Water on AT, should Flush entire? Topic is solved

[Lutchoj]

Hi guys, I have a 850 2.5 with AT and my radiator broke the line in the transmission refrigerator. I Replace the old radiator and after reading how to change the AT fluid, I got a doubt about it. Since repair in the AT in my city is pratically unaffordable, I am afraid of flush the entire old mix of water and fluid because I read that the at engine can break if it runs without fluid. So my doubt is should I flush it entirely ans then, put the new, or should I flush little by little and replace with the new until it get full? My biggest problem is the new fluid get in contact with the old and water then. What you guys think, what should I do to make the safest change? Thanks!!!

[rspi]

Huh????

[Lutchoj]

Huh????

Should I flush all the old fluid until empty or in small amounts, in the especific case above.

[chrafael]

If it were my car I would do at least two drain and changes, both with the car on stands. Then start the car for a few minutes and see what the fluid looks like. If it is still contaminated, plan on a third. You can use cheaper fluid for the first change, good stuff for the final.

[oragex]

Hopefully the car didn't drive at all with water inside, or it may already be too late to save it.

I think the rspi reaction is self explanatory. There should be no water at all inside the transmission, not even 1 oz.

However, being that water stays at the bottom of the transmission, not sure how to completely drain it. Perhaps the Gibbon method just keep flushing and refilling all at once a good few gallons of transmission fluid.

As for having 100% fresh fluid, I have heard it may cause damages especially if the car is driven long distances for the first few weeks. I'd try driving it mostly inside city and for less than 30min. at a time or so.

[MadeInJapan]

The internals of the radiator failed on my son's 850 and he started having transmission trouble. This was not visible from the outside. Once the mechanic took the transmission out and turned it over, coolant came out of it. We had to buy a used transmission and replaced it. I would drain, fill, let the car run some and do it again and then a third time like was explained above- do it all without driving the car much. You might get lucky and get it all out. If this car has had a transmission flush before, I'd be tempted to do the actual flush by hooking up a hose to the upper portion of the radiator and allow 2 quarts to come out and then add 2 quarts several times (probably at least 12 quarts, and do it that way after an initial drain and fill. The idea is to replace all of the fluid without driving it to much. I would think that water is heavier than the ATF so it would sink, so you might be lucky in getting most of it out with the drain to begin with, however, it the water is up in the torque converter, then you're going to have to go through the gears as you do the flush to get it out...these are my thoughts but the accuracy of them are questionable. Others might chime in if they know more about the characteristics of water and ATF together. If your transmission is already acting funky, you might be to late, as oragex said.

[rspi]

If the transmission was contaminated with coolant, it is best to do the self flush method. Allow the transmission to pump the bad fluid out while sucking in fresh fluid a little at a time. You never want the transmission to get to low on fluid. I believe iPd sells a kit for that and has a video.

If the transmission simply lost fluid, add back what was lost and check it a few times to make sure the level is correct.

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/4808/10 ... h-hose-kit

[Klausc]

Considering the cost of a replacement tranny, flush, flush, flush.

[ZionXIX]

If I discovered water in my transmission fluid, I would not stop at 2 drain and fills. I would go buy cart load of cheapest compatible ATF fluid and flush as much as possible to make sure there was no more water left. Then I would drive a little or even just shift through gear while on jack stands or something and repeat the flush several more times over a few days or so. You're essentially trying to dilute the water out until there is nothing left.

But the best way is what Rspi mentioned with the hose kit from ipd. That way the transmission is pumping the fluid out rather than draining, filling, mixing and then draining again. DONT LET IT RUN DRY

I have never had this problem on my volvo 850 but the other vehicle I drive is a 4runner and water in the transmission has been know to kill them. using the aformentioned process, we usually have to flush several gallons through the transmission and then repeat that process a few more times over the course of a week or so.

[Lutchoj]

Thanks everybody who answered, I will try flush it liter by liter until comes clean. If it works/doesnt I'll post here.