Changing ATF in high-mileage car that has been neglected...

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Sep 1, 2006 | 01:54 PM

#41

heynow

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lol, 3 days? So it's not really wirth it then, right?

Sep 1, 2006 | 07:25 PM

#42

DanGK

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this only applies to automatic transmissions correct?

Sep 1, 2006 | 07:31 PM

#43

itsdaveonline

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From: South Denver Area(ish)

Well ATF= Automatic transmission fluid, so yes... But obviously never neglect a car manual or not!

Sep 1, 2006 | 10:07 PM

#44

cam_honestiam

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Quote:

Originally Posted by heynow

lol, 3 days? So it's not really wirth it then, right?

No, it is not worth it...and yes, it only applies to automatic transmissions.

Sep 7, 2006 | 05:39 PM

#45

Joe Brown

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Well im a newbie maxima owner, my question is this.... my tranny does some weird things on every shift, when its shifting it kinda jerks them........ i dont think its sliping them cause i check the revs. and they stay the same(what i mean that it doesn over rev).......... i really dont know whats wrong, i took it to about 3 tranny mechanics and they say that ist doing fine,

..oh one more thing i noticed thet when i go up hill, or run at high speeds, the jerking will stop for a few moments, then it shifts just fine.......but later its will return.....HELP any advice

Sep 7, 2006 | 10:44 PM

#46

cam_honestiam

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Sounds like your drop resistor is failing. Perhaps, however, you have crappy fluid. How old is your Max? Mileage? Last transmission fluid change? Other symptoms?

Sep 8, 2006 | 10:40 AM

#47

Joe Brown

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well the transmission is about 3 weeks old, my maxima is a 95, 192000 k
there are no other symptoms, just the one i mention earlier........ oh and i put
some Valvoline Maxlife on my tranny, but its not the oil brand, because earlier i had Chevron.

Sep 8, 2006 | 11:24 AM

#48

Joe Brown

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if the drop resistor is damage, would it apear on a tranny diagnistics check, bacause a did a couple one a month after it started the shifting problems, and another 2 months later and on both nothing is wrong.

Sep 19, 2006 | 02:07 AM

#49

cam_honestiam

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Probably, but I have never done a diagnostics. Perhaps someone else can speak from experience...???

Sep 19, 2006 | 12:25 PM

#50

chrisZ

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I've had issues with my tranny ('96 auto) where I would get a CEL for some torque valve body or something like that. After reading some articles for removing carbon of intake valves in cars, I came across a product called Seafoam. Seafoam also makes Trans Tune that claimed to clean up the tranny valve bodies, after running it for a little while and it would improve tranny performance. Having nothing to loose with the car at 190K km and being happy with Seafoam's gas/oil additive (it works!) I decided to try it. I poured 1/2 pint through the tranny dipstick and drove the car for about 3 days. After the 1st day, the CEL light went out?! I thought that this was strange as I always assumed that I would need to disconnect the battery or reset the ECM to clear the CEL. Anyhow, the tranny shifting is better, feels smoother, where in the past it would have a jerky 1-2 shift. Replaced the fluid with Dextron III over the weekend, and all is still well. I didn't do a full flush, just opened the drain and replaced what ever quantity came out, in my case exactly 4 liters. Some of you should try Seafoam, it just might make a difference, especially if you are considering replacing/rebuilding the tranny.

Sep 19, 2006 | 12:35 PM

#51

heynow

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hey chris? Would you reccommend adding a little seafoam into ATF that has been changed recently?

Sep 19, 2006 | 04:07 PM

#52

chrisZ

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Quote:

Originally Posted by heynow

hey chris? Would you reccommend adding a little seafoam into ATF that has been changed recently?

If you are not experiencing any issues with the tranny, why spend the money on any product. Only if you are having issues and have been told that a new tranny is needed, only then would I drop money on any product. In my case it seemed to improve things. I guess I'll see how long the improvement lasts. BTW, check out Seafoams website (easy search) they recommend replacing the fluid after the car has been driven for a few miles so as the cleaner can get to temperature and be exposed to all of the gears in the tranny. Its job is to remove/disolve the varnish and other crap and if left in the tranny too long it might affect the seals (swelling, etc). Hence put it in, run it for a bit (20 miles or so) and drain the fluid.

Sep 19, 2006 | 05:07 PM

#53

heynow

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uh-huh, so it's good to do that before you're due for a ATF change (not after). right?

Sep 19, 2006 | 05:49 PM

#54

Thorby

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I vote for this guy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead52

I had about 140000 miles on mine when I changed it. It was brown and burnt smelling. After I changed it, it really smoothed out shifting espcially in cold whether when putting the tranny into D caused a rough jerk. About a month after I did though the tranny pan developed a hole in it somehow and it pis**ed all the fluid out, so $340 later I was all fixed up with even newer fluid. I put on about 40k since then no problems at all, the transmission runs great.

As for those ppl that say changing it ruins the tranny, its really just a myth. If its already slipping, it is done for and its going to crap out anyways. A lot of ppl have slipping or other problems, decide to get the fluid changed, the tranny gives up finally like it would have anyways and they blame it on the fresh fluid.

Anyone who says old fluid is keeping the thing together is full of horse ****. The fluid has a lot of qualities to it - anti corrosion, lubrication, viscosity, thermal breakdown, anti foaming agents, cleaning agents, particle suspension, additives to maintain rubber parts and the list goes on. It is an engineering marvel of a fluid and as it ages all these qualities that allow your transmission to last for a very long time go down the toilet. Put in fresh stuff, and if your tranny isnt already going to crap out anyways, it will help it out alot. Worn out fluids and metal particles floating around all over the place don't accomplish anything.

What this guy says seems very logical.

How can you leave the crappy old fluid in there? I can't bear the thought of leaving the old fluid in there forever with all those small metal shavings whirling around in there causing more damage.

Sep 20, 2006 | 05:10 AM

#55

chrisZ

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Quote:

Originally Posted by heynow

uh-huh, so it's good to do that before you're due for a ATF change (not after). right?

If you are not having any issues, do it before the next scheduled ATF change. If you are having issues, do it now and follow up with an ATF change.

Sep 20, 2006 | 06:50 AM

#56

heynow

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ok, seeing how i just had a fluid change, i'll wait until i'm due for the next change to put seafoam in. Any advice on the seafoam engine/oil additive?

Sep 20, 2006 | 07:03 AM

#57

chrisZ

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Quote:

Originally Posted by heynow

ok, seeing how i just had a fluid change, i'll wait until i'm due for the next change to put seafoam in. Any advice on the seafoam engine/oil additive?

Use per Seafoam instructions. Some in the crankcase, some in the fuel tank and some through the vacuum hose off of the brake booster. The last one really smokes, out the tail pipe (was told the more smoke the more crap is being cleaned off on another site, not sure about that though). My max uses premium fuel, little smoke. My wifes '98 Quest uses regular fuel, lots of smoke. Make your own decision from that bit of info. BTW I did change the max oil after about a week of having Seafoam in the oil as the oil change was due. But I left the Seafoam in the van for the last month and won't change the oil for another month. But I don't think you need to change the oil after Seafoam injection as you do the tranny.