Ok, I got many good answer on which fluid to use in the XMSN, it will be Mercon SP if I can find some or Mercon LV.

Now, I am debating if I should go to the Dealer, $340 without filter change.
Dealer tell me they flush the Transmission using a flush and purge machine. Do you know if their procedure is much better than just dropping the fluid from the pan and refill?

The "Flush" machines connect to the cooling lines and "trade" fluid, but does it realy flushes or Nothing gets "flushed" other than your wallet. Does it change the fluid trapped in the torque converter? On top, they ignore the filter.

Not sure if the machine is hot fluid, one dealer tell me they do it with engine warmed up, do they realy?

 

To my knowledge the hot flush does get the converter flushed. I had mine done at 40k miles and need to mine too soon as I'm at 97k.

As far as 340 goes, I had mine done with the transfer case for 320 at a ford dealer

 

A hot flush will change all of the fluid in the transmission and the torque converter. If they are telling you they do it with the engine warmed up they don't know enough to know they must have a heated flush machine to do this. Without a heated flush machine they are just flushing your wallet.

 

I have never had my tranny flushed. Every 20K or so I drop the pan, change the internal and external filters and top off. Never seen and degredation in the color or odor of the fluid and no tranny problem either. Draining the pan also allows the cleaning of the magnetic drain plug. I would save the money.

Bryan

 

You could also save money and time by just draining using the drain plug. It isn't necesary to change the internal screen.

 

All I do are drop n fills. About 8-9 quarts gets it changed.

Josh

 

I paid the $300 at the dealer for the hot flush.I bought my own external filter online and gave it to them and they put it on for me.

 

Did you verify they had the proper machine? Hardly any dealers have the correct flush machine and most will claim they do and just do a drop n fill.

Happens all the time.

Josh

 

This is what I think too, they do not seem to know much about it and probably don't care much as long as they do it as the book.

The manual calls for 211-00018 or 199-00010 machine if you use the automated equipment procedure, I could not find these machines number on the Web so no way to say if it is a hot or normal machine. They also describe the procedure for fluid drain and refill using the drain plug. There is no "prefered or recommended " method, so I guess the Dealers can use both without being scare of a problem with the trany, so can we I would say.

In the automated procedure, they say to use a "suitable flush and fill machine", nothing about using a hot flush or warming up the trany, so the tech could not care less if it is hot or not. They even argue a little when I ask to replace the filter, they say there is no need.

 

There is no need to replace the internal filter on a pre-2008 truck. Those filters are good for the life of the trans. If it needs to be changed it's because the trans has failed and filled the filter with junk.

 

Thanks, the more I see it, the more I think the Pan Drain will do the work. I can do 3 in a row for the price of one at the dealer, and this is easier than an engine oil change.

 

Yes I did.It took awhile to explain what a "Hot flush" was to the service writers.After I found a dealer that knew what it was I went to them.They were the only ones out of the seven I called in the area.Most said "Oh yea we do the flush".So I asked how they did it."We just drop the pan and drain it" Thanks,I'll pass...I don't let anybody touch my truck,So I asked the tech if he minded I watch.They didn't have any problem with it.Athough they said it was an unusual request and didn't normally do that but they were cool about it.I got to see the machine and how they hook up the lines.He probably ran the flush for ten mins or so.He also said that the fluid came out of the machine at 130*.

 

Then it wasn't done right. If the fluid is coming out at 130°F the thermostat is closed. 10% of the flow is coming out of the cooler lines, but 90% is recirculating inside the trans. So you flushed 10% old fluid and 90% new fluid.

 

Sounds like a standard flush machine was used.

Probably had some Mercon V mixed in the system as well.

Josh

 

I don't then,I was told it was heated and flushes the old fluid out.Everybody else just drops the pan.I have the fluid on a 30K change schedule so if they are doing it like you say the trans will still be getting some TLC.