ATF flush question

Mr. Detail · Post by **Mr. Detail** » 26 Jun 2021, 14:22

Hi guys.
I bought one of those IPD automatic transmission flush kits awhile back and finally am getting around to actually doing it. Just curious of your opinon after reading in the instructions, "IF THE FLUID IN YOUR CAR IS SEVERELY BURNT (BLACK IN COLOR) WE HAVE HEARD OF A SITUATION WHERE REPLACING THE OLD FLUID CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP WORKING."
I just went out and pulled the short, yellow dipstick and the fluid color is a brownish color but not black.
The car has 166,417 miles on her and as far as I know, the ATF has never been changed. Do I need to be concerned about doing this flush?

Post by **SuperHerman** » 26 Jun 2021, 21:05

From the sounds of it no. Black and gritty is what seems to cause problems, but it is your car. The prudent approach if you are worried would be to do a drain and fill, basically 3.5 liters out and then fresh back in. Exact amount depends on each car, but 3.5 is around typical.

Some love the flush kits, others just do 1-3 drain and fills consecutively with a few miles or more between to mix it up.

If you are worried, do a drain and fill and see what happens. If the transmission is happy then do the flush.

MDK · Post by **MDK** » 27 Jun 2021, 04:43

Hey Mr detail..MDK here. Ready? Here we go. So, I went to rockauto and bought a case of the aisin TlV transfluid. About 72$ is what I paid. I have an 04 V70R and an 04 S60R. What I did is this. I pulled the top line of the trans cooler off the radiator. ( On the driver's side) I bought about 3 feet of 10 mm of fuel line hose and stuffed it in to the radiator. I got a 5 gallon bucket, started up the car and let the "pump" pump it out. When it stops coming out turn the car off, put a funnel in the dipstick tube and add 4 quarts. Repeat process. 2. Some will do this 3 times.(16quarts) the final fill is 4 quarts. Anyway, the black color means that the clutches in the trans get a little cooked. If you're worried about that it will start slipping after a flush, it just means it was on its way out anyway. Just remember the golden rule boys and girls, what ever is holding it, unbolt it...

Mr. Detail · Post by **Mr. Detail** » 27 Jun 2021, 06:05

Thanks guys. SuperHerman, if I do what you said what line do I pull off? The top or bottom? Do I still use the flush kit for only the 3.5 liters or some other hook-up? I am trying not to shoot ATF all over the place.
It seems the older models, (Pre-2000) tell you to pull the top hose and the newer models the lower. I am confused.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 27 Jun 2021, 06:20

Mr. Detail wrote: ↑27 Jun 2021, 06:05 Thanks guys. SuperHerman, if I do what you said what line do I pull off? The top or bottom? Do I still use the flush kit for only the 3.5 liters or some other hook-up? I am trying not to shoot ATF all over the place.
It seems the older models, (Pre-2000) tell you to pull the top hose and the newer models the lower. I am confused.

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When in doubt pull both out. Just a couple extra feet of extra hose besides draining the radiator of transflood.

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Post by **MoVolvos** » 27 Jun 2021, 06:28

Mr. Detail wrote: ↑26 Jun 2021, 14:22 Hi guys.
I bought one of those IPD automatic transmission flush kits awhile back and finally am getting around to actually doing it. Just curious of your opinon after reading in the instructions, "IF THE FLUID IN YOUR CAR IS SEVERELY BURNT (BLACK IN COLOR) WE HAVE HEARD OF A SITUATION WHERE REPLACING THE OLD FLUID CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP WORKING."
I just went out and pulled the short, yellow dipstick and the fluid color is a brownish color but not black.
The car has 166,417 miles on her and as far as I know, the ATF has never been changed. Do I need to be concerned about doing this flush?

Heard yes but not any write up on an actual occurrence. Seems 99.99% are successful with either full flush or drain and fill. The .001% is just...

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Post by **jonesg** » 27 Jun 2021, 11:51

The guys who work at big box part stores are just covering their 6, in the remote instance they want to be able to say they warned about it.

Heres what a tranny specialist said,
put the fluid on your fingertip, rub your fingers, does it feel like oil or water, water will not have any lubrication quality.
If the lubricity has gone from the fluid it makes no sense to keep using it, get it drained out.
If it smells burnt and is black get rid of it.
If its red do as you please.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 27 Jun 2021, 13:24

Nothing that the other posters have written is incorrect. From the description of your fluid it sounds fine, just used.

To do a drain and fill one just drains from the drain plug and then uses a funnel to pour it in the dipstick.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 27 Jun 2021, 13:56

SuperHerman wrote: ↑27 Jun 2021, 13:24 Nothing that the other posters have written is incorrect. From the description of your fluid it sounds fine, just used.

To do a drain and fill one just drains from the drain plug and then uses a funnel to pour it in the dipstick.

You do mean new fluid

.

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jking4020 · Post by **jking4020** » 27 Jun 2021, 14:16

Just do a drain and fill. Like said above, if after 3 drain and fills it drives better, then your good. Do it all if you want. Drain from the bottom of tranny, make sure to measure how much came out so you can refill the same. Then drive a few miles and repeat. Or put it on jack stands and do it. I did 3 on my 02 v70xc awd turbo and it loved it. Its been 2 years since and i need to repeat. This time im gonna do like 4-5 drain n fills. You will be fine.