Something to mull over

[stlwagon]

Ok... We've all been told about the horrors of the dreaded transmission flush. I too have always stuck with just the old fluid/filter change. But my mechanic, a guy I really trust, recently told me that he really thinks it's a good idea to flush/fill FWD vehicles (especially higher performance ones like ours) every 15,000 miles. He says he recommends this since the FWD differential is lubed by the ATF rather than differential lube as on RWD vehicles. Says the ATF does not lubricate the differential as well and breaks down more rapidly.

Just a thought...

[BIG-L]

Sorry,but iv'e seen to many problem's with other's member's car's at clubgp in the past 4yr's and there is know way I would have one done on my car Ill just stick with the fluid and filter every year.

[GTP Dad]

I have to agree with Larry. The transmission flush is a bad idea. Change the fluid and filter regularly and you should have no problems. The fact that the differential is lubed by the fluid is of no consequence. They have been lubed that way for lots of years and have experienced few problems. Fresh fluid will restore the additives that will keep the differential working properly.

[kustomkid54]

And you trust this guy?

Originally Posted by stlwagon

Ok... We've all been told about the horrors of the dreaded transmission flush. I too have always stuck with just the old fluid/filter change. But my mechanic, a guy I really trust, recently told me that he really thinks it's a good idea to flush/fill FWD vehicles (especially higher performance ones like ours) every 15,000 miles. He says he recommends this since the FWD differential is lubed by the ATF rather than differential lube as on RWD vehicles. Says the ATF does not lubricate the differential as well and breaks down more rapidly.

Just a thought...

[stlwagon]

Yeah. He's always done right by me. I was just offering his opinion to generate some discussion. Looks like it worked!

I think I'm going to just stick with the fluid and filter changes. Haven't had any transmission problems yet (knock on wood), so why mess with a good thing.

[KX2000GTP]

Is a power flush where they hook it up to a machine and push the old fluid out and new fluid in at the same time?

[BIG-L]

Is a power flush where they hook it up to a machine and push the old fluid out and new fluid in at the same time?

Yes it is.

[kustomkid54]

You know this comes up about once a month. Everyone has same replies.
All I can say is, trans rebuild's are about $2500.00. IF you want to flush it go ahead.
Big-L, GTPDad and myself will just change fluid and filter.

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

I have to agree with Larry. The transmission flush is a bad idea. Change the fluid and filter regularly and you should have no problems. The fact that the differential is lubed by the fluid is of no consequence. They have been lubed that way for lots of years and have experienced few problems. Fresh fluid will restore the additives that will keep the differential working properly.

[jon95se]

ok, my two cents. seeing how i work at a shop

#1, when you hook it up to the machine, your tranny does all the work. there are no pumps on the machine that force your tranny fluid thru. all the work is done by the pressure your transmission produces.

#2, if the transmission goes out after words, it was going to go out anyways. i have seen many times where people come in to have it done cause they are starting to experience problems (aka slipping or not going into gear). by then it is too late. once in a while it will pull back out of it. but usually the damage is done.

#3 just dropping the pan and replaceing the filter, you only get 25% of the fluid. in my opinion, why change the filter if your going to run the same 75% of the dirty crap right back thru it. you dont even need to do the "filter" every year. all it is, is a screen. if they put in a filter like the one for your oil, then it would require more service. i personally do mine every 50-60k

#4 i recently bought my 95se, so i can use it as a daily driver. it had 110k on it and never had service of any kind on the transmission. it was so dark it was worse then motor oil. so i did the entire flush with the machine, using valvoline's maxlife transmission fluids, happens to be a full synthetic. and then i did the filter on it. and topped it off with the same. i can no longer even feel the car shift. and guess what. my car's tranny has been great for the last 10k miles. no problems at all.

#5 doing it every 15k is stupid, gm typically recommends 30-50k depending on driving habits. i do mine every 30. the full fluid flush is to be used as preventitive maintainence. not a cure.

my rantings are over. feel free to enlighten me.

[kustomkid54]

Well,
I've had it done to my 97', ONCE. Could have sent you the trans, less then 6 months later. You could have used it for a cord deposit.
Called a friend lastnight who is a "big shot" at GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. And has been there for a little over 30 years. By the way, he's my Brother-in-Law.
He says, GM found out years ago that flashing a trans is a bad idea. But because it's been part of their standard mant. program for years, and don't want to say they screwed up, keep right on doing it. He says that for most trans you have a 50/50 shot at doing more damage then if you never changed it at all. He says, stick with filter changes.
MY advice, as I said before. DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT. IT"S YOUR CAR.
I will stay with filter change on all my GP's, all but the 66'. It doesn't have a filter.

Originally Posted by jon95se

ok, my two cents. seeing how i work at a shop

#1, when you hook it up to the machine, your tranny does all the work. there are no pumps on the machine that force your tranny fluid thru. all the work is done by the pressure your transmission produces.

#2, if the transmission goes out after words, it was going to go out anyways. i have seen many times where people come in to have it done cause they are starting to experience problems (aka slipping or not going into gear). by then it is too late. once in a while it will pull back out of it. but usually the damage is done.

