Ive got the 4-speed in a 2001 with 141,oookm or 85,000 miles. Car gets gently used in suburban road without much (but some) traffic. Trans shifts well.
Looked at user's manual, it says that at 50,000 miles if you drive up mountains, in heavy traffic, or like a police/taxi, change fluid and filter, but if you don't then don't bother. It also says that at the next 50,000 miles change it if you drive under those same conditions, but if you don't, don't bother.
I'm somewhere between - do I really have to change it at all, or at 100,000 miles? I dont think I do?
On my auto eco it's recomended every 100,000 miles. I'll probably change it at 50,000 anyway. At the very least you'll be able to tell if everything is working correctly when the old fluid is flushed from the system. Do it now if you can swing it.
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In my opinion, I would change it. It doesn't cost much for the fluid and the filter, so drop the pan, change the filter, and top the fluid off. You will only be changing about half the fluid, but at least you will get new detergents in there, as well as new oil. Then you can see what, if anything, has collected in the pan and you have piece of mind that everything is working as advertised.
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I perfer to do a flush instead. We do them at work all the time, and they get about 95% of the old fluid out of there
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Rob S wrote:I perfer to do a flush instead. We do them at work all the time, and they get about 95% of the old fluid out of there
what exactly happens when you "flush" it? do you stick some sort of pump on the ends of one of the tranny cooler lines that runs to the radiator, or...???
this is sounding pretty appealing to me as i have 95,XXX on my car and have no idea what the history of the tranny is. id rather not screw it up by changing the fluid and risking having something go wrong because the new wont mix with the old or something along those lines. so, if you can get 95% of the fluid out by "flushing" it, that sounds like a reasonable course of action to me.
how much does a flush usually run?
EVERY fluid in the car should be changed at one time or another..preferably sooner than most do..this includes transmission,brakes,power steering,coolant,etc.. alot of people think that these fluids will last forever...if thats what you think then dont ever change them and lets see how long your car lasts compared to someone that changed them regularly
A flush, you simply disconnect the return line and supply line at the radiator, hook the machine up. It will force the old fluid out, as it forces new fluid in. It does remove about 95% of the fluid
While your ay 95k, might want to check on a power steering flush to.
Transmission flushes at my work run $99.99 I think, and P/S flushes are $39.99
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
I would never do "just a flush" without changing the filter too.
When you do your filter change... cut the old filter apart and see why I recommend that...
Also, a flush is a big waste of $$ and fluid.
Gilles
2.3 Ho
Mfk-223 wrote:Also, a flush is a big waste of $$ and fluid.
why if it gets out most of the old fluid? just dropping the pan doesnt get old a lot, some... but not even close to the amount the flush would. i'll be doing a flush this summer, probly p/s and tranny just to be safe.
Mfk-223 wrote:Also, a flush is a big waste of $$ and fluid.
I would not see this coming from you.
When you change the filter, you are only changing like a few quarts, when you do a full system flush you are changing ALL the fluid. How can that be a bad thing, or a waste of money. I try to change mine every 30-40 thousand miles. Never had even a little problem with the trans. 125,000 and still strong. The toque converter on the other hand is dieing. I have a yank that I will be putting in a new trans, when I buy one, and put my new motor in. I rather be safe then sorry, with the new motor.
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I worked at a Ford dealership and they were doing flush. They were charging so much to flush it that you could change the filter and fill it up twice for the same price. That's why I said waste of money. If you only cost 20-30$ more than I would do it for sure. Also, like John said, I woul ALWAYS change the filter.
So if it cost 60$ to change the fluid and filter yourself but the flsuh cost 80$, I would say Yes it's a good thing. Otherwise, twice the price for the flush is too much IMO. Only reason I said waste of money.
Gilles
2.3 Ho
Mfk-223 wrote:I worked at a Ford dealership and they were doing flush. They were charging so much to flush it that you could change the filter and fill it up twice for the same price. That's why I said waste of money. If you only cost 20-30$ more than I would do it for sure. Also, like John said, I woul ALWAYS change the filter.
So if it cost 60$ to change the fluid and filter yourself but the flsuh cost 80$, I would say Yes it's a good thing. Otherwise, twice the price for the flush is too much IMO. Only reason I said waste of money.
Agreed.
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
I would say look around, I pay $60 for a flush, and yes they change the filter too.
IMO, if you have the money, do a flush AND Filter.
Do the flush first, so as to get any remaining contaminants (metal shavings. etc) stuck in the filter, and change the fluid that a pan drop wont get. Then drop your pan and change the filter.
It may seem a bit redundant, but at least you know the fluid is GOOD, and the filter is Good, not one or the other.
If i had to choose, i'd do just a filter change over the flush. Either one is good in its own right, but the filter drop removes all the crappy stuff thats stuck to the filter, plus it does help the trans fluid by replacing a good portion of it.
