Okay, I was surfing around the web for information about transmissions. I'm overdue for a tranny fluid flush and I've neen putting it off. I stumbled across this website that tells you how to drain most of the tranny fluid out of the torque converter. I was wondering if anyone has done it and if its safe.

The site is <A HREF="http://www.thevine.net/~falcon/car.html">Here</A>.

Basicly it says to use the tranny fluid cooler hose to drain the tranny and crank the car and stop fill.. crank.. etc.
But check it out.

ZuM

 

I think those oil change chains like Jiffy Lube have machines that do that.

It costs about $100.

I plan to have my transmission flushed pretty soon, as I'm rolling up on 45k. I want to refill it with Redline D4 Synthetic ATF, but that's going to be expensive. The transmission takes 4 qts on a drain and refill, but around 11 qts on a complete flush.

So, it will prolly cost me over $200 for the transmission service. Redline ATF costs $8/qt, plus shipping should run over $100.

 

Go for Mobil 1 synthetic.. Its only 5 dollars a quart. Thats whay I used when I topped off after installing the tranny cooler.

ZuM

 

I have a question--those fast places such as jiffy lube or valvoline, they have a machine that does the flushing--has anyone gone there and what did they think about their service. I recently--late august that is got a drain and refill from the dealer since my car was approaching 30K...until recently I learned that was not really a "complete job" and that one would need a flush and that all the old gunk need to be taken out of it.

In any case, I called valvoline...I saw it on one of the old posts here and they gave me a price of $23 and they said that includes a flush--is that true? I called three places and that is the same price acorss the board...but I figured they would charge you more for the flushing and all that.

amd I confused or what?

thanks =)

 

I believe doing a complete flush with the pump is more than 20 dollars. I'd rather not take it to one of those quick lube places if I don't have to. This way I would save money and know it was done right. And I get to choose my own fluid. Thats why I'm wondering if the method on that guy's website would work.

ZuM

 

I wonder if Mobil 1 ATF can mix with Redline ATF. I know Redline mixes with normal ATF, but I dunno about mixing it with other synthetics.

 

You may live in an area of the country where services are simply cheaper. This does happen. That does seem too cheap though. IMHO you don't really need to flush that frequently. I try to drain mine the good old fashioned way about every 10-15, this replaces about 4-6 quarts depending on god knows what. I just had it flushed for the first time about 3 months ago, at 54k. So far as i can tell, a good job was done. The reason i say this is that when i just drain it the fluit never looks that clean, and looks used again within a month or so. With the flush it still looks like brand new fluid after about 2k. I had it done at the kmart pensky lube on pleasant hill for you atlanta guys. I took the package deal which gave me a dino change, rotate tires, flush tranny, flush cooling system, and put her on the fuel system cleaner for a bit. Cost 150. They just dropped the cost of the tranny flush alone to 70 bucks. One local dealer wanted 100, another 159. Both of these, and the kmart used the same machine so i figgured f*it. They took too long though, and i talked them down to 120 By the way, i have a tranny drain plug, and some folks were saying they didn't. Whassupwidat?

 

Well if this dude's technique works. We won't have to pay that much for the flush. We get it for free.. Just pay for the fluid. Thats why I'm wondering if its safe to do it this guy's way.

ZuM

 

I got my tranny fluids flushed on my old car at a jiffy lube and it cost me $70. The machine completely pumps our your entire system, they have a clear tube that you can see the old fluid coming out and the new fluid going in. When the fluid coming out is new then they stop the machine. It seems to be very effective.

 

I had to try 3 different jiffy lubes before I found one that would use my mobil 1 fluid. But they used it, cut me a 20 buck discount for using my own fluid and total cost using mobil 1 was $155.00. The best thing for me is now I don't have to listen to my wife complain about all the tranny fluid on the garage floor. That is worth more than $155.

 

neutral and let the engine idle.

 

Yep got my tranny fluid flushed for my 90 Integra at Penske for $70. At 120,000 the car seemed to shift into gear faster. It's good insurance .

 

How much fluid did you get out? What exactly did you do?

ZuM

 

for some reason a short post like that doesn't reassure me of anything. what your trying is do use the tranny pump and push the fluid out. it'll prob come out..but you better make sure there's fluid going in at the same time.
i though about this b4 and i rather stick with the drain and fills more often.
Dan

 

I was thinking the same thing. Not very reassuring. I'm looking for someone like Don to tell me its okay and they've done it before. I really don't want to deal with the places putting in the fluid they want. And places that don't do complete drain and fill. I feel much better doing everything myself. I guess you can use an empty quart to catch the tranny fluid.. And pour a quart into the dipstick tube at the same time. Turn the car off. Take the quart that you just emptied and put it on the out-end. And start the car up and do it again. Pour another quart and fill up the old quart. 12 quarts? Go through 12 quarts and be done? It sounds like a good idea. But I'm affraid there is something that I didn't think of. It sounds like tedious oil changing. But I think its totally worth it. Peace of mind, save some money.

ZuM