question on transmission filter changing

[CAPT703]

I have been reading many of the post dealing with the complete changing of the transmission fluid and filter. I have talked to (2) dealers and (3) different transmission shops and they all say the same thing. It is better to do a power transmission flush and not worry about changing the filter. I tell them my truck has 150,000 miles on it and I have had the transmission flushed 3 times ( each time around 45,000 to 50,000 miles ). I have never changed the filter as they always say it's not nessasary. This goes against most of the advise I read on this and othe forums. All of the shops state the filter is magnetic and the flush washes over the filter and removes any of the particles. Any help or comments on this would be helpful along with an approx. cost to drop the pan and replace the filter. Also can this be done on my 1996 blazer myself or is this a truck where jacking up the motor or other complicated work needs to be done to make it happen.

thanks in advance for all those that help

[jsgold]

Change the filter. Flushing does not totally clean the junk out. The transmission pan has a magnet in the bottom which pulls metallic junk to it and it builds up over time. Can't be cleaned any other way than dropping the pan and cleaning pan, magnet, and replacing filter (with a GOOD filter, not cheapo). Others may differ but I would change the filter more often than flushing, to keep the junk build up down, but, if you are flushing that often, just go ahead and have them do both. Or change the filter yourself. Unsure if yours is any harder to change than my 93, but, you should be able to do it. May have to loosen a cross member etc. but should not be a problem.

[MT-2500]

Good grief.
There is no excuse for not changing the filter.
It is one of the main parts of a trans service.
They are just to lazy to drop the trans pan.
Do not let them feed you that bull on not changing the filter.
Tell them to stick there power flush with no filter change.
Find a repair that will change the filter for you.
The filter is the main thing on keeping your fluid clean.
You can do it yourself or take it to a good repair shop and have them do it.
Filters kits run from 15-25$ plus fluid.
If it has a reusable molded rubber gasket reuse it instead of the paper gasket that comes in some filter kit.
MT

[93LT]

I like the part about washing the particles away from the magnetic filter The filter in my 93 Blazer 4L60E tranny is a cloth type membrane. There is a magnet in the pan to attract the particles, just try to "wash" those particles away and you'll soon realize there is no way a flush would ever do it, let alone if the filter were actaully a magnet (which it is not).

Change the filter. Those mechanics just want to make the easy buk buy not getting dirty changing the pan gasket and filter.

Just wanted to add that if you do it yourself, try to get a filter and gasket set from a parts store that sells the gasket laid out nice and flat, not all wadded up in a box.

[Gabe25]

It sounds like the shops in your area are trying to make some money. All the trans people I know say that you should always replace and clean your pan on every fluid change. By flushing and not replacing the filter, will only result in clogging up later. There by restricting your fluid flow and burning out your trans. Now the shop made money on you for a flush, service, and now trans re-build.

[SultanGris]

Originally Posted by Gabe25

It sounds like the shops in your area are trying to make some money. All the trans people I know say that you should always replace and clean your pan on every fluid change. By flushing and not replacing the filter, will only result in clogging up later. There by restricting your fluid flow and burning out your trans. Now the shop made money on you for a flush, service, and now trans re-build.

Actually a powerflush is the worst thing you can do to your transmission. Its not so bad if you do it regularly, but its still not recomended by transmission professionals.

I recently aquired a 95 s-10 blazer with 122,000 miles, i decided to change all fluids and filters, tranny fluid smelled kinda burnt, but tranny worked fine before powerflush. after powerflush it started slipping when shifting, but didnt slip when it was in gear. talked to many tranny shops and all said the same thing, powerflushing bad, all you should do is drop the pan and change the filter. they said that all the friction material from the cluch pads is in the oil, and when you change the oil you loose all the friction material, so now i gotta get it rebuilt for around 1800,

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by CAPT703

I have been reading many of the post dealing with the complete changing of the transmission fluid and filter. I have talked to (2) dealers and (3) different transmission shops and they all say the same thing. It is better to do a power transmission flush and not worry about changing the filter. I tell them my truck has 150,000 miles on it and I have had the transmission flushed 3 times ( each time around 45,000 to 50,000 miles ). I have never changed the filter as they always say it's not nessasary. This goes against most of the advise I read on this and othe forums. All of the shops state the filter is magnetic and the flush washes over the filter and removes any of the particles. Any help or comments on this would be helpful along with an approx. cost to drop the pan and replace the filter. Also can this be done on my 1996 blazer myself or is this a truck where jacking up the motor or other complicated work needs to be done to make it happen.

thanks in advance for all those that help

Complete bulshit.

They dont know squat.

Go and get your filter changed and then a fluid flush.

No flush will clean you filter.