Transmission woes

[Lacruiser]

Hi all, I just discovered this site, what a wonderful resource!

I have a LandCruiser with the big A440F automatic trans, diesel power. The trans/eng has done 275,000 mostly highway miles, always with Amsoil ATF. Recently it started acting up, doesn't want to come out of first gear when cold, "skip-shifting", etc. Much better when warmed up, it then has normal shifts, tight, etc. I decided to do the "remove the cooler hose and put it in a bucket" type of flush, exchanged about 20 qts through it that way, so I'm pretty sure it got most of the old fluid out. I used regular Dexron ATF this time, as I didn't want to waste Amsoil on a potentially dead trans. The bottom of the pan was very clean, so was the filter. No metal.

The flush made little difference, maybe a very tiny improvement. I'm thinking I've either got a bit of dirt stuck inside somewhere, or some shrunken seals in there.

I have noticed on this forum a product called Lubegard, and also one called Auto-RX.

I'm wondering what you folks would recommend I do, before I give up on this trans? If I had known about Auto-RX before I did the flush, I would have used it.

Should I use Auto-RX and do the flush again?

Should I skip the Auto-RX and try the Lubegard red?

Suggestions?

thanks for any help.

Dana

 

[unDummy]

@275k miles, you should just rebuild the transmission.

Ok, toss in either. Lubegard is cheaper.

Any filters in there to change? How about an inspection of the valvebody? Adjustments to the transmission?...

 

[Lacruiser]

Thanks for the reply. I was planning on a rebuild, but they are expensive to do right, approaching $3000 US.

If I could try some $35 worth of chemicals that would buy another year or so, that would be a bargain.

The reason I think it might work is, the trans shifts flawlessly when it's warmed up. so i really think it's either dirt or seal issues. All the shifts are really tight, NO slippage or other misbehaving.

And the 275,000 miles are easy highway miles, so I'm pretty sure the frictions are still fine.

I'm inclined to try the Auto RX flush proceedure, then add the Lubegard.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Use Auto-Rx. Auto-Rx is designed to gently clean the inside of the trans and it will also restore seal pliability. Lubeguard Red is not really designed to clean and revitalize seals it is more of a product to add to good ATF to make it even better.

I would consult with Frank at Auto-RX site. He normaly recomends 6 onces in an automatic trans but with the 30 quart capacity and 275,000 miles he migh recomend more be used.

If it does fix the problem put a good mineral ATF in like Schaffers. You do not want to waste the money on synthetic but you also do not want really cheap ATF in it if the problem is resolved with Auto-Rx! Nothing worse then haveing the problem come back 15,000 miles later due to cheap ATF!

 

[Spector]

Well, Lubeguard does not require a flush after use and if it works great, if not then the RX may be worth a try. Lubeguard is about $9 a bottle

 

[CrazyJeeper]

I'd shoot for the Auto-Rx. Added it to my tranny 600 miles ago in my '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2 with the lovely POS 44RE tranny. I was having the infamous 2nd to 3rd gear slip from 3/4 throttle and up and now it's not slipping anymore. Partly to blame the oil pump seal not allowing enough pressure to shift properly. I've got another 1100 miles to go before I do the pull the tranny line off the tranny cooler flush. I'm extremely happy. It now shifts 10x's better. I'd rather spend $25 now, try the Auto-Rx in my tranny then to spend $1600 (which I don't have) to get my tranny rebuilt. Poor college student here.

 

[Jim Spahr]

LA, what year is the Landcruiser? IOW is the trans controlled by the computer? If so, it may be the computer is the problem, not the trans itself. One thing to check if the trans is computer controlled- are there any MIL codes? Check even though there is no MIL lamp on the dash.

 

[LCD]

If you have any LC, it can be added to the transmission as well

 

[1sttruck]

My experience with Lube-Guard is on a 93 Taurus that uses Mercon. After a full flush there was a lot of vibration when idling, which was evidently 'torque converter shudder'. Lube Guard seemed to be the only ATF additive endorsed by OEMs so I tried half a bottle of the 'red stuff'. It worked great. I just flushed it again with half a bottle of the red stuff, and am pleased with how it's running. Actually I pleased that it's running at all as it has over 165k miles on it, which a Ford dealer comments is unusual for this model.

Unfortunately it works too well for some, as on our 99 Taurus people want to use Mercon and Lube Guard instead of Mercon V, which is evidently what the dealer did on the last flush. I recently flushed it again with Castrol Mercon V, the only 'Mercon V only' ATF that I could find, it runs noticeably better.

 

[Fishbowl]

The landcruiser has a self diagnostic feature. By pushing in sequence some different buttons on the dash it will spit out any transmission trouble codes.

 

[Kwattro]

Though probably not the popular opinion, I used Lucas trans fix in my Toyota Supra with outstanding results. Originally the car wouldn't shift out of first, and would slip like crazy if you tried to downshift under load (passing, etc). I flushed my fuild first, which made no difference, then added 2 bottles of Lucas, instant results. 200miles later the trans almost shifts like when it was new. Sure it's a band-aid fix, but it's put off a major repair that's out of my budget and lets me still use the car while I save.