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Dark Red/Brown ATF. Flush?

Old 04-09-2009, 04:52 PM
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Question Dark Red/Brown ATF. Flush?

Hey Guys,
I did a transmission filter change about a month ago on my 93runner. I drained the tranny pan, dropped it, swapped the filter, put everything back together. added fluid. I know there is still about 2/3's of the tranny fluid in the converter and in the rest of the tranny so the fluid on the dipstick quickly turned dark red when I was checking the level after the service.

I suppose what I'm trying to ask is: Should I go head and flush the tranny? Using the cooler line to pump it out? I plan on doing the filter again afterwards.

I don't want to leave bad ATF in there, but I also don't want new fluid to cause slipping (i've had an older family member tell me that new atf in a worn tranny will do that)

I've got 217k miles on the tranny, hopefully it isnt downhill from here.
Old 04-09-2009, 05:32 PM
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was there a large amount of debris in the trans pan?
Old 04-09-2009, 06:50 PM
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not alot, of course this was the first time that I have done anything tranny wise. I was able to easily wipe the magnet in the pan and the pan itself clean with a rag. It wasn't like the pan was filled with clutch material.
Old 04-09-2009, 08:22 PM
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i wouldnt really worry about flushing it, just change it regularly and it should be fine
Old 04-09-2009, 08:25 PM
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I'd do another fluid change, but not right away. Draining the old fluid and refilling with clean fluid has diluted the remaining old fluid so you'll see some of the effects of the old fluid. Let it go a few thousand miles and then change again. I wouldn't worry about flushing it at all. Just let the new fluid dilute the old fluid and with every fluid change you'll be pulling old fluid out and eventually you should have good clean fluid in there.
Old 04-09-2009, 09:08 PM
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Pull the return line and let it pump all the old fluid out. Don't hook it up to a machine
Old 04-09-2009, 11:56 PM
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honestly, when i worked at a shop and we serviced trannys. The only ones that ever gave out after a flush because the fluid was so bad were domestics, hondas and mazdas. We flushed a toyota previa awd and a lexus 300es and the fluid was like diesel engine oil before we started. And they both vehicles ran so much better and did not fail for the 3 years i worked at that particular shop. I say have a qualified shop flush it with trans fluid from the dealer. Just make sure they drain and fill only the amount of fluid thats in the tranny. Thats my opinion good luck with however you do it.
Old 04-10-2009, 04:59 AM
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If it were mine I'd flush it myself like this, except skip the filter change since you did that already: http://home.centurytel.net/stevenjac...sh/tranny.html
Old 04-10-2009, 05:06 AM
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Out of curiosity, what did the old filter look like?
Old 04-10-2009, 05:20 AM
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I had thought about just pulling the cooler line and pumping the fluid out like mt goat and jay351 said.
From what I can remember, the old filter did not have any debris in the screen, I debated on just putting it back up there and returning the new one - but decided against that.
I'll probably change the ATF again this weekend when I do the oil, and drop the pan just to see what it looks like after 10,000 miles.
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