Should I let the dealer flush my transmission?

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Mar 29, 2007 | 04:56 PM

#41

Ironmike4x4

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Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 3,572

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From: Upsate SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkgarrison5

WOW... just got off the phone with my toyota service guys and they DO NOT RECOMMEND flushing! i was surprised.. they recommended to just drain and fill and clean the screen and or replace the screen. they said if (just like what i mentioned earlier) if you drain 3-5qts every 15-20k miles you will NEVER have to have it flushed.... they dont use those machines bc of a few reasons

1. the machine and most places that use them use detergents to clean the tranny out.. they said BIG MISTAKE and in the long run that will hurt the tranny

2. something about the pressure that could build up on the seals and etc in the tranny.. granted i am not a mechanic but these guys are very reputable in NC. they have the best prices and no bull sh$t work ethics.. i dont like dealerships but i love this one..

anyone want to chime in??

i say save the $.. unscrew your tranny pan plug and let it drain for a good while and replace as needed.

I don't know who or even IF you've talked to a reputable Toy dealer. A friend I went to ASEP school with is now working for Ralph Hayes Toyota (notice I used facts and gave the actual dealership) says to flush it at regular service intervals. He's a top line mechanic there and at the age of 22 is turning more comission hours than most other techs there according to their tally sheets. Toyota's may be different but I work for a GM dealer... we recommend tranny flushes every 30k miles. A month ago we had a Cadillac come in with 260k origional miles, origional engine, and origional tranny. Checked the service history and the customer was VERY keen on keeping the maintenence on it as the history indicated. Still ran like a champ. There chimed in....

Mar 29, 2007 | 06:26 PM

#42

GSGALLANT

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Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 1,756

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From: New Brunswick, Canada

Another solution if you don't feel comfortable flushing it yourself but you want your filter and magnets cleaned, is to drain it, drop the pan, clean the filters and magnets, re-install and re-fill the pan, then take it somewhere for them to flush it... although if you do all the stuff mentioned above, you've done 80% of the work, so you might as well just finish and do the flush yourself.

Mar 29, 2007 | 07:00 PM

#43

CJM

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Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 4,940

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From: Central NJ

Every 15-20k and I got 190k. PO did it and it shifts smooth as butter and isnt burnt.

Mar 30, 2007 | 09:04 AM

#44

Smokey

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Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 63

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Are there any side affects (good chance of burning up the tanny) when slowly empting the fluid out as mentioned in the thread? I honestly dont know the how the fluid is cycled through the tranny. Are you able to do this emptying because your not in gear and idling? What is the need to stop every few minutes then?

Basically, could someone give me an education on this topic.

Chris

Mar 30, 2007 | 09:48 AM

#45

mt_goat

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Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 10,666

Likes: 5

From: Oklahoma State

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokey

There is a pump that runs ATF through the cooler all the time the engine is running and the ultimate source of the ATF is the tranny oil pan. You don't want to let the level in the pan to drop to the point the ATF pickup starts sucking air because then you are running the tranny and pump without ATF. I'm not sure what would be damaged first and don't want to find out either. As long as the ATF pickup is below the ATF level it should be ok.

Last edited by mt_goat; Mar 30, 2007 at 09:49 AM.