Trans Fluid Change Myth/No Myth???

[SuperDave456]

Did my first transmission service on my 2002 Ford Taurus near 102,000 miles.
Did another around 150,000 miles and added Lubegard Red. Installed a magnefine around 165,000 miles.

Had my wife's Xterra serviced at 60,000 miles. The transmisson shop that I use told me to have her transmission fluid changed out every 25,000-30,000 miles as the fluid in there was looking rough. Right now I am planning on doing it when it hits 80,000 miles.

The truck, 98 Ford F-150, I received as a house warming gift from my Father In Law had 102,000 miles on it. Yet only 50,000 miles on the engine. I did a Transmission service on it and added a in-line spin on filter. It now has 107,000 on it and is smooth as butter.

Finally I did my Sister's Taurus. It has about 120,000 miles on it. I would have done it earlier, but I have to wait for the car to blow up and stop running, or her go out of town before I can ever see the thing.

I have put a bottle of Lubegard Red in everything, and except for the Xterra everything has a large portion of Maxlife in it. (My sister's Taurus is the only one running 100% Maxlife)
I started doing everything with Mobil 1, but as I got going the shops around me had a spotty record of keeping it in stock. (Life is interesting when you cant find the 4 extra quarts you need to finish filling your 12 quart sump.)
And also Maxlife seems to work just as well, also a synthetic fluid, and is a bit cheaper.

All the vehicles work peachy keen to this day. However, none of them had issues before I started. If you have an issue with your transmission, leave it.
If not you will extend the life of your equipment with new fluid.

 

[CBR.worm]

A few years ago my wife had an '00 Maxima SE. Not knowing any of the 'tales' I took it to Mobil Lube Xpress at just over 100K miles to have the fluid flushed and replaced with Mobil Synthetic ATF. about a month after having it done, I found this site and the tales of horror that go along with flushes and also putting non-oem fluid in nissan transmissions. We drove it about another 80K before selling it to a family member with no transmission problems other than a bad 'rev sensor' that I was able to replace externally. So in at least one more case we changed (flushed) the ATF around the 100K mark with no issue.

YMMV

 

[TenSilver]

Originally Posted By: ramechanic4
I'm a mechanic, and I have seen a couple transmissions that never moved again after the fluid was changed, and this is the basis for the horror stories you are hearing. However, these instances are few and far between and virtually never happen with a transmission that wasn't acting up in some way before hand. However I must warn... DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER HAVE IT FLUSHED!!! The transmission shop we use to rebuild the few we have done says he LOVES transmission flushes, cause after people have them flushed, they bring them to him to have them rebuilt!!!
Interesting reading! Can you or someone explain why to never have a trans flushed please?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: TenSilver
Originally Posted By: ramechanic4
I'm a mechanic, and I have seen a couple transmissions that never moved again after the fluid was changed, and this is the basis for the horror stories you are hearing. However, these instances are few and far between and virtually never happen with a transmission that wasn't acting up in some way before hand. However I must warn... DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER HAVE IT FLUSHED!!! The transmission shop we use to rebuild the few we have done says he LOVES transmission flushes, cause after people have them flushed, they bring them to him to have them rebuilt!!!
Interesting reading! Can you or someone explain why to never have a trans flushed please?



The real name for the machine is automatic fluid replacement machine. But the shops might only be able to charge $50 for that. When then call it a "flush machine" they can charge $150. The purpose of the machine is to free up the mechanic to do other things for 20 minutes, yet still charge $150 for its use.

 

[MaximaGuy]

I would suggest starting with drains/fills. That is the starting point to longer transmission life -- flushes are unnecessary if one does regular drain/fills. In ur case a regular drain/fill will not overwhelm the transmission.

Go give it a new soup w/ no concerns. 2006 is a like a new vehicle, they are built quite strong to take a drain/fill.

 

[RichardSenn]

Alright, thanks for the input guys. I think I'll start by dropping the pan changing the filter and then topping it off. I'll order my filter tonight on rockauto.com.

I was thinking of picking up this mityvac pump at Harbor freight to take a couple courts out of the pan through the dipstick before dropping the pan. Think this will work or are there better alternatives?
http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-vacuum-pump-39522.html

Any suggestions on what brand Dex VI to use? Walmart has the Super Tech, I could get Mobil Dex VI, Valvoline, or should I stick to the dealer and get the GM stuff?

 

[RichardSenn]

Originally Posted By: NYSteve
Originally Posted By: RichardSenn
It's been topped off before but never changed. So now I'm torn on what do.


What does this mean? Is it leaking?


Had to change one of the trans cooler lines.

 

[TenSilver]

RichardSenn,
Sorry to sort of hijack your thread above. Your post answered some of the same questions which I had.

I still have another question or two if ok to ask them in your thread.

 

[RichardSenn]

Originally Posted By: TenSilver
RichardSenn,
Sorry to sort of hijack your thread above. Your post answered some of the same questions which I had.

I still have another question or two if ok to ask them in your thread.



Go for it, ask all you want.

 

[TenSilver]

Thanks RichardSenn!

Would making the pan drop, filter change, 4~5 quarts fluid replacement eliminate the need to do a full flush later on if the intervals were around every 20,000 to 30,000 miles?

 

[Ramblin Fever]

I do drain/refills every 15k miles to purposely avoid flushes...atf stays super clean, I usually get around 4qts or so, on each refill.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

The risk that people worry about is the detergents of the new fluid release some crud which then moves somewhere else and starts causing problem. Alot depends on how hard the car was driven I suppose.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: TenSilver
Would making the pan drop, filter change, 4~5 quarts fluid replacement eliminate the need to do a full flush later on if the intervals were around every 20,000 to 30,000 miles?
I'm not trying to answer on behalf of RichardSenn, but basically, yes.

IF a transmission/transaxle is serviced at regular intervals FROM NEW, there should never be the need for a flush (or fluid exchange) unless the fluid became contaminated somehow...like by being underwater. My DD Marauder has over 150,000 miles. The transmission has been serviced with a drain & fill approx every 30,000 miles since new and the fluid still comes out as pink and clear as the fresh fluid going in.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

My experience is that by changing the filter and replacing the lost fluid at the MFG recommended interval (30K for conventional, 50K for Syn) I've never had Auto trans issues whatsoever.

Recently, we got my wife a Ford Escape that has a non user-replacable filter.. so the guys on the escape owner board suggest a 20K mile partial exchange on that.

 

[TenSilver]

Good answers from all!
My vehicle is a new 2010 Ford Ranger and the scheduled maintenance guide calls for the atf/filter change at 60,000 miles.

I think I will do the 4~5 quart and filter refil every 20,000 miles.

Thanks everyone!

Thanks again RichardSenn!

 

[WMSmotorhead]

That's quite frequent.... 30K is the "severe duty" suggestion I think...

 

[TenSilver]

I could do 30,000 miles instead.
I've almost had it a year and have only 6000 miles on it.