To Flush or not to Flush ?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 12
From: Cape Coral, FL
Yes it was a bit sarcastic but if you are only doing one quart of fluid every 3-5 thousand miles and you start with a nasty transmission it seems like you'd never get ahead of the problem.
That and the trouble of draining out 1 quart. If you're pulling the plug to drain out a quart and the fluid looks bad why not just dump it all out for the same amount of effort ??
One trick is to save an old 4 or 5 quart oil bottle and pour what came out into the bottle to measure it. Most have a little see through strip and some graduations for OZs on the end. That way you're back to where you started since our transmissions are notorious for being difficult to read.
Now . . . if your fluid looks fair to good and you wanted to dump or suck out a quart each LOF that would be a good maintenance procedure.
That and the trouble of draining out 1 quart. If you're pulling the plug to drain out a quart and the fluid looks bad why not just dump it all out for the same amount of effort ??
One trick is to save an old 4 or 5 quart oil bottle and pour what came out into the bottle to measure it. Most have a little see through strip and some graduations for OZs on the end. That way you're back to where you started since our transmissions are notorious for being difficult to read.
Now . . . if your fluid looks fair to good and you wanted to dump or suck out a quart each LOF that would be a good maintenance procedure.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
There is a DIY flush where you pull the (top on my '95) trans cooler line at the radiator and put a length of clear hose on and put that in a bucket. Let engine idle, shift slowly through gears and when you see bubbles in the drain line kill engine and add more fluid and repeat. You are using the engine and trans to gently push out the old fluid with fresh. You choose what quality of fluid. I like this method.
CHECKING FLUID LEVEL
1) Ensure vehicle is level. Apply parking brake and gear
selector lever to "P" position. Start and idle engine. Move gear
selector lever through all gears, while pausing 4-5 seconds for
engagement at each position.
2) Return gear selector lever to "P" position. Wait 2 minutes
and check fluid
CHECKING FLUID LEVEL
1) Ensure vehicle is level. Apply parking brake and gear
selector lever to "P" position. Start and idle engine. Move gear
selector lever through all gears, while pausing 4-5 seconds for
engagement at each position.
2) Return gear selector lever to "P" position. Wait 2 minutes
and check fluid
My only fear with doing this is getting a false read on the dipstick & either not adding enough or adding too much & really doing some damage.
Did you install an online magnetic filter?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 12
From: Cape Coral, FL
My car is at 300K and in my mind it's too late for an in-line filter. If it dies and I get it rebuilt then I would put an in-line filter.
I had an extra water softener drain hose that was green tinted but clear enough to see through. It turned out to be a perfect snug fit and I didn't need to use a clamp. The fluid comes out fast enough but it's not under a lot of pressure.
I didn't mess with the drain plug. I pulled the trans cooler line, pushed my hose on it and placed the end into an empty 5qt oil jug and started it up and slowly rowed through the gears until I saw a few bubbles coming through the line and shut it off. The bubbles shows the trans is near empty as it's starting to suck a little air. Dropped in three quarts and did it again, and again. Mine took almost 12 quarts until it turned red. It was a very dismal black colored crap that came out.
If you use the drain container to measure what's coming out you know you are putting in the exact same amount. If you're sure you are good when you start then you should be at almost the same spot when you finish flushing. And yes, I didnt' use a new clip or new O-rings, my bad.
What I've found to be the best way to check fluid is to drive the car someplace, food, work, shopping whatever I'd normally do and then check it when I get home. I seem to have repeatable results that way. Checking it cold the level seems to fluctuate all over the place.
Available for $25 at IPD
I had an extra water softener drain hose that was green tinted but clear enough to see through. It turned out to be a perfect snug fit and I didn't need to use a clamp. The fluid comes out fast enough but it's not under a lot of pressure.
I didn't mess with the drain plug. I pulled the trans cooler line, pushed my hose on it and placed the end into an empty 5qt oil jug and started it up and slowly rowed through the gears until I saw a few bubbles coming through the line and shut it off. The bubbles shows the trans is near empty as it's starting to suck a little air. Dropped in three quarts and did it again, and again. Mine took almost 12 quarts until it turned red. It was a very dismal black colored crap that came out.
If you use the drain container to measure what's coming out you know you are putting in the exact same amount. If you're sure you are good when you start then you should be at almost the same spot when you finish flushing. And yes, I didnt' use a new clip or new O-rings, my bad.
What I've found to be the best way to check fluid is to drive the car someplace, food, work, shopping whatever I'd normally do and then check it when I get home. I seem to have repeatable results that way. Checking it cold the level seems to fluctuate all over the place.
Available for $25 at IPD
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post