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Went to tranny shop to get a flush...

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Old 10-18-2010, 09:17 AM
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Default Went to tranny shop to get a flush...

and he talked me out of it. He said he saw enough evidence to not flush a 90k trans. Said he has seen trannys slipping+failing after a flush. He owns a 94 lt1 with 120k original trans and said he would never do it on his own car. Said if my trans is operating fine then dont do a flush and just stick with dropping the pan+fluid+filter+gasket.
I specificaly asked him if it has been proven not to do a flush...he said he has seen it enough to come to the conclusion.
I have heard this before and its common to hear. Iv always been one of the guys calling "BS" but this guy owns the shop which is the biggest around my area and he talked me out of it. He said he could charge me the $150 but I would be risking it.
Thoughts?
Old 10-18-2010, 09:31 AM
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The only tranny I've ever had fail was one that I had flushed. I will stick to the pan drop and filter change.
Old 10-18-2010, 09:31 AM
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I have no experience myself, but I have heard that it's usually not a good idea to flush high mileage trannys that haven't been routinely maintained. (I have no idea what kind of maintenance has been done to yours).
Old 10-18-2010, 09:34 AM
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The thinking is that as you wear a transmission and the tolerance between moving parts becomes looser the viscosity of your trany fluid gets thicker and more abrasive. When parts get worn enough they rely on the excess abrasion / friction of the fluid to work. When you remove the old fluid that provides the extra friction and replace it with new fluid that's clean and smooth, parts begin to slip and function differently.

In summation... If you haven't had it done in 90k miles, don't.

An old used car lot trick is to add sawdust to give fluid more grip long enough for a poor schmuck to buy a lemon.
Old 10-18-2010, 09:38 AM
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Mine has 59k and Im about to do a stall change. Should I be worried about the new fluid at 59k miles?
Old 10-18-2010, 10:07 AM
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I bought the car a year ago. I dont know what kind of maintenance was done to it before. Could be a newer trans for all I know really although I dont believe so.
He even recomended that I Drop the pan,change filter+gasket,and put the old fluid back in.
I have a tci deep pan that I plan on installing so thats gonna add 2 extra qts + 5 qts for normal pan change. So thats 7 new qts of fluid. Think Ill have a problem with that?
Old 10-18-2010, 10:27 AM
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I have heard the same things about really bad trans flushes. Stick with dropping the pan and changing the filter.
Old 10-18-2010, 12:50 PM
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Here is the proper way to "flush" your trans and it will not cause any problems. If you look carefully at the trans cooler lines near the radiator you will see one that has a small clamp with a section of rubber hose on it. GM put this there just for flushing the trans!

Remove the clamp and pull off the hose. Direct this hose into a oil collection pan. Have someone else start the car while you watch the hose, as soon as the fluid slows down coming out TURN OFF THE ENGINE. Next pull the pan and replace the filter and gasket then refill with 4 qts of DEXRON 6. Again have someone else start the car as you watch the hose and as soon as the fluid slows down coming out the hose turn off the engine. Refill the trans with 4 qts and you are done.

I've done this many times and it is safe. I've noticed on most 4l60 trans you get some small metal particles laying in the oil collection pan. Its normal and a good thing to get them out of the trans where they could jam a valve etc.

The problem with a real FLUSH is the flushing action the machine uses dislodges metal particles that will jam valves etc and cause the trans to fail or not work properly afterwards.
Old 10-18-2010, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by HotSilverBird
Here is the proper way to "flush" your trans and it will not cause any problems. If you look carefully at the trans cooler lines near the radiator you will see one that has a small clamp with a section of rubber hose on it. GM put this there just for flushing the trans!

Remove the clamp and pull off the hose. Direct this hose into a oil collection pan. Have someone else start the car while you watch the hose, as soon as the fluid slows down coming out TURN OFF THE ENGINE. Next pull the pan and replace the filter and gasket then refill with 4 qts of DEXRON 6. Again have someone else start the car as you watch the hose and as soon as the fluid slows down coming out the hose turn off the engine. Refill the trans with 4 qts and you are done.

I've done this many times and it is safe. I've noticed on most 4l60 trans you get some small metal particles laying in the oil collection pan. Its normal and a good thing to get them out of the trans where they could jam a valve etc.

The problem with a real FLUSH is the flushing action the machine uses dislodges metal particles that will jam valves etc and cause the trans to fail or not work properly afterwards.
My dad says you can do it that way but I could have swarn iv read the sponsors on here say NOT TO DO IT!
Old 10-18-2010, 01:18 PM
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Its comp0letely safe, just don't run the engine after the fluid slows down coimg out of the hose. Why do you think gm used that section of hose on the line? They don't waste money.

I've done it many many times on all kinds of vehicles and never had any trouble. Trouble statrts when you use a back flushing machine.
Old 10-18-2010, 03:51 PM
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+1 on the forward flush...

This is what I do: https://ls1tech.com/forums/4150471-post10.html
Old 10-18-2010, 07:31 PM
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I have worked at a quick lube for 6 years now and have done tons of transmission flushes with a machine (we average 50 per month). The only problems that I have ever encountered in doing a flush was from transmissions that were on there way out, and the customer was experiencing problems BEFORE the flush. Flushing a transmission is basic preventative maintenance, its not some sort of miracle cure to an existing problem.
Old 10-18-2010, 07:47 PM
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In a high performance application the trans fluid should be changed every 30k miles.
Old 10-18-2010, 08:04 PM
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Is this what you guys are talking about? Im serious...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/8963689-post3.html
8-Never use your cooler lines to remove fluid from your transmission by starting the engine or in and attempt to flush by catching fluid in a pan while adding fluid to the dipstick. When this is done no lube is being sent to the planets and bushings and they can go dry and melt down very quickly destroying or significantly shortening the life of your transmission.
Old 10-18-2010, 08:23 PM
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Its not gonna hurt anything...you only run it for about 20 seconds......geez i've been doing iyt for over 30 years and all my trans go 200k plus. The planets etc are not even moving in park! so that info is complete BS!

Last edited by HotSilverBird; 10-18-2010 at 08:29 PM.
Old 10-18-2010, 08:34 PM
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ahhhh ok just wondering.
hmmm Performabuilt (trans specialist) vs hotsilverbird (some random guy)
Performabuilt FTW!
Old 10-18-2010, 08:38 PM
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I was rebuilding transmissions before you and performa were born!. That info is complete BS!
Old 10-18-2010, 08:45 PM
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The info you got from your trans guy is complete bs too....not changing the trans fluid every 30-50k is asking for trans trouble later down the road. Most people don't care as long as the car makes 100k and most will but the fluid will be worn out LONG before that.
Old 10-18-2010, 08:51 PM
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Im sorry sir,please excuse me. I didnt realise who I was talking to sir.
Update...performabuilt vs random sir = performabuilt for the win sorry sir lol

With all kidding aside...my dad says you can do it like this also but I dont like the idea of doing in. Ill stick to dropping the pan for now sirs
Old 10-18-2010, 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by HotSilverBird
The info you got from your trans guy is complete bs too....not changing the trans fluid every 30-50k is asking for trans trouble later down the road. Most people don't care as long as the car makes 100k and most will but the fluid will be worn out LONG before that.
Where did you get "not changing your transmission fluid"? We are talking about a flush vs dropping the pan. Thats a big red flag right there buddie. You want me to take your advice but you dont know what we were talking about nuff said...


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