To flush or not to flush trany
March 21st, 2019, 01:25 PM
#1
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To flush or not to flush trany
Spring is here and been looking at my work car, an 04 Buick Regal, with the durable 3800. 258k miles and climbing. Checked the transmission oil, and it is more of a brownish color than the nice red.
The car was my wife's, she bought it with 80k on it. Dealer serviced since, with exception last few years. I have not called them to inquire if it has ever been flushed...
Years back I had a 91/92 cutlass that had bad trans oil, but with lower miles. I pulled the pan, changed the filter, new oil. And in a few hundred miles the transmission went, wasn't shifting...
From my past experience, not a good idea of flushing this transmission and risk having it go.. What are your all thoughts. Work car, goes 20 miles a day, occasional trip to nearest local town for groceries...
The car was my wife's, she bought it with 80k on it. Dealer serviced since, with exception last few years. I have not called them to inquire if it has ever been flushed...
Years back I had a 91/92 cutlass that had bad trans oil, but with lower miles. I pulled the pan, changed the filter, new oil. And in a few hundred miles the transmission went, wasn't shifting...
From my past experience, not a good idea of flushing this transmission and risk having it go.. What are your all thoughts. Work car, goes 20 miles a day, occasional trip to nearest local town for groceries...
March 21st, 2019, 02:58 PM
#2
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It would depend. If I knew the transmission was still pretty tight and I knew it operated with no problems and I wanted to keep the car for a long time, I would chain the fluid and filter. I don't think I would flush it with anything because that can dislodge more particles than you'd like. If I only was going to keep the car for a few more years and it was already doing weird things I'd probably leave it alone or maybe just change the fluid and see how much stuff was in the pan.
Last edited by tcolt; March 21st, 2019 at 10:38 PM.
March 21st, 2019, 03:28 PM
#3
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This is an aged old question that doesn't have an exact answer. I've had transmission only pros say leave it alone. That is what I'd do this late in the game. If it shows a problem I'd change the filter and fluid. I definitely would not do a "flush" of any type unless a problem already existed and a fluid and filter only didn't help.
Good luck!!!
Good luck!!!
March 21st, 2019, 03:57 PM
#4
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This is getting into apocryphal knowledge here, but, this is what I know.
1. Never, ever flush. This is a dumb thing always.
2. Ideally, one should service at prescribed intervals. If the thing has a drain plug, a fluid swap is often enough, especially if the filter is just a metal screen.
3. If it has high miles, and is ok, often times "leave it alone till it dies" is good advice.
If it has a drain plug, I would drain the fluid, when car is still kind of warm, let it drain for a good hour, put the plug in, then put new fluid of the same type of the same amount back in.
1. Never, ever flush. This is a dumb thing always.
2. Ideally, one should service at prescribed intervals. If the thing has a drain plug, a fluid swap is often enough, especially if the filter is just a metal screen.
3. If it has high miles, and is ok, often times "leave it alone till it dies" is good advice.
If it has a drain plug, I would drain the fluid, when car is still kind of warm, let it drain for a good hour, put the plug in, then put new fluid of the same type of the same amount back in.
March 21st, 2019, 07:38 PM
#5
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Its about due for an overhaul. Generally brown fluid means the transmission is getting hot due to worn components. Don't waste your money on a flush. You may or may not get by for a while longer with a fluid and filter change.
March 22nd, 2019, 04:17 AM
#6
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If you decide to flush it here's a good video:
I had a 93 Buick LeSabre with the same transmission, a 4T60E. The transmission started to die around 150k miles so I sold it before it got bad. It really is a roll of the dice flushing the transmission. You already have over 200k miles on the car. If you flush the transmission I would at least put some "slick shift" in it at the same time.
I had a 93 Buick LeSabre with the same transmission, a 4T60E. The transmission started to die around 150k miles so I sold it before it got bad. It really is a roll of the dice flushing the transmission. You already have over 200k miles on the car. If you flush the transmission I would at least put some "slick shift" in it at the same time.
March 23rd, 2019, 06:50 AM
#7
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Drain as much as you can replace the filter, otherwise leave it alone.
Do budget for a transmission rebuild sometime soon unless the cost of overhauling the transmission is more than the car is worth to you.
if so drive it until it dies,
if you want to keep the car I suggest when you have the funds get the transmission overhauled when it suits you. Much better than stranded on the highway when you need transport.
Get it done properly and the transmission will outlast the rest of the car.
Roger.
Do budget for a transmission rebuild sometime soon unless the cost of overhauling the transmission is more than the car is worth to you.
if so drive it until it dies,
if you want to keep the car I suggest when you have the funds get the transmission overhauled when it suits you. Much better than stranded on the highway when you need transport.
