Can anyone with knowledge bring to light the true process that ocurs when a transmission flushing machine is used. I have different accounts of the process by different dealers and lube centers. It concerns me that some represent the machine as injecting a cleaner into the tranny when I have not been able to find by internet search a transmission fluid machine that specs out 3 reservoirs, only a fill and a waste reservoir. No where have I found listed a reservoir for a cleaning solution. I recently had this process done on a vehicle and if they are only extracting and injecting tranny fluid without injecting and extracting cleaning fluid then I think they are misrepresenting what the fluid/flushing machine is really doing.
There are different machines. I have a machine that only changes the fluid. It does not use any type of cleaner or solvent. I would never use a cleaner or solvent in a transmission.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
Same here, nothing but ATF gets put in an automatic transmission. My poor man's flush consists of disconnecting a cooler line & placing the end in a bucket, and adding ATF through the dipstick tube at about the same rate as fluid's coming out of the cooler line, until there's new fluid coming out. If you pay retail for the ATF, it may cost as much as a flush and you're left with 5 gallons or so of ATF to dispose of.
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Phil
1988 F350, NA 7.3l, 5-speed, crew cab, 4.10 SRW. Miles: over 450K. Being taken off the road within the next month or so to deal with advanced rust. May just do a resto/rebuild to better my bodywork & paint skills.
if they are only extracting and injecting tranny fluid without injecting and extracting cleaning fluid then I think they are misrepresenting what the fluid/flushing machine is really doing.
it's called a flush because that's what it is. detergents in the fluid are responsible for cleaning the transmission, and the filter is responsible for trapping anything they break loose.
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1992 F250 XLT 4x4 Super Cab 7.3 IDI E40D 3.55 ATS 088 4"R.C 373k
1982 MBZ 300SD W126 California model w/Sunroof, no EGR
thank you mark for the wisdom of your post---some people dont get it---------
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94 f250 idi turbo sc e4od alum fac rims 149,289 --dana 60 frt with posi--10.25 rear w/posi--shouldnt get stuck!! ats turbo 3" parts on--what a diff from stock turbo!!!!!--- also 96 F250 with 305,000 is fixed!!-- 7.3 rattler-also 85 6.9-needs new engine!! tired!!
Same here, nothing but ATF gets put in an automatic transmission. My poor man's flush consists of disconnecting a cooler line & placing the end in a bucket, and adding ATF through the dipstick tube at about the same rate as fluid's coming out of the cooler line, until there's new fluid coming out. If you pay retail for the ATF, it may cost as much as a flush and you're left with 5 gallons or so of ATF to dispose of.
Can't you just put the other hose in the new ATF and have it sucked in.
Maybe I'm off my rocker, I really don't know but it is an idea I've had after seeing those machines work. Maybe there's no suction, so you have to have the pressure to force it back in the tranny.
The pump forces the fluid through the cooler, it doesn't create quite enough vacuum to lift the new ATF even a few inches LOL.
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Phil
1988 F350, NA 7.3l, 5-speed, crew cab, 4.10 SRW. Miles: over 450K. Being taken off the road within the next month or so to deal with advanced rust. May just do a resto/rebuild to better my bodywork & paint skills.
The pump doesn't create ANY suction in the return line. The return line feeds the lube system, then it is dumped into the pan. The pan is vented to the atmosphere so there is no way the pump can suck fluid from the return line.
__________________ Mark Former Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
Ok, Thanks guys, bummer for my at home flushing idea.
I guess that's why that thing is designed with the plunger that pushes the new stuff in while the old stuff is held on the other side.
Seems like you could use a long section of coiled copper about 3/4" full of new ATF and pump the old ATF into it. Seems like there wouldn't be much mixing if any in that small diameter. Especially with just the right side balloon or ball travelling through it,,,,hmmmmmm.
I have yet to see a flushing machine that does any good, unless the vehicle has been done religiously. I am totally against the procedure. I have been doing autos for many, 20plus, years and taking the pan off to see whats in there is the only safe bet.
Every one I have seen flushed with high miles has crapped the trans in a month or less.
My buddy that owns a shop sold his unit because it happened too often.
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91 F350 crew cab 4x4 7.3 ats and intercooled with cut down 2000 ps cooler, bigger turbo comp,head studs, torque cam, coated rockers , balanced. very good power.
pyro,boost and all stock guages ignored with mechanical real ones
Fugitive sandrail. type 4 2840 turbo fi, lots of fun
Every one I have seen flushed with high miles has crapped the trans in a month or less.
My buddy that owns a shop sold his unit because it happened too often.
Any idea why that would be, only thing I can imagine is the fresh detergents release a bunch of goo or something.
Also, Mark, any chance you know where there is a tutorial on doing the C6, of course it's similiar, but it would be nice to see one for my tranny.
When I worked at one of those brand name lube shops back in high school we ahd a trans flush machine. it looked really cool but it was a rip off. kind of funny because behind the new fluid was a light bulb making the fluid look bright red. behind the used fluid as no light, but something blocking any light from tranmiting through making it appear old and dirty.
on another note, i have extended the life of my c-6 that was crapping out on me by doing a shadetree flush a few times on it. probably got me another 6-8 months out of it until i could save the money to do another trans. i think we gravity fed it into the return line from the radiator. don't remember back that far- lots of 'smoke' back in those days....
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My daily driver is a M1151 HMMWV, desert sand in color, runs on JP8.
My personal diesel? '97 F-350 5-spd, Pyro and boost gauges, Banks intercooler, Banks turbo housing, exhaust, Banks chip. Dual remote by-pass oil filter. Now I am ready to get serious- new build will have new chip, new turbo, big injectors, big oil, big fuel, coolant filter, big lift, big tires, rear disc conversion.... getting rid of the Banks stuff.
As said there are many types of tranny flush machines. Some rely on the trany pump for pressure, some have there own pump. The cleaners are usually poured into the tranny and run briefly before the flush is actually done. These cleaners are usually pretty mild. A tranny flush should be done as maintenance before the fluid actually starts breaking down, just like changing the engine oil. Just shouldn't need it near as often. A LOT of people wait til they have a tranny problem then try and flush it. That's like changing the oil because the engine is knocking. The damage is done. The bigger question is what kind of tranny fluid is being put back in? Most shops use the cheapest thing available and may not even spec out for what they put it in. I've worked for shops like that, they have additives that are supposed to make plain ol' Dexron compatible to other vehicles. Better shops have synthetic fluid that has a wide application, that's what we have. It costs us around $4.00 qt, and that's buying 300 gallons at a time. Just like everything else, you usually get what you pay for.
Deceased--1990 F350 2wd DRW Super Cab E4OD 7.3l IDI
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Automatic Transmission Engineer 1988-2007
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