tranny flush

[macdole99]

hello guys i have a 2001 infiniti i30 im looking to flush my transmission out and add the amsoil atf fluid. question is at 153,000 miles should i do a flush ive heard different answers to this also was told using the the amsoil and the auto rx at that miles wasnt a good idea with the mileage have any suggestions? thanks

 

[Dick in Falls Church]

Has the transmission fluid every been changed?
If not, I'd get a case of non-synthetic fluid and make a number of drain/refills. My guess (and it is only that) is that you will get somewhere about 3-4 quarts with each drain (total system is 10 qts).
Drive on that for a while to make sure the transmission is good.
Then repeat with the AMSOIL ATF. This way you are starting out with clean fluid, which lets the synthetic last longer from the start.

If the fluid looks good (and appears to have been changed), go ahead with the AMSOIL, drain/refill equal amount, drive to mix, and repeat a couple more times.

 

[Donald]

You need to first determine what you think the insides of your transmission are. From history, from look & smell of current ATF or drop the pan. If your ATF looks like driveway sealer rather than ATF then you can assume there are deposits of sludge on the pan and magnets and the filter may not be in good shape. No real way of telling unless you know the history or drop the pan.

Any new fluid (cheap or synthetic) will tend to clean things up and I would prefer to wipe off sludge with a rag than have my new ATF slowly dissolve it. You want the magnets clear so they can so their job. And the filter should not be clogged.

Once you know all that, then a flush is fine. As the prior reply mentions, if the fluid was not in good shape, then some plain ATF in the transmission for a few weeks then flush with Amsoil (which is super stuff).

Also consider a Magnefine add on filter.

 

[unDummy]

At that mileage, a pan drop/cleaning.. filter change.... is a must. After buttoning it back up, refill and do your flush.

Investing in a Full Synthetic with that mileage isn't IMO the best financial choice. A good blend is what I would use. If the unit was rebuilt, then a Full Synthetic should be used.

A more sound investment in a 153k nonrebuilt transmission would simply be do to a pan drop cleaning, and a drain/refill every 6 months from that point forward. Investing in 20quarts of ATF in an unknown condition transmission for a good full flush could be an expensive gamble. That same 20quarts will last for 5 drain/refill which is over 2 years of real good maintenance program.

If you're incapable or do not want to drop the pan, installing a magnefine or permacool ATF filter should be considered.

 

[macdole99]

thanks guys for the replys. i actually just got the car. i contacted the previous owner and he told me he did a transmission flush from the nissan dealership in december of 2007 and was told they dont drop the pans because its not needed and would cause more problems than good.

 

[unDummy]

Thats a dealer I would avoid.

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: macdole99
... was told they dont drop the pans because its not needed and would cause more problems than good.


I half-agree with that statement from the dealer. IMO, if all you're doing is draining & re-filling with whatever ATF it came with, then dropping the pan isn't necessary. That's the part I agree with.

The dealer saying that dropping the pan would do more harm than good is a false statement. The ONLY way to clean the pan, and the magnet in the bottom of the pan, is to drop the pan. Dropping the pan, cleaning pan & magnet, will not cause any harm whatsoever to ANY transmission.