Howdy,

I'd really appreciate anyone'* opinion.
I have 99 SE. At 95K I got a tranny flush, and fluid and filter change (FEB 2004). Now I am at about 102K. I understand that it is a good idea to get a tranny flush and fluid change about every 30K. But I want to maintain the tranny properly, and it is getting old.

How often should a 100K+ tranny'* fluid be changed?

Thank you!

i thought it was every 50,000 miles

Your owner'* manual should say, and I think it is 50-60k or something like that. If you want to baby it, cut that time in half. I've done a flush a year since I owned the car (2 years).

I usually get it done once a year too.. Speaking of that, I should be getting the fluid changed here again soon. The last time ti was changed they didn't drop the pan or anything. They just flushed it.

-and once again here is my question: Since these "flushes" do not change the filter, what should be done about that?

-would we have our engine oil "flushed" but not change the filter ??

-comments please. Thank You

Well, when I took it into the shop that flushed my Transmission they told me that the transmission filters on these types of cars don't need to be changed. They claimed that the holes in the filter were so large, that they don't really "trap" anything in them.. only large peices of debris which would only need to be removed if you were experiencing problems. I claimed BS on that one but was in a hurry so didn't press the matter. I would still get the filter changed on the transmission though. When you take it in, ask them to do a flush, then to change the filter. They'll have to fill it up again, and it'll probably cost you $50 more, but it'* worth it. Most shops charge around $100 for a transmission flush. Don't know about the engine flushes, I've never had one done. I just change the oil/filter every 3000 miles.

when they flush the tranny they uusually just suck the fluid out the dipstick tube...with an expensive machine....i just changed mine...and the filter...i was surprised to learn that u can reuse the gasket......its made of ruber with a steel band...was very easy....i use a kitty litter pan to catch the fluid...the filter has large holes to allow the fluid to be sucked out of the pan...but the filter material is very fine....

Thanks all.
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Yes, with mine, it was a "power flush",dropped the pan, new filter, new gasket too I believe. All told: $191

Good points. Having visited a couple of transmission rebuilding shops on the subject of "flushing" here is some of the information I got. The term "flushing" may be misleading, since the process actually involves replacing all of the old fluid with new. This cannot be done with the simple proceedure of dropping the pan and replacing that quantity, (AND CERTAINLY NOT by sucking the old stuff out through the filler tube) since somewhere around 50% or more of the fluid is still in the transmission, torque converter, cooler, cooler lines, valve body, accumulators, etc etc. However, it is still an acceptable proceedure, if done often enough, including filter changes.

What is being accomplished with the popular "flush" is 100% replacement of the old fluid with new. And yes, the filter needs to be changed, and the magnet cleaned.

For us "do-it-yourself" types, it is somewhat interesting to dissect the old filter. (I have found that after removing the filter media, I have to lay it out on a bunch of newspaper, or hang it over the trash can for quite a long time to get most of the fluid out of it.) But then you can look it over closely, and see that it certainly does filter out those little sparkley pieces. Also, it is very intersting to discover that this type of filter actually filters "from the inside out." The media is sort of folded into an envelope, and you have to unfold it to see the debris that it has filtered out.

-just thinking that may be why that one person thought that there was no debris being filtered out. -they were looking at the "clean side" of the filter media. -the dirt hides on the inside.

Thanks for the discussion
AND THANKS to EVERYONE that makes this forum possible.
IT IS EXCELLENT !!

I got a brand ne Tranny filter in the garage. But I woun't cut it open for you. I can maybe remember to take some pics if it looks worth it.....