new ATF doing multiple drain & fill will get you close but use a lot more transmission fluid than doing a complete fluid exchange at once.
Whether the dealer uses his machine or you you do it yourself, the pump in the transmission does the pushing of fluid through the transmission. The only thing the machine does is to add new transmission fluid at the same rate old transmission fluid is being pushed out.
The alternative is to drain out what you can and add back that exact amount. But that does not do a complete fluid exchange. Just a partial.
If you want to get to close to 100% new ATF doing multiple drain & fill will get you close but use a lot more transmission fluid than doing a complete fluid exchange at once.
Something else the OP might try: Unhook both battery cables, connect them together (capacitors discharge?), and leave for about 20 to 30 minutes. On many cars, this resets the computers - i.e., the transmission adaptive learning computer will reset to default factory settings and it will relearn your driving style/new fluid characteristics over the next number of miles, maybe smoothing out the shifts. Maybe.
Did my second Drain and Fill today, about 3000 miles after the first. I drained out a little more this time using ramps, as seen in the first picture. The jug on the left was what I drained out today, probably 3.75 qts or more by my eye, compared to the 3.5 qts or less last time. (Jug on the right). I also noticed it was much less dark (video on that coming) and the plug had less crud on it.
The second picture shows the amount I drained out compared to an unopened gallon. The fluid used was again Valvoline Extended Protection ATF.
I will do a third drain and fill at my next oil change, in about 2000 miles.
The second picture shows the amount I drained out compared to an unopened gallon. The fluid used was again Valvoline Extended Protection ATF.
I will do a third drain and fill at my next oil change, in about 2000 miles.
Oh and before I forget, I did take it to a transmission shop a couple weeks ago, and the guy said he didn't notice anything peculiar with the sound or function of the transmission after 25 miles of driving. Cost me nothing so I'm not complaining. It seems I was not experiencing the problems I thought I was.
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Well you have fresh fluid in the trans now so good news all around!
Fluid that drained out
It was a little more brownish and more opaque than the fluid that drained out the first time. I'm not sure why it looked that way.
But when examined side by side in the jugs, the fluid from the first drain was definitely darker.
It will be interesting to see what the fluid looks like at the third drain interval.
When I get around to it, I was planning on buying some sample kits and having the fluid from each drain tested.
It was a little more brownish and more opaque than the fluid that drained out the first time. I'm not sure why it looked that way.
But when examined side by side in the jugs, the fluid from the first drain was definitely darker.
It will be interesting to see what the fluid looks like at the third drain interval.
When I get around to it, I was planning on buying some sample kits and having the fluid from each drain tested.
Do you use a flushing fluid when doing the service yourself?
I have flushed coolers out before, but not the tranny, too scared.
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