High mileage auto tranny service

[WaterWitch2]

Has anyone done a fluid and filter change on a high mileage auto trans and had the trans take a dump right after?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

especially if the wrong fluid is used. yes i have heard of that, the gunk kept it going, the new fluid free things up and bad things happened.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

i have heard the same i probly would not touch one over 150,000, but just what others say, my father in law master ASE mecan. has also ecohed this choice. They dont puke like the first time out usually but the ones u hear about are after a few months years, could just be they were high mileage?

-Nate

 

[ezmobee]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

I bought a 1991 Buick Regal with 150k miles on it that was an ex-company car. The manager at the company who maintained the cars said they had the trans fluid changed in it for the first time after like 120some k miles and it didn't shift for crap. However, they took it back immediately and the dealer changed it again and it was great. Still shifted fine when I sold it 30k miles later.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

i would use a judgement call there and depending how badly burnt the fluid is would be the deciding factor if it is black don't touch it , brown should be ok.

 

[srothfuss]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

Servicing the Tranny (if it's got high mileage) depends on weither or not it's been serviced regularly in the past.

If the transmission fluid gets changed, say every 30K miles, than nothing bad should happen when you change it again.

But if it hasn't been serviced in its entire lifetime than that transmission will be a goner as soon as you swap out the destroyed fluid.

Of course if the fluid is toast and the transmission isn't working properly you might only be left with the choice to rebuild and try to maintain it next time

 

[2broke4this]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

I've been meaning to ask this same question... my Savana (4L80e trans) has about 130,000 miles on it. I got it with about 125k on it, and judging by all the other work I've had to do (or have done, I'm no mechanic), I'm SURE the PO never had the transmission fluid changed. It seems to shift pretty well, but I was curious about whether or not to have the fluid changed/flushed. The LAST thing I need right now is a dead transmission! From the comments on this thread, it seems like I should leave it alone, but I'd like to keep the van around a while, so I'm not sure what to do.

-Carl

 

[sickwilly]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

yes when flushed, no when just changing out the 3 to 3.5 quarts in the pan. I killed my Explorer's tranny by being lazy and not dropping the pan myself to change out the fluid. One week after the flushing at J-lube -- death to the tranny. 3 prior tranny pan drops and fluid exchanges all improve the performance. It was a shame because at 220K the engine was as strong as ever.

Does your vehicle have a tranny fluid drain ****, or does the pan have to be dropped?

My strategy now after messing up with the Explorer with my vehicles is to always to do a 3-3.5 quart drain and fill with each oil change until I get the fluid looking nice and new. Then I will drop the pan and actually change the filter (if the car has one).

I would absolutely stay away from the flushing machine that some places use, and make you sign a release first.

Look around -- in Franklin TN we have a local oil change shop that only charges $26.50 to do a drain and fill of the tranny pan, which is a real messy job if there is no drain ****.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

especially if the wrong fluid is used. yes i have heard of that, the gunk kept it going, the new fluid free things up and bad things happened.

That's why I was thinking about reusing the old fluid and just installing a new filter and adjusting the bands.

If it did decide to die it wouldn't be too big of a deal for me to rebuild it since I've rebuilt many transmissions in the past. The only part I hate is the R&R of the trans.

 

[mandopickr]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

I had my wife's Maxima transmission fluid changed at 85,000 at Nissan. Immediately had problems, they diagnosed it as a bad tranny, and rebuilt it.
After the rebuild, there was no change in preformance, transmission still acted up. We took it back in.

According to the service manager, when they changed the transmission fluid, they didn't replace or clean the filter and it became clogged. They determined that the transmission should have never been rebuilt and credited us back what we spent.

 

[moterboat]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

a high mileage tranny would have a lot of metal particles in the bottom of the pan,(normal wear) when the pan is removed and the filter removed it disturbs and moves this mess,it only takes a spec or two to clog a valve body or shift solenoid,or to take out your whole tranny.. its also recommended by transmission shops that if you use your vehicle to pull with, service your tranny every 35000 miles, summit racing also has universal add on spin on filter assy's. that you can purchase and install in series with a cooler line,easy installation.. I hear that their around $30.00 + shipping.. and for ford explorers 1995 and over,add a good quality trans cooler to the existing coolers..

 

[moterboat]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

I had my wife's Maxima transmission fluid changed at 85,000 at Nissan. Immediately had problems, they diagnosed it as a bad tranny, and rebuilt it.
After the rebuild, there was no change in preformance, transmission still acted up. We took it back in.

According to the service manager, when they changed the transmission fluid, they didn't replace or clean the filter and it became clogged. They determined that the transmission should have never been rebuilt and credited us back what we spent.

could have been a computor problem or shift solenoid..

 

[Wide Open]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

yes when flushed, no when just changing out the 3 to 3.5 quarts in the pan. I killed my Explorer's tranny by being lazy and not dropping the pan myself to change out the fluid. One week after the flushing at J-lube -- death to the tranny. 3 prior tranny pan drops and fluid exchanges all improve the performance. It was a shame because at 220K the engine was as strong as ever.

Does your vehicle have a tranny fluid drain ****, or does the pan have to be dropped?

My strategy now after messing up with the Explorer with my vehicles is to always to do a 3-3.5 quart drain and fill with each oil change until I get the fluid looking nice and new. Then I will drop the pan and actually change the filter (if the car has one).

I would absolutely stay away from the flushing machine that some places use, and make you sign a release first.

Look around -- in Franklin TN we have a local oil change shop that only charges $26.50 to do a drain and fill of the tranny pan, which is a real messy job if there is no drain ****.

Exact same experience here. Had no problems when just changing the fluid in the pan and the filter when following the recommended fluid change intervals detailed in the owners manual (every 50 k when towing) at the 50k and 100k milestones. Decided to have it flushed completely at the 150k mark and the transmission started to have issues immediately. I should have just stuck with changing the fluid and filter.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

Just a personal opinion.
Getting a transmission fluid change and / or flush at a "quickie lube" place is a bad idea. Just like getting a coolant flush there as well. You can not flush and clean the coolant system in my opinion without removing the water pump and thermostat housing.
Just my opinion.

 

[Wide Open]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

Maybe I shouldn't have said exact.
I had the tranny and the cooling system flushed by the dealer. Tranny started acting up and the water pump started leaking so I had to replace the water pump also.
I am not saying not to do it but just be aware you may experience some issues afterward.

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

i think the reason why so meany people have trouble after flushes is it sturs up alot of **** and plugs the filters and or gets some particals in the valve body. and most the time can be fixed. i used to go to this one tranny guy that would drop the pan replace the filter and clean out the valve body with an air hose (i wouldent sugest doing this if you dont know what your doing) all for $50 and never had a problem. however sense i moved so i can no longer go to him i just drop the pan clean out any sludge in the bottom of the pan install a new filter and refil. i also keep a magnet stuck to the bottom of the pan to catch any metal particals

 

[Matthew_B]

Re: High mileage auto tranny service

Look around -- in Franklin TN we have a local oil change shop that only charges $26.50 to do a drain and fill of the tranny pan, which is a real messy job if there is no drain ****.

You can use the transmission pump to pump out the pan before you remove it. Disconnect the return line and slip a tube over it to lead the fluid away to a collection container. Start the engine and stop it as soon as you see bubbles appear. This lowers the level in the pan way down and makes removal much less messy.

Wish I knew this before I changed my transmission fluid on my truck the first time: 14 quarts is a pain.