Get it done properly and the transmission will outlast the rest of the car.
Roger.
March 23rd, 2019, 01:04 PM
#8
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In my opinion, there is nothing that can be hurt from changing the filter and fluid. As someone who has spent many years in the transmission industry, in my experience most people neglect the filter and fluid until there is a problem. Transmission service is looked at as a “might as well try it and hope for the best”, by then the damage is done. Fresh filter and fluids will do nothing for damaged clutches, bands, and other parts.
I change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands on my 06 diesel Ram about every 20-25k miles, I’m about to turn 200k on the original factory trans. There is never more than a fine layer of debris in the pan. I do tow with this truck, and it does have some engine upgrades. Still works like new.
As for fluid appearance, brown just means the fluid is nearing the end of its life. When the fluid is really dark and smells burnt, that’s when things are starting to fail. I still wouldn’t hesitate to change the fluid under those conditions.
I change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands on my 06 diesel Ram about every 20-25k miles, I’m about to turn 200k on the original factory trans. There is never more than a fine layer of debris in the pan. I do tow with this truck, and it does have some engine upgrades. Still works like new.
As for fluid appearance, brown just means the fluid is nearing the end of its life. When the fluid is really dark and smells burnt, that’s when things are starting to fail. I still wouldn’t hesitate to change the fluid under those conditions.
March 25th, 2019, 06:44 AM
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March 25th, 2019, 07:44 AM
#11
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In my opinion, there is nothing that can be hurt from changing the filter and fluid. As someone who has spent many years in the transmission industry, in my experience most people neglect the filter and fluid until there is a problem. Transmission service is looked at as a “might as well try it and hope for the best”, by then the damage is done. Fresh filter and fluids will do nothing for damaged clutches, bands, and other parts.
I change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands on my 06 diesel Ram about every 20-25k miles, I’m about to turn 200k on the original factory trans. There is never more than a fine layer of debris in the pan. I do tow with this truck, and it does have some engine upgrades. Still works like new.
As for fluid appearance, brown just means the fluid is nearing the end of its life. When the fluid is really dark and smells burnt, that’s when things are starting to fail. I still wouldn’t hesitate to change the fluid under those conditions.
I change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands on my 06 diesel Ram about every 20-25k miles, I’m about to turn 200k on the original factory trans. There is never more than a fine layer of debris in the pan. I do tow with this truck, and it does have some engine upgrades. Still works like new.
As for fluid appearance, brown just means the fluid is nearing the end of its life. When the fluid is really dark and smells burnt, that’s when things are starting to fail. I still wouldn’t hesitate to change the fluid under those conditions.
I've heard opinions ranging from don't change fluids, just get a new car every so often, to if the fluid is turning from red/pink then damage is already done so forgetaboutit. Since I like a well oiled machine, I like to change fluids periodically. I guess I just need to find the right interval for modern transmissions. By the way, a family member has a 2012 Jeep Patriot, bought new, adult driven, now has 48,000 miles on it, CVT transmission fluid is still clean. What do you think about changing the fluid in those, and how often? I can't remember what the owner's manual said, I think it might have been a 60k or 100k interval. The Jeep is in central Florida.
March 25th, 2019, 08:58 PM
#12
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As for the CVT trans, I know nothing about them. Once again, I don’t think there is anything wrong with routine fluid and filter changes. If nothing else, you will have a baseline to examine wear.
March 25th, 2019, 09:14 PM
#13
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March 26th, 2019, 08:16 PM
#15
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March 27th, 2019, 10:56 AM
#16
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Yeah, I found the post with CVT reference in it. Still don't know how blakes7 thought that would be relevant to the topic at hand.
March 29th, 2019, 08:35 AM
#18
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I never bother to just "pan dump" fluid on my own vehicles.
Oh, sure...it starts with a pan dump and filter change. Reinstall the pan. Then drop the cooler tube on the return side of the cooler. Add fluid to the trans pan, install a short "temporary" tube at the cooler, directed into a drain pan. Start engine, dump more fluid down the dipstick tube until fluid blowing into the drain pan is clean. Shut off engine. Reconnect trans cooler tube. Start engine, top off fluid as needed.
Done.
If a fluid change "harms" the trans, the trans was on it's last legs anyway. Nothing to fear.
Oh, sure...it starts with a pan dump and filter change. Reinstall the pan. Then drop the cooler tube on the return side of the cooler. Add fluid to the trans pan, install a short "temporary" tube at the cooler, directed into a drain pan. Start engine, dump more fluid down the dipstick tube until fluid blowing into the drain pan is clean. Shut off engine. Reconnect trans cooler tube. Start engine, top off fluid as needed.
Done.
If a fluid change "harms" the trans, the trans was on it's last legs anyway. Nothing to fear.
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