To flush or not to flush?

[SlowNA06]

Sorry.. Not trying to be an ass.. Just seen people give out advice like you are.. Then the other person pay for it..

Oh, no sweat... like I said, I know I don't have a popular opinion.

No matter how much you flush.. The color will never come back fully..

Flushed the BLACK BLACK BLACK 7 year old fluid in an '04 at 85k with Dextron only. 25k later, it's still full, bright, clean pink and shifting happily. Flushing it again in 5k, will update and let you guys know how it all looks.

 

[Scottydoggs]

Oh, no sweat... like I said, I know I don't have a popular opinion.

Flushed the BLACK BLACK BLACK 7 year old fluid in an '04 at 85k with Dextron only. 25k later, it's still full, bright, clean pink and shifting happily. Flushing it again in 5k, will update and let you guys know how it all looks.

some times you will get away with it, (hell being that my car shifts fine maybe i could too) but i just don't like the risk of doing it and then your stuck with a big bill to get you car up and running again.

 

[BillBoost37]

What Spencer says is pretty much on the money. If a problem is hiding, the fluid being fresh and full of additives, will clean any hidden problems. Dave at TEP and any other trans guys will tell you basically the same thing. A flush will not hurt a healthy transmission.

Issue is..most of the time when people are asking about flushes, their transmission isn't healthy.

Personally I do pan drops. Because I don't own a flush machine. It's easier, cheaper and usually less intrusive to simply pan drop, filter change and fill the 7 quarts up.

Same thing is said of switching to synthetic oil with a decent amount of miles on a motor. Many people will say it causes oil leaks. Truth is.. there's a buildup inside keeping the gasket from leaking. The additives break down the build up and you have leaks. Same would be true over time with regular quality oil changes too.

These are the myths that we have. They are common myths based on the stories of many that hoped for magic from a flush or trans service. Well there is no magic as Slow said, if you have a problem....don't expect past due maintenance to fix it.

FWIW I bought a 98 Regal 2 years back and when I drove it ..the trans slipped on high throttle. Tossed a can of Lucas in (thickens and swells seals) and that car is still daily driven today. Trans works great. I bought my current Regal with 161K and clearly a lack of any maintenance. I did a pan service and it ran/shifted great. 6 months later it started having an odd issue where the rpm at highway speed might jump 1k and slam back into gear. Not often, but enough to have picked up on it. I drained the fluid only (got a plug..lol) and it literally pooped clutch mud. Refilled with one bottle of Lucas and regular fluid...at 189K I'm still driving and still abusing it until I get off my butt and swap it out. The fluid is disgusting. A flush at this point would finish it off. A pan drop at this point would finish it off....heck at this point...I'm amazed it's still driving. Every transmission is different, but they are all still transmissions.

 

[Spencerad4]

What Spencer says is pretty much on the money. If a problem is hiding, the fluid being fresh and full of additives, will clean any hidden problems..

Thanks for the props.. Lol


As for your trans.. Isnt Lucas an amasing additive?!?!?

Im still surprised its running..

 

[CrazyGuy03]

Well 1.5 hrs it took me to loosen the pan and let it drip out. Then pulled filter and clean pan. Cleaned and re used gasket. Filled with dex6.
I noticed my temps are not outrageous anymore. Fluid looks orange red but I'll wait another 15k and re do it.
Thanks

 

[CrazyGuy03]

That was 63k over 4 years on the jasper transmission for 2003. I agree , don't flush it. Pan drop fluid change is much better idea. That way you slowly introduce new fluid over time.

 

[7point62]

Thanks for the info, I'll stick to a pan drop. I don't want to risk anything and have to pay a pile of cash at the moment.