Transmission flush advice

[jmsa540]

Guys, my car is about to roll over to 78K and I haven't even had a chance to "enjoy" it.

I wanted to do a tranny flush at the ford dealer before I start having fun with the car, etc.

the last time it was changed was at 55,758 miles (sept-2012) and it was done at Jiffy Lube.

The car currently has 77,952 miles on it.

Should I be safe? The transmission shifts fine.

[whitey]

Guys, my car is about to roll over to 78K and I haven't even had a chance to "enjoy" it.

I wanted to do a tranny flush at the ford dealer before I start having fun with the car, etc.

the last time it was changed was at 55,758 miles (sept-2012) and it was done at Jiffy Lube.

The car currently has 77,952 miles on it.

Should I be safe? The transmission shifts fine.

I read jiffy lube, and then read, should i be safe?

Yep, top notch car care....you'll be fine.

[fastblackmerc]

22k since last service should be fine. Check the smell and color. No burnt odor and red color = OK.

[Zack]

Pull the pan, replace the filter and install a drain plug in the pan.
Let the fluid drain overnight so you get the most out, or start the car for 10--15 seconds with the pan off.
Then drain 4 quarts out every other oil change.

[chief455]

22k since last service should be fine. Check the smell and color. No burnt odor and red color = OK.

I'm with this. If you have been easy on the car, you'll be draining fluid with tons of life left.
Zack's drain plug is smart next time your fluid is changed.

[jmsa540]

Guys, thanks. I believe the 55K one was the first tranny flush ever for this car. It really does shift fine, besides the weird "hunting for gear" thing. A tune from marty can fix that! :)

[Logizyme]

Jiffy lube generally will be using a universal DexIII/Mercon fluid, with an additive bottle to upgrade the fluid to Mercon V. Its really not a high quality fluid and I would suggest you replace it with some quality bottled Mercon V.

The drain plug is unneeded. If you disconnect the upper transmission cooler line from the hose just below the radiator, then start the engine, the transmission pump will pump the contents of the fluid pad out through the hose(which you should point into a drain pan). You can then fill the transmission just as if it had been drained. You could do it, drive it around the block, and repeat as many times as you would like to replace the most amount of fluid.

It kinda sounds like you do not service your own vehicle - if you change your own oil you can do what I described above pretty easily. If you do not service your own vehicle I would suggest having a dealer perform a transmission service for you.

Dropping the pan and changing the filter is not really needed. The filter really is only good for filtering out squirrels and pinecones.

[burt ragio]

Either way will get the job done trans drain plug or removal of return trans line at rad cooler. I prefer dropping trans pan better clean out & visual inspection. Replacing a filter never hurts. Most important use Mercon V.

[fastblackmerc]

Personally I prefer dropping the pan or using a drain plug. Less chance of possibly damaging the tranny. The extra cost of a filter is not that much. You can reuse the OEM gasket.

As stated.... ONLY use MERCRON V fluid. Fluid that you add a modifier to to "make" it Mercron V is not worth it.

[RF Overlord]

Many people have mis-information about changing transmission filters. For the record, Logizyme has it right.

Automatic transmissions generate the majority of their wear material in the first 10-15,000 miles from new. It is this wear material the filter is designed to trap. The ideal scenario is to change the filter once around that mileage and after that it is not necessary to change it again. The factory service manual even states that routine servicing of the filter is not required.

Having said that, it certainly doesn't hurt anything to change it more often, it just doesn't buy you anything.

[Zack]

Let's make an even clearer post for the less intelligent.

If you bought your car used, it is a damn good idea to drop the pan, replace the filter and install a drain plug.
After that, intermittent fluid draining is all you will need to keep the trans in great shape.

[fastblackmerc]

Let's make an even clearer post for the less intelligent.

If you bought your car used, it is a damn good idea to drop the pan, replace the filter and install a drain plug.
After that, intermittent fluid draining is all you will need to keep the trans in great shape.

+1.......234

[JBeezy]

In my case, I bought my car with 30k miles. Had the trans serviced around 40k at the dealership i think. It has 54k now. I've been thinking of taking it back to them for another servicing, but don't want that tech driving my car now that it's Supercharged. Should I just drain what's in the pan and replace that amount with fresh fluid?

[RF Overlord]

Yes. It'll take just under 4 quarts.

Do that every 25-30,000 and your transmission will thank you.


and "what Zack said" in post #11

[jmsa540]

just checked the color, it looks pinkish, NO BROWN. smells well, like regular fluid?

[Zack]

just checked the color, it looks pinkish, NO BROWN. smells well, like regular fluid?

See post #11 and #14.
Nothing more to say about this

[jmsa540]

thanks guys! I'll keep ya'll posted!

[RF Overlord]

Colour is not a good way to judge oil or transmission fluid. Just because it isn't brown and nasty doesn't mean it's still good, that just means it isn't oxidised. The additive pack can still be depleted so it doesn't protect the way it should. Fresh fluid is the life-blood of a transmission.

[camelgrundle]

What drain plug kit have you guys had good luck with?

