Transmission Flush Question

[Mikeys00vx]

Hi guys,

I'm here to appeal to the all-knowingness of the board again!

Today I stopped in a local auto mechanics shop and inquired about the 30k service, specifically asking about the transmission fluid and filter change.

He stated that they "dont break the seal" anymore and that its all done by electronic flushing. He went on to say that the chemical used cleans the filter instead of needing to replace it.

Now, should I put her in drive and find another auto repair shop? I trust the wisdom of this board. Any insight?

Mikey

00 Foxfire 30k

[SIRCO]

I put that BG44K Power Enhancer in my VX on a full tank
of gas and the "bucking" was gone. I am not sure it it was
the BG44K or what. I guess I'm still lost as to why it happened
those two days in a row. I called my VX dealership back in
Buffalo, NY (as I am now in Queen Creek, AZ) and asked him
if I ever had a Trans Flush he said: "NO". I've only taken in
there. So, my question is at 43K miles should I have it done...
and can I switch to Mobile 1 Synthetic? As that's the only
oil I've ever put in my VX? One last thing...Tone, metioned
something about alternating Transmission services "The flush
is better, but doesn't get the filter changed". Which way should
I go with this flush? Please help & Thank you guys so much!!!
I love this site and my VX!!!! Even if she was a little down & out.
-SIRCO

[blacksambo]

Has anybody tried "BG" brand transmission service/flushing? And is that really enough for just normal street use? Thx

[Mikeys00vx]

Thats a good question. The shop that I took my VX into was insistent on using the BG family of products and that the flush was sufficient vs a fluid/filter change. I look forward to hearing what the board has to say!

Mikey

[MZ-N10]

i personally wouldnt feel like a flush is sufficient to a fluid/filter change. i mean the filter and the drain plug both catch alot of teh stuff floating around in there. if u dont change the filter, well then the stuff is still caught in teh filter.

[Joe_Black]

Unless they've got little faeries in the flush machine to remove particulates from the filter it's just a bogus claim. Kinda like extended-interval oil. Sure, the oil may be good for a ton of miles but where does all the contaminants go?

[Tone]

I STRONGLY recommend the flush as it is the only way to change the fluid in the converter. Then I would add one of the new tranny filters I found at SEMA to filter down to 15 microns - the pan gasket only filters rocks 60 microns and larger. Filter is $25 and simply mounts in the tranny cooler line. It's not on my website yet but I have them ready to ship.

[Joe_Black]

Tone, do you know if the 4L30E generates enough pressure to consistently flow through a 15 micron element? It'd be a good idea to upgrade the stock clamps and hose to avoid a line popping off or rupturing, just in case.

[Tone]

Filter has a bypass built in so it only filters a portion of the fluid each time to allow proper flow. Standard screw clamps are all that is needed. I spent a good deal of time with their engineers @ SEMA as it seems like such a simple but effective solution. There are other filters out there but they don't incorporate a bypass valve and use inferior filter media. Good question!
http://www.epntz-filter.com/sect2a.asp

[BigDave]

Hi,
Ive just had mine done, the full monty for $NZ375. There is a magnet in the JDM version that collects metal bits in the pan. I had about 5mm of metalic sludge on mine, something that my box can sure as hell do without.

Go for the pan removal, new filter, and flush.

Cheers.....

[Tone]

There is a magnet in the US version AND in this external filter. Realize that that metallic sludge ran through the tranny several times before getting trapped on that magnet and would have been caught by an external filter. I still recommend dropping the pan (especially if you have more than 30K miles on it) but far less often as this one takes smaller particles out of the fluid.

[Maugan_VX]

$25 eh? Sounds like it might be a good project to go along with the transfluid temp guage sender unit.

[Dare2Dream]

I had my local shop first drop the pan and replace the filter. Then they did the full BG flush. All for a low $160. I plan to repeat this after another 30K. The VX is running great, i can't feel much of a difference but its good to do the tranny maintenance than paying $3500 for replacing one :)

BTW, there are two types of flush but i couldn't find the better one locally. Read this to learn more:

http://www.gadgetonline.com/TransFlush.htm

[Tone]

Wow, $160 to drop the pan and change the filter AND a flush?! You might want to double check and see if the bolts on the crossmember that support the tranny look like they have been undone recently as they have to come off to get to the pan.

[dkmiller68]

Tone, What is the life of the inline tranny filter (in normal operating conditions)?

[Tone]

10-15K which is when I have been changing the pan filter - never again!

[Dare2Dream]

Well, i actually saw them drop the pan infront of me, change the filter, put it back together and then do the machine flush. It was an amazing deal, i was surprised too :)