Auto transmission "flush"
Discussion
I recently purchased a '95 FTO (reader's car thread later.......when I could be arsed 
) with a 4-speed auto which seems to take a lot of effort to shift either into or out of 3rd. Now, yeeeeeeeeeeeeears ago, when I was but a tyke, I vaguely remember my dad taking his cars/trucks in for a "transmission flush" (which as far as I'm aware is just flushing out all the old fluid and putting new fluid in) anytime he had a shifting issue and this seemed to do the trick. However, nowhere in the UK (either in Sussex/Dorset or in Northern Ireland) seems to know what this is 
Am I asking for the wrong thing or are my issues much more serious?
) with a 4-speed auto which seems to take a lot of effort to shift either into or out of 3rd. Now, yeeeeeeeeeeeeears ago, when I was but a tyke, I vaguely remember my dad taking his cars/trucks in for a "transmission flush" (which as far as I'm aware is just flushing out all the old fluid and putting new fluid in) anytime he had a shifting issue and this seemed to do the trick. However, nowhere in the UK (either in Sussex/Dorset or in Northern Ireland) seems to know what this is Am I asking for the wrong thing or are my issues much more serious?
Suggest you find an automatic transmission specialist near you and request that they service the transmission including a fluid and filter change.
Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
No, a transmission flush would be the first thing I would try too.
The only thing I would say is that most cars are now sold with 'sealed for life' gearboxes which in reality means that after a few years, the fluid deteriorates, causing damage which requires the whole gearbox to be replaced.
The only thing I would say is that most cars are now sold with 'sealed for life' gearboxes which in reality means that after a few years, the fluid deteriorates, causing damage which requires the whole gearbox to be replaced.
mikel429 said:
I recently purchased a '95 FTO with a 4-speed auto which seems to take a lot of effort to shift either into or out of 3rd.
The chances of a 15-year old auto being "fixed" with a fluid change are IMO remote. I'd be getting a proper auto transmission specialist to look at it, NOT some jobbing mechanic.AmitG said:
Suggest you find an automatic transmission specialist near you and request that they service the transmission including a fluid and filter change.
Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
^As above.Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
www.fedauto.co.uk
Honest John recommends using a fedauto member. Best one is King Automatics in Epsom Surrey if that's near you.
Honest John recommends using a fedauto member. Best one is King Automatics in Epsom Surrey if that's near you.
gamefreaks said:
No, a transmission flush would be the first thing I would try too.
The only thing I would say is that most cars are now sold with 'sealed for life' gearboxes which in reality means that after a few years, the fluid deteriorates, causing damage which requires the whole gearbox to be replaced.
bThe only thing I would say is that most cars are now sold with 'sealed for life' gearboxes which in reality means that after a few years, the fluid deteriorates, causing damage which requires the whole gearbox to be replaced.
ks, crappy old ATF rarely causes a gearbox to damage itself beyond repair, and even so there are many parts to a gearbox, "the whole gearbox" is nonsense. Sealed for life gearboxes are a marketing tool for fleet managers. In essence it removes the "need" to service the gearbox from the cost of ownership, making such cars more attractive to fleet managers. In reality the gearbox still needs to be serviced at regular intervals.There's nothing "sealed" about such gearboxes, they all have gaskets, bolts, drain plugs, filters and dipsticks.
jbi said:
if the fluid is black and burnt smelling... leave it in
Otherwise that fresh fluid might cost you a new gearbox
Just try and put it into D
Sureal............ Otherwise that fresh fluid might cost you a new gearbox
Just try and put it into D
Just sureal level of advice on PH
It's like saying "Engine oil black as tar and consistency of treakle - Leave it in - the fresh oil might cost you a new engine..........."
Ahhh spent time in USA explains it all
Edited by B'stard Child on Tuesday 5th July 00:35
vikingaero said:
www.fedauto.co.uk
Honest John recommends using a fedauto member. Best one is King Automatics in Epsom Surrey if that's near you.
Thanks for this link, Viking. Much appreciated.Honest John recommends using a fedauto member. Best one is King Automatics in Epsom Surrey if that's near you.
The "sealed for life" issue can run and run.
If fluid is black and smells burnt it's because it's been overheated - Heat is the enemy of an auto. If the fluid is full of crud what is that crud? - bits of your transmission's friction surfaces etc.
There is a fair argument that a transmission with knackered fluid is a knackered transmission.
Keeping mechanics fingers out of an auto box is often a good way to extend its life and ensure proper working! So don't be too skeptical about "sealed for life". Fluids are massively better than they were back at the dawn of time.