#3 just dropping the pan and replaceing the filter, you only get 25% of the fluid. in my opinion, why change the filter if your going to run the same 75% of the dirty crap right back thru it. you dont even need to do the "filter" every year. all it is, is a screen. if they put in a filter like the one for your oil, then it would require more service. i personally do mine every 50-60k

#4 i recently bought my 95se, so i can use it as a daily driver. it had 110k on it and never had service of any kind on the transmission. it was so dark it was worse then motor oil. so i did the entire flush with the machine, using valvoline's maxlife transmission fluids, happens to be a full synthetic. and then i did the filter on it. and topped it off with the same. i can no longer even feel the car shift. and guess what. my car's tranny has been great for the last 10k miles. no problems at all.

#5 doing it every 15k is stupid, gm typically recommends 30-50k depending on driving habits. i do mine every 30. the full fluid flush is to be used as preventitive maintainence. not a cure.

my rantings are over. feel free to enlighten me.

[jon95se]

6 months? i have a feeling you werent exactly treating your transmission correctly. and to say that it was the flushes fault being it was half a year ago, is like saying a bad tank of gas 4 tanks ago made your fuel pump go bad now. i wouldnt hesitate to say you in some way had a factor in it going out. and btw. 97 was a bad year anyway, seeing how gm quality control went on strike that year. and the 4t60-e tranny. that isnt the first one to go out that i have heard of, even if you werent beating on it. especially if it supercharged.

[kustomkid54]

Every four years ONE OF THE BIG THREE GOES ON STRIKE. So that means that if they go on strike don't buy a car that year, Let's see In Oct. 1969 I bought a 1970 Nova. GM was on the longest strike in GM history. Best damn car I have ever had. Well the GTO is more then likely the best.
In 1997 as in every year there's a strike. The UAW strikes one of the "Big 3". It doesn't strike any one part of a company. It strikes ALL of a company. No one crosses a picket line. To this day I won't cross a picket line. I won't cross if there is a 7 year old kid with a sign that says "I don't like comic books". So quality controll wasn't on strike. GM was.
6 months is just a number. Could have been 3. Don't care. What 3 people that have forgot more about cars then most pepole have learned are trying to say is; DON'T FLASH A TRANS, EVER. Again; It's your car, FLASH AWAY.

Originally Posted by jon95se

6 months? i have a feeling you werent exactly treating your transmission correctly. and to say that it was the flushes fault being it was half a year ago, is like saying a bad tank of gas 4 tanks ago made your fuel pump go bad now. i wouldnt hesitate to say you in some way had a factor in it going out. and btw. 97 was a bad year anyway, seeing how gm quality control went on strike that year. and the 4t60-e tranny. that isnt the first one to go out that i have heard of, even if you werent beating on it. especially if it supercharged.

[BIG-L]

97 was a bad year anyway

Since you seem to know everything about a 97,what makes them worse then 98/03 ??


Ive owned my 97 GTP since new and can tell you that the problem's ive had with mine also happen's to the 98/03.
I have yet to have ANY tranny related problem's with my 4T65E-HD.Since new,all ive done is replaced filter and tranny fluid once a year !
Do some research on the tranny's built in 97 GTP's before you start talking out your a**.They were built better then 98 up's,stronger,less prone to break.Reasearch young man,check the facts first, before you come on here,like you know everything about 97 up GP's.For one,97's 4T65E-HD transmission input shaft is stronger from a better O-ring groove radius.
I bet you work at one of those speedy lube places and sell people crap,that they dont even need done on there car's

Sorry to all the other GP fourm member's,if you take my rant wrong.I just had to get in me on this one

[jon95se]

i see that this forum has now turned into personal attacks. seeing how i work at a dealership, that was your first mistake. #2, attributing problems to something that you had done months ahead of time. is like blaming a bad tank of gas you had 4 times ago for the bad fuel pump now. seeing how you, big-L, take far better care of your car as far as yearly filter changes and topoff of your transmission. i can understand why you haven't had a problem with it. now, looking at the average joe. who only start doing things when they notice problems. they like to attribute their transmission problem to something that had nothing to do with it. kind of like "the tranny had a lot of burnt fluid in it. and i was driving around and noticed it slipped a few times, but i had it 'power flushed' and a new filter put in. so it must be the 'power flush's' fault." where in that senerio, you drove it around with a half clogged filter and burnt transmission fluid and you damaged the transmission, it now goes out, attributed to the abuse you did to it prior to getting it looked into. now. i dont feel that the personal attack on me was needed. just that i have been trying to argue my point. big-L congratulations, you take far better care of your car then most people. thanks for the unneeded personal attack. and maybe if you read this. read it and understand, i am giving an example. i apologize if you feel offended that i have a different opinion than that of your holy opinion, but that is the beauty of living in America. Thanks for your insight, I will file your attack with the rest of them. Ill have you know, that your attack just makes you look like an irresponsible child throwing a temper tantrum. I take the attack with no offense. keep up the good forum posting. they are fun to read.

[BIG-L]

keep up the good forum posting. they are fun to read.

I havent seen you offer any advice,on how to help fix anyone's car's.I feel Ive done a very good job in this GP forum helping other's,with advice,since I have done my time at a Pontiac dealership.

You still never offered any advice on why 97's and why it was a bad year!You just came off wrong with that comment and if it hurts your feeling's,im sorry!This is the internet and you have to take what is said with a grain of salt and freedom of speach