Opinion - Transmission Flush

[jediwebmstr]

Any opinions/advice/experiences are greatly appreciated.

I have a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3.7, with 61,000 miles, light useage, and mostly highway miles. Any opinions or information regarding just getting a transmission flush/exchange vs. dropping the pan and getting the filter changed also.......

Would I be alright for now just getting the flush or is it harmful/a waste of money?........ Does the filter absolutely need to be changed at this mileage?

Thanks in advance.........

 

[wallyuwl]

With that number of miles I'd get the flush. Your filter should be fine until your next flush. Just make sure wherever you go for the exchange (unless you have the equipment to do it yourself) used the right fluid and not some bulk fluid that doesn't meet the specs for your vehicle (if it is a bulk fluid that does meet the specs then that's fine). Transmission flushes I always get done at the dealer for this reason.

 

[dwendt44]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Check to see if you even have a filter. Many vehicles only have strainer/screen set up.
In any case, the early life of a auto transmission results in the most fines in the pan.
I'd do the pan/filter first; next time the flush.
And yes, a dealer will actually flush the trans., some iffy shops will cheat and drain some fluid at the radiator/cooler and add fresh.

 

[steve20]

Do yourself a favor and research the failues after a flush by machine.
Next, go to AAP and buy the x number of quarts and filter you need, and use a torque wrench on the bolts when reinstalling


Steve

 

[exranger06]

It is simply impossible for a flush to screw up a transmission. If you want to flush it, go ahead and do it. Don't let anyone try and tell you your trans will die afterward. (Unless they use the wrong fluid

)

 

[CourierDriver]

I checked with 6 transmission shops, it was 3 to 3 on pan drop or flush, so im going to do the pan drop, a flush can flush the junk thats in the transmission thru the transmission and how do u know all the junk is out. So a flush gets out whats in the pan, add the new filter and ur good to go. The flush has more failure stories then the pan drop I think, have talked to guys at Napa too,,they said no flush,,,PS when u get ur transmission fluid done, be sure to as them to put in LUBEGARD Transmission ADDITIVE, its the only one recognized by all manufactures of transmissions,,go to their web site and check it out............

 

[onion]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
It is simply impossible for a flush to screw up a transmission. If you want to flush it, go ahead and do it. Don't let anyone try and tell you your trans will die afterward. (Unless they use the wrong fluid

)


You've clearly never worked with mechanics. 'We' ain't rocket scientists and we CAN screw up your transmission.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: onion
Originally Posted By: exranger06
It is simply impossible for a flush to screw up a transmission. If you want to flush it, go ahead and do it. Don't let anyone try and tell you your trans will die afterward. (Unless they use the wrong fluid

)


You've clearly never worked with mechanics. 'We' ain't rocket scientists and we CAN screw up your transmission.

Let me rephrase that...A properly performed trans flush cannot screw up your trans.

 

[onion]

That's a mighty big qualifier. And that's the crux of this whole discussion. Some say that trans flushes are ROUTINELY screwed up. I wouldn't know... they generally aren't done in the heavy equipment industry. But I have such faith in my coworkers that I can state unequivocally that IF we did transmission flushes, we WOULD screw up some significant percentage of them.

So the question becomes: which procedure is more idiot-proof? A pan drop or a flush?

 

[mopar_monkey]

my take is if you have flushed on a regular basis since the trans had low miles on it then flushing is the was to go, it will keep your trans very clean, on the other hand if it has high miles and wasn't receiving regular flushes then do only the drain and fill. the problem comes in when it has been neglected and a ton of junk has built up, them you flush it, dislodging all of that junk and reeking havoc inside your trans.

 

[gomes512]

I wouldn't worry about the flush, I've dropped the pan on a non-towing 3.7 Grand before with 75K.

That factory ATF+4 was still clear and red.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
my take is if you have flushed on a regular basis since the trans had low miles on it then flushing is the was to go, it will keep your trans very clean, on the other hand if it has high miles and wasn't receiving regular flushes then do only the drain and fill. the problem comes in when it has been neglected and a ton of junk has built up, them you flush it, dislodging all of that junk and reeking havoc inside your trans.


This is exactly why I made my previous post: To dispell this myth. A flush does NOT dislodge any gunk at all. In fact, it's not really a flush at all. The "correct" term is fluid exchange. When people hear "flush," they think of a radiator flush, where you use a garden hose to blast dirt and junk out of your radiator. This does NOT happen with a trans flush. With a trans flush, all they do is hook the machine up to the cooler lines. Then they start the engine, and the trans uses it's own pump to pump the old fluid out (Just like it ALWAYS does when you're driving down the road.) As far as the trans is concerned, it's no different than idling at a stop light.

The only thing the machine does is make sure new fluid gets pumped in at the same rate it's coming out. It's a fluid exchange, not a "flush."

I had my Explorer's trans flushed at around 131k. The only service it had prior to that was a pan drop/refill at around 65k. About 10k miles later (around 141k miles), I dropped the pan, only to find a nice thick layer of sludge on the pan that the flush apparently did not dislodge.

I'll say this again: It is IMPOSSIBLE to screw up your trans from a properly performed trans flush.

