Talking about an auto trans flush, agree/digress?

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Hi there. I have gotten into the habit of a normal "drain and fill," as standard procedure with any new-to-me car. Now, I see this video from BG Garage, about why you have to "flush to keep it so" when you "start and go." Do we agree with what the video says? Let's discuss, and automatic transmission drain and fills vs flushes. Thanks!
 
I know that some people are passionate about flushes - but I have always done drain and fills. I like to change the filter periodically, and see how much crud is in the pan. admittedly, sometimes I do just suck it out the tube and refill - if I am in a hurry.
 
I think he is correct. Somewhat of a controversial subject in the automotive world, but many new car dealerships are doing it this way, not that that makes it right. I've been doing it on my own vehicles for a number of years now with good results. To drain 4 quarts or so and then refill x 3-4 times seems very time consuming.
 
He (Goss) says that wear material from the torque converter can go thru the transmission to plug it up.

- Does the fluid from the torque converter go first into the cooler, then sump, and then thru the filter? (I don't know).


One has to also wonder if, or how much sponsorship he receives from BG company, as the product label is VERY evident in this video.
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
One has to also wonder if, or how much sponsorship he receives from BG company, as the product label is VERY evident in this video.

+1
 
Yeah... don't get me started on this. The local MB service departments do a half [censored] job with the whole trans service offering for which they charge $350. They drop the pan, which removes only half of all the fluid. They don't drain the torque converter area which holds the remaining half.
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On their cars, Honda says NEVER to use flushes that involve a cleaning agent. The only kind of "flush" that Honda approves is one that simply replaces the old ATF with the new ATF.

The method of fluid-replacement is up to the garage, so long as fluids other than ATF are NOT used.
 
Dumb question: Can the car be started with the pan off (trans fluid shower anyways, if no drain plug) to get the rest of the fluid out/off?

Also.. Radiator cooler line method, car runs until sputters.. ?
 
since i'm a broke student and i can't afford 9 quarts of oil... i'll stick with drain & fill 4 quarts (do it myself). Even if it is not as good as flush.
 
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Pass on Goss's opinion. Either a passive atf exchange/replacement as shown in the youtube below, or d&f's on a regular schedule. But no active "flushes" with added chemicals. JMO Also wondering what BG's influence is here.
 
Pat Goss clinging to a bygone era is nothing new. 2 things have changed over the last decade. Just like modern engines today's transmissions are better built and last longer. Many models today use fine screens over a filter which don't require constant replacement every 30k. The other is the transmission fluids. Just like motor oil they are much better, last much loner. This combination means less of a necessity for flushes over a drain IMO.

I've been performing nothing but drain and fills every year/25k in the Camry I'm considering extending because its coming out perfectly clean. After 3-4 drain and fills the fluid is always "pretty good". "Pretty good" is approx 15-20k after an expensive flush. 30-40k after a flush all the fluid is on its way out and needs another expensive flush. Not my drain and fill fluid, its always "pretty good". At 300k I may open it up and replace the filter/screen for the first time. Will take some pics.

Yeah I know, clean looking rosy red T-IV transmission fluid means nothing without a UOA. But the miles don't lie. If there was a problem I'd feel something, there would be something to indicate an issue. Nothing, nothing at all.
 
In my humble opinion, a flush is really only needed if the transmission fluid is contaminated or oxidised. If the transmission has been properly serviced from the get-go, a drain & fill every 15 to 30,000 miles will keep the trans as healthy as it's ever going to be.
 
as always each has his idea, thats fine. BUT NO one said anything about adding an external oil filter. as you know iam big on that. just MY idea.
 
While many people here say "flush," many shops actually do an exchange. Exchanges involve disconnecting the transmission line and hooking it to a machine that collects the old fluid and allows the transmission to draw in new fluid.

Flushes that involve pumping cleaners through the transmission probably aren't a good idea, if you can find a shop that even does it.

I don't see how exchanges will hurt a transmission. It's just a more effective pan drop, minus the filter change. But, many transmissions now don't even have a "filter," per se, but more of a screen that doesn't need changing.
 
I used to do fluid exchanges on my automatics. Now I have gone to a schedule of drain and fills with a new filter and pan cleaning. I do it every 30k and the fluid looks new all the time. I would never do a flush using cleaning agents ever.
What I have done one time in the past was a filter change and a fluid exchange at the same time. It was on a vehicle that wasn't going to be serviced for quite some time and I knew it. I put 80k miles on it before it saw another trans service. Fluid still looked new when I got around to changing it.
 
I really need to proof-read my own posts. I should have said "fluid exchange" instead of "flush".

Maybe the mods can make "flush" a bad word and censor it, like "sauerkraut"...
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I've been doing the fluid exchange method as show in the video every 50K on my Toyota T100. Since there's no filter, just a screen inside the transmission, I've never had the pan off. It really is as easy as it's shown.

My original Toyota automatic is now closing in in 450,000 miles by the way.
 
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