Tranny Flush debate
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Tranny Flush debate
I have heard varying opinions on the "health" of flushing the transmission vs. just routine filter/fluid replacement. Any opinions, and how often would you recommend tranny maintainence? My 2000 V10 has 125K
thanks
thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 4
I have heard way too many horror tales from people who have had the total flush done. It seems to do more damage than good.
I will stick with the old fashioned method myself.
(Do you suppose the newfangled total flush came to be so as to induce more failures and repairs?
)
I will stick with the old fashioned method myself.
(Do you suppose the newfangled total flush came to be so as to induce more failures and repairs?
)
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: SE Texas
I self flushed mine several thousand miles ago, super easy to do by yourself and when you see all of that dark fluid coming out you will know why you did it. The 5 or so quarts from a filter change is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wes
Wes
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: High Point, NC
I'm assuming that you drained the tranny through one of the cooling lines, while adding fluid at the same time. I don't think that is what Aaron was referring to - I know that is a safe method.
Like Aaron, I've heard horror stories of shops using a pressurised/mechanical flushing system to force out the fluid, floowed shortly by a tranny failure. I've been told that this is because the flush system loosens debis from the fliter and said debis ends up in the converted, causing damage.
I know some shops that praise the process and have never had a complaint. So I think it could be one of those urban legend where it did, in fact, cause a problem in a vehicle that was probably already have tranny issues - but that is just my belief.
I prefer the method of dropping the pan, changing/cleaning the fliter, reassemble and draining the converter thru a cooling line while running the engine and adding fresh fluid.
Like Aaron, I've heard horror stories of shops using a pressurised/mechanical flushing system to force out the fluid, floowed shortly by a tranny failure. I've been told that this is because the flush system loosens debis from the fliter and said debis ends up in the converted, causing damage.
I know some shops that praise the process and have never had a complaint. So I think it could be one of those urban legend where it did, in fact, cause a problem in a vehicle that was probably already have tranny issues - but that is just my belief.
I prefer the method of dropping the pan, changing/cleaning the fliter, reassemble and draining the converter thru a cooling line while running the engine and adding fresh fluid.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: SW Chicago Burbs
Originally Posted by MarkMoore
I'm assuming that you drained the tranny through one of the cooling lines, while adding fluid at the same time. I don't think that is what Aaron was referring to - I know that is a safe method.
Like Aaron, I've heard horror stories of shops using a pressurised/mechanical flushing system to force out the fluid, floowed shortly by a tranny failure. I've been told that this is because the flush system loosens debis from the fliter and said debis ends up in the converted, causing damage.
I know some shops that praise the process and have never had a complaint. So I think it could be one of those urban legend where it did, in fact, cause a problem in a vehicle that was probably already have tranny issues - but that is just my belief.
I prefer the method of dropping the pan, changing/cleaning the fliter, reassemble and draining the converter thru a cooling line while running the engine and adding fresh fluid.
Like Aaron, I've heard horror stories of shops using a pressurised/mechanical flushing system to force out the fluid, floowed shortly by a tranny failure. I've been told that this is because the flush system loosens debis from the fliter and said debis ends up in the converted, causing damage.
I know some shops that praise the process and have never had a complaint. So I think it could be one of those urban legend where it did, in fact, cause a problem in a vehicle that was probably already have tranny issues - but that is just my belief.
I prefer the method of dropping the pan, changing/cleaning the fliter, reassemble and draining the converter thru a cooling line while running the engine and adding fresh fluid.
They walk into a shop (or maybe a Jiffy lube
and tell they person they want a tranny flush, not I am having issues . . .After the flush the tranny blows. They seem to forget why after XXXX thousand miles they had it flushed. It didn't blow up "because it was flushed" it was already gone because it wasn't maintained to start with. The flush may have caused it to fail a little quicker but the fact that it had worn out oil for the last XXXX thousand miles is what caused it to go out.
It makes perfect sense to me. I also had a mechanic at a trusted tranny shop tell me that they would not change fluid on a vehicle that had over 100K on the orginal fluid. They said the combination of the fact there was probably already a problem and that the new clean fluid did tend to cause some seals to leak made the jobs more problems than they were worth.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Isn't it like Biodiesel? I hutched and harpooned my tank and it was clean. However, if there was crud there and it messed up the filters, I'd probably blame it on Biodiesel and it would be true. I have serviced my trans every 30K or so and I use good synthetic so there is no buildup.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by weekendwander
I had a trans shop give me the best advise. The flushes are not causing the tranny to fail. The problem is that people don't maintain the transmission and then start having problems. They then talk and someone says, you haven't had it flushed, go have it done.
There is also no such thing as a power flush or backflush. Most of the machines do use the pressure from the outgoing fluid to push new fluid back into the trans, but it flows the same direction at the same or lower pressure as it would if the trans were operating normally.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
on this subject I say this, lexus uses a power flush sytem on the car I drove until my x. I am an active member of the board and they never complain about it tearing anything up.
I think on the ford,, I will do it old school. Maybe change it 2x if I am that concerened about contaminates or build up. It would still be cheaper thasn flushing the lexus.
I think on the ford,, I will do it old school. Maybe change it 2x if I am that concerened about contaminates or build up. It would still be cheaper thasn flushing the lexus.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Aaron77
So, to "flush" the system at home, you are draining through a line, and filling simultaneously? How do you gauge when your through the old, by color? Or maybe by volume?
CLICK HERE