 

[mechanicx]

I think a definition of terms is needed. A flush with chemicals and a machine under presure should never be done. But a cooler line flush or fluid exchange with something like a T-tech using only ATF is a good way to get a near full fluid change. If you have a filter in the pan, I would drop the pan, clean it and change the filter before doing a fluid exchange. If it was a choice between one or the other, I would want to do the pan drop if you have a filter.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
my take is if you have flushed on a regular basis since the trans had low miles on it then flushing is the was to go, it will keep your trans very clean, on the other hand if it has high miles and wasn't receiving regular flushes then do only the drain and fill. the problem comes in when it has been neglected and a ton of junk has built up, them you flush it, dislodging all of that junk and reeking havoc inside your trans.


This is exactly why I made my previous post: To dispell this myth. A flush does NOT dislodge any gunk at all. In fact, it's not really a flush at all. The "correct" term is fluid exchange. When people hear "flush," they think of a radiator flush, where you use a garden hose to blast dirt and junk out of your radiator. This does NOT happen with a trans flush. With a trans flush, all they do is hook the machine up to the cooler lines. Then they start the engine, and the trans uses it's own pump to pump the old fluid out (Just like it ALWAYS does when you're driving down the road.) As far as the trans is concerned, it's no different than idling at a stop light.

The only thing the machine does is make sure new fluid gets pumped in at the same rate it's coming out. It's a fluid exchange, not a "flush."

I had my Explorer's trans flushed at around 131k. The only service it had prior to that was a pan drop/refill at around 65k. About 10k miles later (around 141k miles), I dropped the pan, only to find a nice thick layer of sludge on the pan that the flush apparently did not dislodge.

I'll say this again: It is IMPOSSIBLE to screw up your trans from a properly performed trans flush.


you are wrong, many flush machine are a reverse flow meaning the push the fluid the wrong direction, this causes what ever junk is in there to lift and come off, i know this because my shop has a reverse flow and a fluid exchange machine, the whole point of a reverse flow machine is to do exactly what you say it won't!if you listen to them in operation you'll know the differance, the exchange machine is silent, like you said the trans it's self provides the pressure/flow, a flush machine has an electric pump in it to push fluid against the transmissions normal flow resulting an a audible electric motor/pump sound.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
you are wrong, many flush machine are a reverse flow meaning the push the fluid the wrong direction, this causes what ever junk is in there to lift and come off, i know this because my shop has a reverse flow and a fluid exchange machine, the whole point of a reverse flow machine is to do exactly what you say it won't!if you listen to them in operation you'll know the differance, the exchange machine is silent, like you said the trans it's self provides the pressure/flow, a flush machine has an electric pump in it to push fluid against the transmissions normal flow resulting an a audible electric motor/pump sound.


Which machine are you talking about? The Wynn's one?

Those have a small pump to help improve fluid flow. They pump in the same direction as the transmission fluid flow.

 

[MrCritical]

Preferably, I'd do both. If I was only doing one, I'd change the fluid and filter.

 

[VNTS]

Since you have the Dumbler Benzover NAG transmission in the Jeep with the 3.7, be aware there is no provision for you to know how full it is after you drop the pan, so good luck refilling it and getting the level correct.

So should you do it yourself you should take this into account.
THe dealer uses the scan tool to measure fluid temp and has a special stick. You dont have a dipstick nor a tube as I recall looking at my neighbors 06 WK with the 3.7

 

[steve20]

I keep the Accord trans happy with a once/year (30 K miles) drain. Luckily Honda has a drain plug-3 quarts out 3 quarts (Honda fluid) in-every time. There is an inline magnetic filter I've got to get around to one of these (cooler) days.
135K on the car with no issues
Trans fluid flushers can be evil machines...............


Steve

 

[Kestas]

The special dipstick can be fashioned DIY from an old garage door wire cable. The dipstick measures by reading the fluid level from the pan bottom. So the dipstick must be made long enough to bottom out on the pan.

Measurement must be done with engine idling and fluid temp at 80°C (less than full hot).

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
you are wrong, many flush machine are a reverse flow meaning the push the fluid the wrong direction, this causes what ever junk is in there to lift and come off, i know this because my shop has a reverse flow and a fluid exchange machine, the whole point of a reverse flow machine is to do exactly what you say it won't!if you listen to them in operation you'll know the differance, the exchange machine is silent, like you said the trans it's self provides the pressure/flow, a flush machine has an electric pump in it to push fluid against the transmissions normal flow resulting an a audible electric motor/pump sound.


Which machine are you talking about? The Wynn's one?

Those have a small pump to help improve fluid flow. They pump in the same direction as the transmission fluid flow.


no it's a no name machine but it does do a reverse flow,the pump will come on for a few seconds to reverse flow, then stop and switch it's self to the collection tank and let the trans pump the fluid in to the used fluid tank. unlike the wynn's machine (i personally own 2 of them) in which the pump runs continuously to (like you said) aid the normal trans flow. reading the manual on it,it claims that it is made solely for cleaning out neglected transmissions and transmissions that have been over heated, the claim is as the sediment builds up it lays in one direction due to fluid flow, by reversing that flow it lifts the sediment and carries it back to the machine, after this flush it is recommended to change the filter. i have seen a ton of quick lube places using this machine around here, they use and take a sample of old fluid out to show the customer how much stuff was in there, to build value in the service, but it's not very good on the trans, we never use that machine unless we are replacing a trans, then we use it on the old transmission just to clean out the cooler and lines.