Tranny Flush

[Phishin]

Valvoline Instant Oil Change performs transmission flushes where they stick a hose into the filler neck and suck out all the fluid gently, according to them.

Then refill transmission. Supposedly a near 100% swap.

Is it a real nearly 100% swap? Is this type of service safe or recommended by fellow BITOG'ers??

 

[spasm3]

Does'nt the filler tube go to the trans pan? That means its only about 50-60% of most transmissions. If they dont drop the pan, how do they change the filter?

 

[Phishin]

They don't drop the pan. I know a lot of people who think changing the filter isn't necessary every 30k miles.

They run the transmission through the gears while they are pumping out the fluid...claiming it helps to cycle all the fluid out.

I have no idea what they are doing....thats why I'm asking.

 

[Donald]

You can look on the Amsoil website for transmission capacity for total and pan (per vehicle). Usually the pan is 1/3 to 1/2. Most of the time less than 1/2.

Valvoline is doing it the way they used to do it before flush machines. But on average I would say it gets only 1/3.

I use a MityVac to do the same thing as step #1 of a cooler line flush. Then I run the engine and push out 2 QTs at a time. My internal filter is in good shape and I have a Magnefine inline filter so no need for me to drop the pan.

If Valvoline charges any more than the cost of the ATF I would pass. Its fine for a "refresh" but its not a fluid replacement/exchange.

 

[Phishin]

This is a quote from the VIOC website concerning their transmission service:
"Your Valvoline Instant Oil Change technician will exchange the transmission fluid including the fluid in the torque converter, with the proper Valvoline Automatic Transmission Fluid."

And then on the another page on the VIOC website, I found this:
"Stop by a Valvoline Instant Oil Change center and we’ll perform a complete transmission fluid exchange."

Sounds like to me, this really is a complete fluid exchange. But can they really do it through the fill tube? I never seen 'em disconnect any line from my Nissan to do a flush. I wanna take my truck there, but I'm not sure.

Anyone really know?

 

[Pajero]

I took my SUV to Valvoline for a flush and they connected to the transmission cooler lines. That was a year ago

 

[KB2008X]

The fact that you don't know what they are doing should be a red flag.

I wouldn't let any instant oil change place wipe my...ash tray.

Be smart and don't go back, to any of them.

Keith

 

[HTSS_TR]

I use Mityvac to siphon ATF from the filler tube, while the Mityvac is sucking out the old fluid I shift the transmission through the gears while the engine is NOT running.

Doing the gear shifting I could get slightly more than 1/2 the capacity out, 4.6-4.7 qts out of 8 qts for the E430 and about 1/2 for the LS400.

I do the fluid exchange 3 times in 3 weekends, and repeat every 50-60k miles or 5 years.

I think my Mityvac paid for itself long time ago. I used it to change oil in the E430 more than 8 times now, each time I saved about $50-100 compares with what MB dealer charges.

 

[bourne]

They use a cooler line flush method mostly. At Goodyear (they both have similar suppliers) we have a machine which lets the pump pull fresh fluid in while it measures how much of the old fluid is coming out and makes sure it does not overfill, i.e. what amount goes out, same is put back in. Takes us roughly 12 qts to do a proper flush, but it results in over 95% fresh fluid every time.

The machine does NOT force the fluid in.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: KB2008X


I wouldn't let any instant oil change place wipe my...ash tray.

Be smart and don't go back, to any of them.

+1