To Flush Or Not To Flush?

[WFOgmcjoe]

Yup, thats right. Upon returning from a 200 mile trip to pick up a new to me, 18' car hauler, I did a post trip inspection, only to find that my trans. fluid has that tell tale scent of burnt trans. fluid.

 

So should I try a flush and filter to try to prolong the inevitable? Or start pricing a overhaul kit with corvette servos and other upgrades?

 

Thanks Ward

[PlatinumMechanic]

From my experience if a transmission is too far gone flushing it will make it slip worst than before.

[sbatzold]

what is your truck and how much did the trailer wiegh? Just wondering why the tranny went bad.

[DJinCO]

what is your truck and how much did the trailer wiegh? Just wondering why the tranny went bad.

 

 

+1

 

An empty 18' car hauler on a 200 mile trip should not have fried a transmission.

[cmoore74]

what is your truck and how much did the trailer wiegh? Just wondering why the tranny went bad.

 

 

+1

 

An empty 18' car hauler on a 200 mile trip should not have fried a transmission.

 

 

Agreed. That tranny should have handled that kind of load.

 

If the fluid is only a bit dark and not completely burnt smelling maybe it's just time to get it changed. How long has the fluid been in there?

 

If the fluid is definitely fried, you may want to have the tranny looked at.

 

Do you have a tranny cooler? If not, that would be a must for towing that kind of load and may be why the fluid smells burnt.

[Black02Silverado]

Yup, thats right. Upon returning from a 200 mile trip to pick up a new to me, 18' car hauler, I did a post trip inspection, only to find that my trans. fluid has that tell tale scent of burnt trans. fluid.

 

So should I try a flush and filter to try to prolong the inevitable? Or start pricing a overhaul kit with corvette servos and other upgrades?

 

Thanks Ward

 

 

How many miles are on the ATF fluid?

 

You can change it out and see what happens. Your might just be on borrowed time anyway. If you plan on keeping the truck I would change it. Either way you would have to repair the transmission. You might be ok and changing it out will make it last a long time where as if you don't change it then you are just making it worse by running it with bad fluid.

[98BLACKBURB]

WFOgmcjoe...... How did you make out with your tranny?

[WFOgmcjoe]

Hi Guys The truck has 151,000 Kms. I tow a my sons s10 drag truck and the wifes 7x12 enclosed with 200 gallon water tank and her equipment.

 

It shifts really well still. No slipping or anything like that. Just the discoloured and burnt smelling fluid

Its a half ton ex-cab 4.8l two wheel drive.

 

I am going to do the service on it. Whether I cure it, or kill it, Changing the fluid might buy me enough time, till those new diesels come out

 

Thanks Ward

[ZZ327]

if it starts slipping after your trans flush, Go to the auto parts store and buy this stuff called

 

SLICK 50 Transmission treatment. That will buy you extra time.

[C & A s Dad]

Ward, my bet is there is no external trans cooler on this truck. If there is no cooler in front of the A/C condensor in the middle of the grill, you have to add one if you plan to keep towing. Add a good stacked plate style cooler about 11" x 11" x 3/4" thick max or you could step down one size.

[WFOgmcjoe]

Thats right C&As Dad. There is no cooler, yet. My son thought that there was one. But when we looked together, I pointed out that it was just a small power steering cooler. We thought that putting one behind the lower air dam would be a great place, but come winter, all the slush and crap would probably not do it justice.

I have a nice one on the shelf that should be in this weekend. As well as the flush and filter change.

 

Thanks

[naterasmussen]

Personally (doesn't mean I'm correct) I was told flushing just stirs crap up, and may cause more problems. I pulled the pan (make sure everything is in nuetral, the shift line is in the way) and replaced all the guts, and refilled it. It doesn't sound like your truck was overloaded, but if that doesn't work, you most likely have tranny issues.

[Deichler]

I just got my tranny serviced today at the dealer. They used the Wynn's Flush on it. The truck is an 02 with 68,300 on it so it was about time anyway. They said it looked fine and shouldn't have any problems. They said the fluid was still redish pink but they put new in. They told me that the Wynn's system is supposed to prolong the tranny if done right ahead of time. I tried it out after they done it and it shifts as smooth as a car. I don't feel a thing. Just my opinion.

[cmoore74]

Thats right C&As Dad. There is no cooler, yet. My son thought that there was one. But when we looked together, I pointed out that it was just a small power steering cooler. We thought that putting one behind the lower air dam would be a great place, but come winter, all the slush and crap would probably not do it justice.

I have a nice one on the shelf that should be in this weekend. As well as the flush and filter change.

 

Thanks

 

Most put the cooler in front of the radiator just like the OEM location for maximum airflow. I have also seen them behind the radiator if there is room in front of the fan. They are very easy to install.

 

A few pieces of advice on the cooler:

 

- Get one of reasonable size. The OEM cooler is a bit on the small side and mine and many other's opinions. It's about 5" tall by 8" wide by 3/4" thick (these are rough estimates from memory). Most feel a slightly larger cooler is preferable.

- Don't bypass the "cooler" in the radiator. You should see the transmission fluid lines running into and out of your radiator. This is there to get your fluid up to temperature (keep it from being too cool) when not towing and in cold weather.

- If you get a cooler with rubber hose, once installed and after a bit of time check to make sure the hoses aren't rubbing anywhere and 2) the rubber hoses can get a bit of a set to them and you should check to make sure they are not weeping at the barb fitting.

 

I've had good luck with B&M coolers. Sumitt racing sells them as I'm sure other parts places. I'm sure there are other brands equal to or maybe even better than B&M.

 

I'm surprised an empty car trailer fried the fluid. Could it have been fried from a previous heavier tow? Towing relatively big loads with no cooler would definitely do your fluid in over time.

 

Not sure about flushing vs. not flushing. Opinions seem to be all over the placeon this. Good luck!

[redsled2007]

If the trany fluid smells burnt, it is. You need to go to a service center that does a COMPLETE FLUSH, not just a pan drop and filter change. With a filter change and refill you will NEVER remove enough of the fluid to bring it back up to the lube qualitys you need. If the service center isn't putting back in 20 or so qts, it's not a flush. It takes a special unit to do this and may cost you $150 +or- to do it, but it's cheaper that a trany rebuild later. If the trany is fine now, it won't be if you disreguard changing all the fluid!