What does "trans flush" mean?

[DJW32]

Good day,
I was wondering if anyone knew what a "trans flush" means? I think they drain the old fluid and replace it with new fluid...again, I think. So, has anyone worked at a jiffy lube or firestone?

[astroracer]

A "flush" is a bit more then a drain and replace. A flush will replace ALL of the trans fluid where as a drain only gets what is sitting in the pan. You have to remember there is 3 or 4 quarts of fluid in the converter and a drain will not get that out.
A flush is done while the engine is running so the trans pump is also pumping fluid. Hooking the flush machine into the cooler lines at the radiator allows all of the old fluid to be replaced. The process is monitored at the machine and is complete when all of the fluid has turned a brite red,
Mark

[trex1270]

Yep that's pretty much the process, I manage a Firestone, here in Texas it cost 129.99 for most cars, mostly cause of all the fluid, if your car has alot of miles, I would reconsider doing this though. By alot, meaning 150k...

[megaladon6]

it's a great thing to do as regular maintenance, IF you have kept up on it to date. if you have over 80-100k miles without having at least changed the fluid and filter, don't bother. it may make things worse.
but it's a hell of a lot better than just a pan drop. those only replace about 30% of the total fluid. the flush does over 100%.

[MonzaRacer]

As for doing a flush on a trans, first flush it then do the filter. If servicing most cars in the life of them, simply buy a drain plug if not already equipt, have fluid serviced early in the cars life, and put init the drain plug, then every 4th oil change(assuming 3000 mile oil changes) you drain the pan and refill, every 8th oil change (should be around 24k-25k miles ) change the filter.
If you do this then by 48k-50k (16th oilchange) do basic flush and filter.
IF this service is done you can get many many mile from your trans.
I set a guy up when I worked at Firestone with this plan, he did it and that was in 05, he would up having to pull trans out for a bad thrust washer(he tows, and found a piece of it in trans pan and it had nearly 200k on it), trans shop commented on the cleanliness of trans. They resealed it, kept same clutches and steels, up graded the sun gearshell(slight cracks), added in the 4l65e pinion assembly.
The trans shop was astounded at my service plan BUT you also have to understand this was on a 1 ton dually with a 4l60e(not 4l80e) and it carried some big loads,
I honestly had never seen a 1 ton dually with a 4l60e.
As for servicing older trans it depends is fluid shot ,black and bad burnt smell? if not a flush with good grade of fluid and filter change may not hurt, and adding in the Lube Guard trans additive helps also.
After the upgrades his trans builder had him switch to the newer Dexron and he has much better driveability with lock up converter shudder gone (did install a towing converter to help with temps).
his old converter always shuddered, we never could fix that, so his towing converter is custom with BIG clutch inside.
Again if fluid is real dark or super strong burnt smell the trans is marginal regardless and a call to Bowler trans may be in order.

[brans72]

Be advised some manufactors nowdue not recomm a transmission flush and some have a suppose life long fluid (trust life long if you want haha). I would not flush it if has over 100k a nd you do not know the history, can always cause more problems from what I have seen. Just my .02

[Tony_SS]

I had the 700R4 flushed in my 86 C10. I have no idea on its mileage or rebuild. After the flush it does not 'thud' into gear under a low rpm shift. Overall it shifts a lot smoother.

[DJW32]

To everyone,
I appreciate all of the replies.

[Olav]

Om 2006 VW Touran this is a part of the service program.

Olav

[Yoda4561]

Prolly a little late, but I'd avoid any jiffy lube/non-dealer flushes. There's fluid exchanges that are usually perfectly safe, they do exactly what they describe, exchange all the old fluid for new, as opposed to just dropping the pan and refilling. A "flush" could mean a couple things, it could be a fluid exchange, a chemical solvent backflushed through the lines (bad idea), or some combination of the above. Sometimes the filter is changed, and sometimes it's not, which can cause real issues with some transmissions. When in doubt, just drop the pan and change the filter, and refill to spec. Keep that up every other year and no flushing of any sort should be necessary.

[wilks70]

Prolly a little late, but I'd avoid any jiffy lube/non-dealer flushes. There's fluid exchanges that are usually perfectly safe, they do exactly what they describe, exchange all the old fluid for new, as opposed to just dropping the pan and refilling. A "flush" could mean a couple things, it could be a fluid exchange, a chemical solvent backflushed through the lines (bad idea), or some combination of the above. Sometimes the filter is changed, and sometimes it's not, which can cause real issues with some transmissions. When in doubt, just drop the pan and change the filter, and refill to spec. Keep that up every other year and no flushing of any sort should be necessary.

Other facilities besides the stealer are perfectly capable of doing a competent tranny flush.....the exact same equipment is available at both facilities in most cases......much better service than changing less than half of the fluid each year...IMO

[IrvJr]

Prolly a little late, but I'd avoid any jiffy lube/non-dealer flushes. There's fluid exchanges that are usually perfectly safe, they do exactly what they describe, exchange all the old fluid for new, as opposed to just dropping the pan and refilling. A "flush" could mean a couple things, it could be a fluid exchange, a chemical solvent backflushed through the lines (bad idea), or some combination of the above. Sometimes the filter is changed, and sometimes it's not, which can cause real issues with some transmissions. When in doubt, just drop the pan and change the filter, and refill to spec. Keep that up every other year and no flushing of any sort should be necessary.

x1.

I am lucky enough to know the people who built the T Tech machine and used it all the time cause we lived 4 houses away from the son who actually built it. I got 204k out of my 4l60e in my Tahoe and it was still purring nicely when we traded it in. Now i own a machine myself and use it on my cars and anybody who want an "exchange".

[Chad-1stGen]

Regularly changing fluid in the trans will help a lot.

Having great cooling capacity will help even more IMO.

My 92 C1500 which is a 700R4 tranny has 225K miles on it and I use the truck almost exclusively for towing.

I'm pretty sure the only reason the engine and trans are in as good a shape as they are is due to the engine oil cooler and tyranny oil cooler.

Oh and i had the trans flushed at 220K miles or so with no problems. The flush before that was aground 150-160 I think.

[megaladon6]

X2 it really is almost impossible to overcool a trans. unfortunately some of the additives (in ATF) don't fully activate till they reach higher temps (180*?) BUT, when i worked as a mechanic i learned from the senior mechanics that they hadn't seen a truly gunked up trans. they had seen scored and burnt parts however, and the flush will prevent that.