Flush, Change Fluid & Filter, or both?

[OSUCowboy27]

What should a person do?

[GTP Dad]

If you have a high mileage transmission flushing has the potential to cause the transmission to fail. If you research transmission flushing on this forum you will see that most people who flushed a high mileage transmission ended up replacing it shortly thereafter. If it is low mileage less than 50K you may be able to get by with a flush with no ill effects. But that two is risky. Change the fluid and filter routinely and you will not need to flush the transmission.

[richtazz]

I totally agree with GTP Dad. If you allow your trans to get to the point where it needs a trans flush, it's already toast. Do the scheduled filter changes, and a flush is unnecessary. It's just a way for service places to take your money.

[BNaylor]

I voted fluid and filter only.




Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 104s,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials

[regalfriend]

If you havent done a regular maintanance schedule to the tranny and the car has high miles then there is probobly a build up of sludge in the tranny....If you flush it will probobly remove alot of this , but not all of it...the remainder will now become loose and travel through the system and just cause you problems...Like BNAYLOR said , fluid and filter is now your best bet.

[mobil_12]

Im gonna sit on the fence and say that it depends on your situation and your car.

If you keep up on maintainence and do regular fluid changes, then just a flush is the way to go. Because you change 100 percent of your fluid. With a pan drop, you only change 1/3 of your fluid. The rest is left to build up more miles and break down even further.

On the flip side... If you have a high mileage trans that has never been serviced, then stick with the fluid and filter change. I have heard horror stories of people doing a flush and having trans problems after. I have never run into this myself. Like someone already said, if you are doing a flush on a trans for the first time with 200k on it, you are just looking for trouble.

I see pros and cons for both sides.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by mobil_12

With a pan drop, you only change 1/3 of your fluid. .

Sorry, but I disagree. I recall on numerous occasions putting in approximately 7.5 quarts of Dextron-III ATF after a pan drop on a 4T65E tranny. The total capacity is 10 quarts. Therefore, at least 75% or 3/4 of the old fluid goes bye bye.




Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 104s,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials

[richtazz]

trans flushes are bad, even on a low mileage car. The new fluid shocks the clutches and can cause them to shear from their metal backing plates. The risks FAR outweigh the possible gains, filter and pan fluid change only is my suggestion. Avoid trans flushes, or you will more likely than not join the ranks of people getting a new transmission.

[JimmySLS]

Stick with the filter and fluid change don't get a flush..You will only be spending more money later to replace the tranny due to having it flushed..

[djplaya140]

I might be in a similar position, i have no way of knowing wheather or not the trans fluid was changed on this vehicle with 90k miles. Would i be better suited to just change fluid, or let it be?


Another question to brake fluid? change fluid or flush too?

[richtazz]

if you have over 75k, DON'T do a tranny flush, just change the fluid and filter. As far as brake fluid goes, flushing it is a good idea, and no ill effects. I would take it to a place and have it power flushed, that way you know all the air was removed.

[jimmyv-21]

can you get just a fluid and filter change at jiffy lube or the dealer, or will they only do flushes?

[swchrs]

Originally Posted by jimmyv-21

can you get just a fluid and filter change at jiffy lube or the dealer, or will they only do flushes?

they do what every your willing to pay for
and half the time if you cant watch they
do half of what you pay for

[icedawgs88]

if high milage go ahead and do the filter change with removing the pan and add in 1/3 of the total capacity of fluid. do this for 3 oil changes. every oil change change the filter by dropping pan. Also by dropping pan you will need a set of new gaskets which usually come with new pan. If under 100k i would say just flush it and change the filter at the same time.

[MoDoggie]

I would stick with the fluid and filter, way cheaper if you DIY. I did mine twice in the fitrst 10,000 miles after I bought it and it really smoothed out shifting since then. Not sure if the previous owner ever did it, I bought my 94 GTP with 206,000 miles on it.