Radiator and Transmission Flush
01-09-2006, 02:32 PM
#21
Senior Member
True Car Nut
I did my first trans flush at about 65K and was "warned" that it might already be kind of late (by the quick lube dude, an obvious "expert" whose total mechanical education probably consisted of his last 30 days employment). Did my second at about 120K. No catastrophic tranny failure so far <knocks on wood>.
Planning on doing it again soon for a little increase in frequency.
I have never seen any solid arguments for this myth either.
Planning on doing it again soon for a little increase in frequency.
I have never seen any solid arguments for this myth either.
01-09-2006, 02:52 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by willwren
Closer to 12. But it varies from trans to trans how much you get.
As an FYI though, like Boosty mentioned the filter and fluid replacement that I did made a noticable difference in how the transmission feels.
01-09-2006, 03:24 PM
#23
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If the trans was Bone dry, like say from a rebuild it would be around 13 qts... iirc.... When we change the fluid and filter we should have removed 6.5-7 qts...
Generally, if you tend to change the fluid like I do about once a year then I feel that there is no need for a flush... Anyone remember what my pan looked like the last time I changed it? Almost nothing in the pan for friction material, and the fluid was still a deep clean red...
Now I'm not saying not to get a flush...
But I feel if you get a flush and the tranny fails( Make that a very reputable shop BTW ) then you most likely were impending doom and the trans still may have gone south but a little further down the road...
I'm the guy who likes to have his trans coolers, and fluid changes once a year... Keeps them going for a long time to come...
Also keep in mind I am in florida, and it does get really hot here.. And I know I have said it a million times... But most of the failures or heat failures are in the THM440-T4( 4T60 ) line of transmissions... I have seen countless numbers of these burn up down here..
The 60-E is overall pretty good... I have seen a couple die heat related deaths... But they were very few and far between... But 230F in any tranny is not that good... And yes the 60-E'* do get that hot... We have heard of higher temps than that, when the fluid starts to fry the clutches and assoiated parts are going with it...
I'* honestly say if you have a low milage trans, and you do a flush every couple of years including dropping the pan, than you could continue to do so.. Even at 60K I don't think a flush will kill the trans off... At 160k with a trans that has never seen a fluid change... That I would be worried about...
Scared to pull the Pan on the 91 SSE.... at 250K I am afraid I may find some not so nice stuff in the pan...
Almost Forgot... I have seen a lot of the AXOD Transmissions burn up... Sometimes my friend and I would install an AXOD to have it burn up down the road... Then install another... The second one is still going strong... Been 2 years I think... I feel that the AXOD-E was an improvement... But it was still getting too hot... Seen some of those fail too....lol ... Ford transmission on a Pontiac Forum.... 
But Lash knows that Don respects the Ford Vulcan 3.0, Fords little 60* V6 that could..
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Generally, if you tend to change the fluid like I do about once a year then I feel that there is no need for a flush... Anyone remember what my pan looked like the last time I changed it? Almost nothing in the pan for friction material, and the fluid was still a deep clean red...
Now I'm not saying not to get a flush...
But I feel if you get a flush and the tranny fails( Make that a very reputable shop BTW ) then you most likely were impending doom and the trans still may have gone south but a little further down the road...
I'm the guy who likes to have his trans coolers, and fluid changes once a year... Keeps them going for a long time to come...
Also keep in mind I am in florida, and it does get really hot here.. And I know I have said it a million times... But most of the failures or heat failures are in the THM440-T4( 4T60 ) line of transmissions... I have seen countless numbers of these burn up down here..
The 60-E is overall pretty good... I have seen a couple die heat related deaths... But they were very few and far between... But 230F in any tranny is not that good... And yes the 60-E'* do get that hot... We have heard of higher temps than that, when the fluid starts to fry the clutches and assoiated parts are going with it...
I'* honestly say if you have a low milage trans, and you do a flush every couple of years including dropping the pan, than you could continue to do so.. Even at 60K I don't think a flush will kill the trans off... At 160k with a trans that has never seen a fluid change... That I would be worried about...
Scared to pull the Pan on the 91 SSE.... at 250K I am afraid I may find some not so nice stuff in the pan...
Almost Forgot... I have seen a lot of the AXOD Transmissions burn up... Sometimes my friend and I would install an AXOD to have it burn up down the road... Then install another... The second one is still going strong... Been 2 years I think... I feel that the AXOD-E was an improvement... But it was still getting too hot... Seen some of those fail too....lol ... Ford transmission on a Pontiac Forum....
But Lash knows that Don respects the Ford Vulcan 3.0, Fords little 60* V6 that could..
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01-09-2006, 04:00 PM
#24
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
The reason the AXOD transmissions seem to have multiple failures in the same car is because the first failure plugs the fluid passages in the trans portion of the radiator with debris. If left unbypassed, subsequent transmissions will be flow-restricted. Gospel. Straight from my trans shop.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
01-09-2006, 04:10 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by willwren
The reason the AXOD transmissions seem to have multiple failures in the same car is because the first failure plugs the fluid passages in the trans portion of the radiator with debris. If left unbypassed, subsequent transmissions will be flow-restricted. Gospel. Straight from my trans shop.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
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01-09-2006, 04:15 PM
#26
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Originally Posted by jr's3800
Originally Posted by willwren
The reason the AXOD transmissions seem to have multiple failures in the same car is because the first failure plugs the fluid passages in the trans portion of the radiator with debris. If left unbypassed, subsequent transmissions will be flow-restricted. Gospel. Straight from my trans shop.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
This is why my radiator is bypassed now on the 93.
01-09-2006, 04:19 PM
#27
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Originally Posted by jr's3800
Ford transmission on a Pontiac Forum....
But Lash knows that Don respects the Ford Vulcan 3.0, Fords little 60* V6 that could..
But Lash knows that Don respects the Ford Vulcan 3.0, Fords little 60* V6 that could..
But the auto trans on it, the A4LD is so much mush...
I like my 4T60E much better. This thread is makin' me think I should drop the pan on mine one of these days. I don't know if it has ever been done.
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