TRANSTECH Transmission Service

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imported_memnuts

New member
I guess this could be considered internal or mechanical detailing.:nixweiss

Has anyone had this service performed on their automatic trans?

Did you replace your filter or just replaced the fluids? Any problems or important points to consider?



TIA :wavey
 
THe most important part is to replace the filter. Many shops don't take that step and just change the fluid out. You end up with clean fuid being pushed thgouh a dirty and possibly clogged filter. Plus, by dropping the tranny pan, you can see if there is an excess of metal shavings collected.
 
I would agree that the best case scenario is to drop the pan and change the filter and the trans oil...but if you can't do that or aren't willing to pay the price to have someone do it, I would still give a :up to a trans flush. Even without changing the filter, the difference can be amazing! I used to have this done on my old Delta 88, 'cause I was lazy with it and didn't want to go through dropping the pan. It worked great!
 
I usually alternate between having my system flushed and having the pan dropped and filter changed. You get the best of both worlds.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.:bow

For peace-of-mind I will have them change the filter with the TransTech flush. We have a shaky Chevy dealership here in town and I was worried about their response to changing the filter - "the flush will clean the fliter no real need to change." I am concern with what happens to the crud that is being dislodged from the filter by this process. :nixweiss

Fortunately we have a great Chevy dealership (Feller) about 20 miles away that is honest and trustworthy. They stated that either method would be okay.:xyxthumbs
 
I agree with Scott, it's very important to change the filter as well. Most shops don't do this anymore since flush machines are now the standard method. They will probably tell you the flushing backflushes the filter, nonsense. The filter should be changed, pure and simple.
 
Hey BlkZ28, do you have a link to this product? I'm guessing TransTech is just some stuff you run through the tranny? Some of those flush products are caustic and can damage internals if left too long. Plus, they can crap up the tranny fluid if they aren't completely flushed out.



My plan is to change the fluid and filter often and not to have those types of flushes done. I'm just always hesitant when stuff like that is used.



I sure wish GM included drains in their tranny pans, though... Dropping a full pan sure is a pain. I believe the 4T80-E has very little fluid in the pan, though, and has an internal drain once the pan is pulled.
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned that...I never would use an actual "flush product" trough my tranny for reasons that Aurora mentioned. When I had it flushed, they just run new trans fluid through the system and push out the old until what is coming out of the cooler lines is bright pink again...I think they used to use up about 15 quarts in the process.



EDIT: Aurora, The 4T80-E only has a couple quarts at most in the pan, so not too much of a mess. Most of the trans oil is sitting in the torque converter, I don't specifically remember any sort of internal drain.
 
Hey Aurora 40,

I need to check to make sure this is just a trans fluid replacement (total) deal and not a cleaning solution flush system followed by trans fluid replacement. I too am not a fan of caustic solutions in my transmission or engine. :scared





TransTech III is the apparatus used by most shops.
 
I'm replacing my fluid in my Jeep soon as well...



So are you guys saying the the flush system is not really a good idea? or not a good idea if they use a special flush product, as opposed to just running fluid through it like Aurora40 said?



Is it that beneficial to have it flushed as opposed to draining it myself and replacing?



Thanks!

Michael
 
Most shops don't use a chemical flush, it's just a fluid exchange through the transmission cooler line. The fluid exchange has become known as a "flush".



blkZ28Conv,



The machine you speak of is also known as the "T-Tech", which is widely used. This machine is fluid exchange only from my understanding, no chemical used. :up
 
mlebarron said:
So are you guys saying the the flush system is not really a good idea? or not a good idea if they use a special flush product, as opposed to just running fluid through it like Aurora40 said?
Click to expand...

IMO, I would say :down to a special flush product...but a :up to running trans fluid through the system to flush. Although not as effective as opening up the pan and changing the filter, it is a simple and fairly inexpensive solution for those who don't want to do the work of dropping the pan.
 
Hmmm.



Option 1. - Drop the pan, change the filter and change 3 quarts of fluid.



Option 2. - 100% fluid change, old filter.



Sounds like a toss-up to me. 30% new fluid with new filter vs. 100% new fluid with old filter.



Why not do both?



BTW, the shop manuals for my cars show:

(3) show #1

(1) shows #2

(1) is two fluid drain and fills, keep old filter



It is really optimum to change the filter AND change ALL of the fluid. Who would change only one or two quarts of engine oil at the time, which would be equivalent to replacing the fluid that comes out when you drop the pan.
 
I guess I'm lucky, the tranny in the Lincoln has a drain plug on the torque converter. So, between that and the pan I can get 98% of the fluid out. :D You can blow the cooler lines out and get 100% if you want. I typically drain the converter, drop the pan, change the filter, clean the magnets in the pan, and refill. It's also a good time to check the torque on valve body bolts and things like that.



I don't know much about GM products, ask around, you might have a drain on your converter which would make it easier to do the work yourself.
 
prowler said:
Option 1. - Drop the pan, change the filter and change 3 quarts of fluid.
Click to expand...



Not sure where you got the 3 quarts from. Of the 15 quarts my tranny holds, 11 will come out by pulling the pan and drain plug.



The service interval on my car is 100,000 miles on my car, and I will likely cut that in half, or possibly every 30,000 miles. So I'm not too concerned that about 1/3 of the fluid will remain after a flush. I'd definitely want to change the filter, though.



Brian, I think there might have been some changes to the 4T80-E, but I thought they all had that different sump thing. Did you maybe just miss out on changing more of the fluid? ;)
 
Aurora40 said:
Not sure where you got the 3 quarts from.
Click to expand...

Figures were rough from memory based on two of my cars. Here are the real numbers after looking them up:

Just changed a Ford Windstar - 2 quarts in pan of 12 quart total.

Escape is 4 in pan of 10 total. Averaging out, that's 3 in pan out of 22 total, or 27%.

I was unaware that some cars have drain plugs on the torque converter. None of the service manuals for my 5 cars reference that as part of a transmission fluid change procedure.

BTW, the Windstar change procedure is pretty slick - you basically use the transmission itself to pump out a complete exchange. That's the one that I referenced as 100%.
 
prowler,



Many cars don't have a drain on the converter. Select Fords do, such as Crown Vics, Town Cars, some F150 pickups. More or less anything with a Ford 4R70W tranny should have a drain on the converter. The 4R70W was put behind most 4.6L Ford V8's from 1995 to 2002.



An easy way to check it by looking at the bell housing. If you have a drain there will be a rubber plug or access plate on the bottom of the housing.
 
On my Accord, there is not accessible filter to change, just an internal mesh screen. I guess it works because my original transmission lasted 190,000 miles. Mine is a simple drain and refill (2.5 quarts) and a flush is not recommended because (according to my Honda dealer) it can damage the internal screen and that a drain and refill every 15,000-30,000 miles is sufficient for long transmission life.



Sure makes it cheap to do, even with Honda ATF @ $3.95 a quart.
 
Maybe it is not time to change the tranny fluid? I only have 43,000 miles on the Z28 but it is 8 years old. It's rarely driven and never towed anything, raced or driven over 120 miles at one time ( car has never been more than 60 miles from home :o). Many say that I can wait until 100,000 miles but by than the car will be 30 years old :nixweiss. Any suggestions. Absolutely zero tranny problems and it still shifts like it was new.



If it works done fix it ? :nixweiss
 
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