[Zack]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/needa-parts-transmission-oil-drain-plug-piggyback-1-2-20-65241/9110147-P

Also sold under different brand names at other FLAPS

[camelgrundle]

Cool thanks! Might as well do this when I go to put the stall converter in!

[Zack]

Cool thanks! Might as well do this when I go to put the stall converter in!

You dont need to remove the pan to install a converter...FYI

[whitey]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/needa-parts-transmission-oil-drain-plug-piggyback-1-2-20-65241/9110147-P

Also sold under different brand names at other FLAPS

Thats it. Might want to buy a different seal/oring/washer for the plug portion(small bolt that threads into the larger bolt) itself, the oring it comes with is easily ripped with anything more than finger tight. Home depot is your friend.

[camelgrundle]

I know you don't have to remove the pan. Just figured why I was down there!

[whitey]

Mr. Grundle, in order to add the plug, you will need to drop the pan. You need to drill a 1/2" hole.

[camelgrundle]

You guys are f in wit me. I meant I know you don't have to take the pan off for the converter. I know how to install both thanks for the advice though.

[jimbok1951]

I read jiffy lube, and then read, should i be safe?

Yep, top notch car care....you'll be fine.


Do yourself or someone you can trust see jiffy lube video. Don't get hosed.
Merry Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

[Blaine B.]

The question is, did they use Mercon V and not a generic Mercon/Dexron blend?

[jmsa540]

I truly don't know, it was done two years ago

[whitey]

You guys are f in wit me. I meant I know you don't have to take the pan off for the converter. I know how to install both thanks for the advice though.

Lol, not at all man. Believe me, stranger shat has happened! Just making sure everyone is on the same page.

[camelgrundle]

Lol thanks man!

[RF Overlord]

I use this one:

http://www.bmracing.com/products/category/?maincat=Transmission+Accessor ies&subcat1=Drain+Plug+Kit

Available at NAPA and prolly others...

[martyo]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/needa-parts-transmission-oil-drain-plug-piggyback-1-2-20-65241/9110147-P

Also sold under different brand names at other FLAPS

Those things are like $3.50!!! Who wants to make that kind of major investment in their car????

[Blaine B.]

I would rather get an aftermarket pan or weld in a bung than trust some of those add-on drain plugs. Or just deal with leaning the pan to drain it before removing it completely, which is what I have done thus far.

[whitey]

Then buy a u haul pan for $75. Nothing wrong with adding a $5 plug to save $70.

[RF Overlord]

Nothing wrong with adding a $5 plug to save $70.^^^what whitey said^^^

I put one on Mary's car when we bought it and have one on my DD. No issue with either.

[Blaine B.]

Until it bottoms out on something and spills all of your fluid, burning your transmission up a minute later.

Only way it would be safe was if you installed it on the side of the pan facing horizontally so it couldn't get snagged on anything. I haven't seen any of them installed like that.

[camelgrundle]

You can install them wherever you want! But obviously the lowest point will drain the most fluid. But I don't drive like an idiot to bottom out the tranny pan so I will probably install it on the bottom.

[whitey]

Mines installed in the lowest part of the pan, on an angle, just like they are on a uhaul pan, and it doesn't sit any lower then the pan. If i hit something to rip it out, the uhaul pans plug would have also. You do what you want, but your(blain b.) logic makes no sense.

[RF Overlord]

Mines installed in the lowest part of the pan, on an angle, just like they are on a uhaul pan, Exactly...mine are on the back side of the "well" in the middle. No danger of knocking them off...

[fastblackmerc]

Until it bottoms out on something and spills all of your fluid, burning your transmission up a minute later.

Only way it would be safe was if you installed it on the side of the pan facing horizontally so it couldn't get snagged on anything. I haven't seen any of them installed like that.

If only you knew what you were talking about.

[justbob]

Mr. Grundle, in order to add the plug, you will need to drop the pan. You need to drill a 1/2" hole.


I drill then remove. :)


Builder Of Badassery

[justbob]

Until it bottoms out on something and spills all of your fluid, burning your transmission up a minute later.

Only way it would be safe was if you installed it on the side of the pan facing horizontally so it couldn't get snagged on anything. I haven't seen any of them installed like that.


Can't tell if this was serious?? :dunno:


Builder Of Badassery

[MOTOWN]

Until it bottoms out on something and spills all of your fluid, burning your transmission up a minute later.

Only way it would be safe was if you installed it on the side of the pan facing horizontally so it couldn't get snagged on anything. I haven't seen any of them installed like that.

OMG!!! You win the coveted :bs:of the year award for Mickey mouse azz logic!:eek::shake:

[Zack]

Lots of intelligence going around these days.

[tbone]

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/bmm-40291_w.jpg

'nuff said.

[whitey]

Lots of intelligence going around these days.

Yep, im done....

[TJCOX]

I saw a police CV in a salvage yard and the trans pan had a rubber plug. The hole appeared to have been punched.

[1Marauder]

Let's make an even clearer post for the less intelligent.

If you bought your car used, it is a damn good idea to drop the pan, replace the filter and install a drain plug.
After that, intermittent fluid draining is all you will need to keep the trans in great shape.

I LOVE IT when Zach gets all concise. Zach is dreamy... THANK YOU ZACH!