Trans flush sorta OT

[Mr. Belvedere]

Does anyone know why you can't flush your own auto-trans out by simply disconnecting the lines at the cooler and hooking the return line up to a reservoir of clean fluid and the discharge line to a waste oil pan and let the pump in the tranny do all the work with the engine running and turn it off when you get clean fluid out the discharge line?

[Niel Hoback]

It just doesn't get the filter changed. But it is how I get out extra fluid when I screw up and overfill it.

[Mr. Belvedere]

Should I drop the pan change the filter refill it then flush or wait till I flush with clean fluid then drop the pan and change the filter and refill?

[Niel Hoback]

If it were mine, I would drop the pan, change the filter, fill it up and drive it. Do you feel there is something in there that needs to be washed out?

The bottom of the pan will have nasty looking stuff and even a few shavings. Thats nothing to worry about. Look for pieces of clutch disc in there if you have an awful lot on miles on it.

I guess I just don't worry much, it's part of my "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" logic.

[Mr. Belvedere]

I just bought a 98 Plymouth Breeze with 52,000 mi from a lady who was retiring to go cruising about the country with her husband in there big motorhome so they decided to sell her car and tow his behind the rig. Anyway, going thru her many records she gave me on the car I found no evidence that it was ever done and the fluid does not look real clean so I would like to get all of it out not just the case. Talked to a shop about doing it but they want around 150.00 to do it . He described the process over the phone with me and they disconnect the trans lines going to the cooler and essentially seem to do it the same way I descibed above only they have a machine to accept the old fluid and put in the new.

[Niel Hoback]

First, read the owners manual. Check the maintenance schedule. Most manufacturers recommend a trans fluid change at 100,000 miles with normal use.

I believe that transmission flushing is a relatively recent discovery by quickie oil change shops to make a fast buck, since it really does nothing, and is not recommended by the maker.

Awfully cynical, aren't I?

[Mr. Belvedere]

Nahh... I tend to be the same way. The owners manual actually recomends transmission fluid be changed every 30,000mi and with chrysler corps less than stellar automatic transmission history I figure I had better do it.

[Niel Hoback]

Thats very disappointing to hear. Tourqueflite used to be the worlds standard for durability. They were installed in Roll-Royce for a while there.

Being a cheapskate, I have never changed fluid in an A/T before 100k. But, now that you are talking little mopars, I put 143,000 on a 92 Spirit and finally sold it, get this, because the trans wouldnt shift. That one I changed the fluid on. And the governor. And the whole valve body. Then the name on the title.

Didn't get much sleep last night, then had to do the stress test thing this afternoon. Sorry, just feeling ornery.

Still P.O.'d about the vise.

Bottom line; change the fluid but don't worry about "flushing". and put the lid down if you do.

[dirty dan]

Does anyone know why you can't flush your own auto-trans out by simply disconnecting the lines at the cooler and hooking the return line up to a reservoir of clean fluid and the discharge line to a waste oil pan and let the pump in the tranny do all the work with the engine running and turn it off when you get clean fluid out the discharge line?

In south Louisiana, Tire Kingdom offers that service for automatic transmissions. As I recall it cost around $70.00 for my Chevy Suburban around 5 or 6 years back.

http://www.tirekingdom.com/Transmission.aspx