Tee-Bruce

Flush or not to flush....199000 mi..97 4x2 Ltd....purchased used ...no maint history...no problems that I am aware of or experiencing...daily driver for my family. What do you think I should do? Just want to make it last and maintain it properly.
Thanx in advance!
Tony

rearviewmirror

Drain and fill a couple of times, don't have it flushed.

Parker Runner

Option 1)Flush-then drain and fill every oil change. The drain will get a fair amount out of the tranny.

Option 2)Flush every 25K.

Flush is what? $100? Tranny change $2500 plus headache and heart ache?

All tranny fluid is very...very thin oil. It is used, abused and neglected. Very...very cheap insurance.

whokrz

I have seen lots of transmissions die because they were flushed.
If you are worried about it look into changing the filter and fluid.
If it shifts fine and the fluid is not dark colored and does not smell burn then it is fine.
I bought my 4runner with 80,000 miles on it. I never did a thing to the transmission, and when it was sold at 200,000 miles it still worked great.
I have seen these transmissions advertised by junk yards for $300. When your finally dies I would put in a used one with 80,00 miles on it as long as you are doing the work yourself. If you pay someone to do it you may want to have it rebuilt because of the labor cost to install it.

Parker Runner

I am not quite sure how flushing a transmission will lead to its demise. If so, there would be dead transmission all over the place just days or months after they departed Jiffy Lube.

Then again, let's make the distinction between the two procedures. Some shops consider a "flush" when all fluid is replaced through the natural pressure of the transmission. This is done by simply removing the lines from the cooler and allowing the transmission to "suck" in new fluid and "expel" the old. This is no different than changing the fluid and more effective.

The other method is to "flush" the system by introducing harsh chemicals into the transmission to "remove" dirt and debris. This is no bueno. A transmission filter removes those debris already. By introducing chemicals into a transmission not designed for it, you are asking for problems. All it needs it hydraulic fluid and a few additives. Don't make it complicated.