Tranny flush without raising the car - it's too easy. Am I missing a step here?

S60inAZ · Post by **S60inAZ** » 09 Feb 2016, 12:37

My 2001 S60 (115,000 miles) is on it’s death bed – transmission doesn’t engage while I move the shifter normally from P to R, D, 4, 3, L. Basically, It's like I'm in neutral - car can be rolled, engine revved in reverse or drive - no movement. After 30 minutes of warming the engine in park, car will inch forward in 3rd gear with some gentle revving.

My concern is, after some flares and a P0733 / urgent transmission service needed a month ago, I had the vehicle flushed with Valvoline Maxlife (after Valvoline 800# and the shop confirmed it was compatible with my S60). Drove perfectly for a month after the Maxlife, and now it won’t engage.

I'm trying to flush out the Maxlife, in case that's the issue. I read online about someone modifying the “Gibbons flush”, where you don’t need to lift the car or use the transmission drain plug. I bought a case of Toyota IV fluid and flushed, and I am concerned I’m not doing something right.

The post stated:
1)Remove the upper hose (the one with the two o-rings and the green clip) leading from the radiator to the transmission.
2)Insert a 9/16 hose into that hole, start car, and drain out two quarts of fluid into a jug.
3)Fill with 2 quarts through the transmission dipstick tube.
4) Repeat 6 times or so, and check fluid level.

Am I getting ALL the fluid out? I’m afraid the Maxlife fluid has crippled my car, and is preventing it from engaging. Maybe I need another case or two to flush it out? It may be wishful thinking. Just want to make sure I’m draining / cycling through the entire lot of fluid with this type of flush..

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to engage my transmission into gear, and cycle through the gears, should that be necessary to push out old fluid. Am I doing this right, or am I missing something?

Thanks for any feedback.

Desperate in Arizona

Post by **vtl** » 09 Feb 2016, 12:46

Valvoline MaxLife is not an issue, it's a perfect Toyota WS spec fluid. I eventually switched from OE->Amsoil->Mobil 3309->Idemitsu Type-TLS->Valvoline MaxLife and both my P2 Volvos are pretty happy with Valvoline last couple of years.

P0733 and what you describe smells like torque converter failure.

nsjames · Post by **nsjames** » 09 Feb 2016, 13:12

to answer the question, yes, you will get all of the old fluid out because you're using the transmission to pump it out.

but I agree it sounds like pump/converter failure.

Post by **oragex** » 09 Feb 2016, 17:43

I too have about 50% of Maxlife in it. It works well but I don't like that it seems this fluid expands a lot more compared with the Type T-IV or with the Mobil ATF 3309 when it gets warmed up. I will be replacing it as well with the Type IV soon using the exact same procedure you describe. You can drain the pan in the beginning because the pan keeps 3.5L of which the transmission pump can only suck 2.5L (the suction pipe won't reach the last liter at the bottom). So you can drain the sump first, put back the plug, add 3 or 4 liters of fresh oil by the dipstick, then drain 3-4L by the radiator return hole, refill with fresh 3-4L and keep going on until the fluid comes out clear from the radiator return hole. What's most important is to check the proper level at the end.

I don't know if the transmission can stay in P or must be in D when doing all this procedure. Maybe someone can answer?

Post by **xHeart** » 09 Feb 2016, 18:14

A good relevant video ...
https://youtu.be/7WfY8MQc1B8

Post by **oragex** » 10 Feb 2016, 15:08

I just finished my flush, using only 9L because my oil wasn't that old. I noticed that passing the gears while the oil is pumped out seems to alter the oil flow so it's perhaps a good idea to switch the lever between P, D and R. I did pump out each time as much oil until there was starting to be air in the flow. Then refill 3L of fresh and pump again (I have refilled 4L of fresh the first time after draining the sump by the plug). After the last oil pumping, I put about 2.5L of fresh and checked the level (there is 0.5-1L always remaining at the bottom of the oil pan).

You can also flush without draining the oil pan in the first place and lifting the car. Start by pumping out old oil at the radiator. After the first pumping, there will remain 1L of old oil at the bottom of the pan which will mix with the fresh one. In the end it's the same thing, but it will take perhaps an extra 1-2L of fresh oil to completely flush the old oil.