Having said that, a preventive fluid change at 100,000 miles is often thought a wise precaution. It's much cheaper than a transmission rebuild! Unlikely to fix a broken transmission though....
If fluid is black and smells burnt it's because it's been overheated - Heat is the enemy of an auto. If the fluid is full of crud what is that crud? - bits of your transmission's friction surfaces etc.
There is a fair argument that a transmission with knackered fluid is a knackered transmission.
Keeping mechanics fingers out of an auto box is often a good way to extend its life and ensure proper working! So don't be too skeptical about "sealed for life". Fluids are massively better than they were back at the dawn of time.
Having said that, a preventive fluid change at 100,000 miles is often thought a wise precaution. It's much cheaper than a transmission rebuild! Unlikely to fix a broken transmission though....
B'stard Child said:
Sureal............
Just sureal level of advice on PH
It's like saying "Engine oil black as tar and consistency of treakle - Leave it in - the fresh oil might cost you a new engine..........."
Ahhh spent time in USA explains it all
Wrong...Just sureal level of advice on PH
It's like saying "Engine oil black as tar and consistency of treakle - Leave it in - the fresh oil might cost you a new engine..........."
Ahhh spent time in USA explains it all
Edited by B'stard Child on Tuesday 5th July 00:35
I've personally witnessed this happening... and of course the USA being the worlds largest consumer of autoboxes it might be prudent to listen
Badly burnt fluid usually mean the clutch disk is toast (it crystallises when subject to extreme heat) and filling it with fresh fluid is doing you no favours since you are removing the friction the dirty old fluid was providing.
The autobox will now just slip uselessly and what's left of your clutch will disintegrate, and the only way to fix this is to replace or rebuild your transmission.
jbi said:
Wrong...
I've personally witnessed this happening... and of course the USA being the worlds largest consumer of autoboxes it might be prudent to listen
Badly burnt fluid usually mean the clutch disk is toast (it crystallises when subject to extreme heat) and filling it with fresh fluid is doing you no favours since you are removing the friction the dirty old fluid was providing.
The autobox will now just slip uselessly and what's left of your clutch will disintegrate, and the only way to fix this is to replace or rebuild your transmission.
The ATF in my last car at 168,000 miles was as black as diesel engine oil. Me and a mate changed it for new bright red fluid, and installed a new filter and gasket.I've personally witnessed this happening... and of course the USA being the worlds largest consumer of autoboxes it might be prudent to listen
Badly burnt fluid usually mean the clutch disk is toast (it crystallises when subject to extreme heat) and filling it with fresh fluid is doing you no favours since you are removing the friction the dirty old fluid was providing.
The autobox will now just slip uselessly and what's left of your clutch will disintegrate, and the only way to fix this is to replace or rebuild your transmission.
That gearbox was still running perfectly when I sold the car, more than 80,000 miles later.
Jw Vw said:
AmitG said:
Suggest you find an automatic transmission specialist near you and request that they service the transmission including a fluid and filter change.
Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
^As above.Googling "automatic transmission specialist dorset" throws up a few hits.
It's really a job for a specialist. The more recent auto transmissions don't have any dipstick, so it's hard to get the fluid level right; you have to fill it, then run the engine, cycle through the gears and adjust the level as the transmission warms up. Some transmissions are "sealed for life" meaning the fluid is meant to last the life of the transmission; unfortunately this is often not the case, and it means that changing the fluid and filter is even more of a pain. The ZF 5-speed transmissions from the late 90s, used in Jaguars and BMWs of that period, are notorious for this...
Parrot of Doom said:
The ATF in my last car at 168,000 miles was as black as diesel engine oil. Me and a mate changed it for new bright red fluid, and installed a new filter and gasket.
That gearbox was still running perfectly when I sold the car, more than 80,000 miles later.
You got lucky... or you didn't flush all the old stuff out That gearbox was still running perfectly when I sold the car, more than 80,000 miles later.
It takes roughly 6 drains to dilute the old stuff enough as you can usually only drain about 1/4 of the fluid that's in there in one go unless you have a pump.
You guys are in IMO both talking a degree of sense. In summary,
- A precautionary fluid change around 100,000 miles on a fully working transmission may be worthwhile if you're planning to run the car on for some time. It doesn't cost much and might help extend the life of the box if it's done properly. A single change should remove about 2/3rds of the old fluid - the remainder is trapped in the torque converter but this really doesn't matter.
- A fluid change won't fix a broken transmission.
- Sometimes a transmission misbehaves if the fluid level has got low. But if the level has dropped you have some other problem which needs sorting - probably a leak which should be visible.
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