Thread: General Transmission Maintance.

I see the need for a thread like this, simply because of the overall confusion over this topic.

Pan drops and a total flush comes down to logic.

Pan drops:
If the fluid is brown and you don’t know its history, to me it’s not worth taking the chance of going from a working trans. to dead one.
If the fluid is burnt and brown DON'T flush it, just drop the pan and add 8 new quarts, down the road 5 to 10,000 miles later you could drop the pan; again and replace another 8 quarts. A pan drop will do nothing but help. Do not get worried, that is recommended service, a full flush is 50/50 work/destroy.

Trans. Flush:
From what I’ve been told is that if the trans has had regular service in the past it will be ok to do a full flush, (at least a pan drop every 50,000 miles.)
When the fluid is good its real red or pinkish, it has a smell but not like when its burnt, to make sure compare to a friends or family's cars trans fluid.
If it’s at ~100,000 miles and never had anything done (not even a pan drop), if the fluid is brown and stinks like its burnt, dont flush just do a pan drop, its safer.
If you get it flushed, make sure to give your mechanic EXPRESS instructions to follow GM procedure to a T; which means NO solvents, just Dexron. Nothing but Dexron. Ever.


Synthetics:
If you DO know the history of your transmission, or if your fluid is still red, and you can do full flushes on your transmission, then a switch to synthetic is recommended. ONLY IF your transmission is in perfect, or close to perfect condition.

Anything else, will result in imminent failure of your trans. if you convert from dex fluid to synthetic fluid such as Amsoil.
Is synthetic better for your car in your engine and transmission yes. but if your transmission is not in great condition, then just stick to either pan drops or flushes.
On the other hand, if you have a brand new transmission, then by all means, make the swap.




I hope this helps some of the confusion.

Tough to fully agree. There's a long post I just dumped into the other thread. Based on speaking to many transmission guys with tons of experience, my own experience etc etc.

The basic thing you can count on .. is things break.

With everything being equal, it's a toss up as to what you do.

Dark/burnt fluid, even a pan drop can be bad. But the trans probably wouldn't be happy for long anyhow.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

If a problem is hiding, the fluid being fresh and full of additives, will clean any hidden problems. Dave at TEP and any other trans guys will tell you basically the same thing. A flush will not hurt a healthy transmission.

Issue is..most of the time when people are asking about flushes, their transmission isn't healthy.

Personally I do pan drops. Because I don't own a flush machine. It's easier, cheaper and usually less intrusive to simply pan drop, filter change and fill the 7 quarts up.

Same thing is said of switching to synthetic oil with a decent amount of miles on a motor. Many people will say it causes oil leaks. Truth is.. there's a buildup inside keeping the gasket from leaking. The additives break down the build up and you have leaks. Same would be true over time with regular quality oil changes too.

These are the myths that we have. They are common myths based on the stories of many that hoped for magic from a flush or trans service. Well there is no magic as Slow said, if you have a problem....don't expect past due maintenance to fix it.

FWIW I bought a 98 Regal 2 years back and when I drove it ..the trans slipped on high throttle. Tossed a can of Lucas in (thickens and swells seals) and that car is still daily driven today. Trans works great. I bought my current Regal with 161K and clearly a lack of any maintenance. I did a pan service and it ran/shifted great. 6 months later it started having an odd issue where the rpm at highway speed might jump 1k and slam back into gear. Not often, but enough to have picked up on it. I drained the fluid only (got a plug..lol) and it literally pooped clutch mud. Refilled with one bottle of Lucas and regular fluid...at 189K I'm still driving and still abusing it until I get off my butt and swap it out. The fluid is disgusting. A flush at this point would finish it off. A pan drop at this point would finish it off....heck at this point...I'm amazed it's still driving. Every transmission is different, but they are all still transmissions.

and this leads me back to my original question...
at 104k, and no knowledge of any transmission maintenance, should i pan drop?

Originally Posted by jerZcavy4120

and this leads me back to my original question...
at 104k, and no knowledge of any transmission maintenance, should i pan drop?

Yes, a pan drop should be safe.

Pan drop is always safe. Flush should always be considered safe. But when the clutches are thin and the fluid is thick with goop..a flush is going to put in nice clean detergent filled fluid that's nice and thin.

Ugh, I hate threads like this....

i was just trying to make a sticky for things like this. but i failed.

as i said before. failed.

Ive always done just a pan drop with amsoil on my 148k gtp, my gt, and my brothers 76k gtp

people can debate this topic all day long

Id just like to add here being a guy that does trans flushes all day long..
A trans that has never (or you dont know) been flushed.. After 75k.. DONT FLUSH!!

Now.. jerZcavy4120 was completely right about the 50k trans flush intervals..
On.. Most GM cars and trucks..
Now.. That being said.. ALOT of Fords are 30k.. And if it hasnt been done by 55 or 60k.. Pan drops are advised...

had my car up on a hoist at work just about to do a pan drop and the mechanic there thought I was crazy for doing it with only 73K Km on the car.
so I don't know who is right, me or him

If my Canuckian translation is correct, that puts you at about 45K miles. The normal service interval on filter/fluid should be around 30-35K miles. I'd think you were in a good place to maintain the fluid and filter at this point

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

If my Canuckian translation is correct, that puts you at about 45K miles. The normal service interval on filter/fluid should be around 30-35K miles. I'd think you were in a good place to maintain the fluid and filter at this point

Agreed. It can't hurt to change the fluid and filter. I do it every 30k miles. If you want it done, tell him to do it.

I looked in my Owners Manual after this and found it said 80K Km (50K Mile) is the recommended interval for transmission fluid and filter change. So I am going to leave this till next summer.