What's the difference between transmission flush and "drain and fill"??

[Northernstar804]

Hi guys, I tried searching the forum but couldn't find anything. So....what's the difference between these two anyway? Right now my 2004 Camry LE V6 has 80000km, do you guys recommand to do a transmission flush?? The other question I have is how often should I change the transmission fluid filter? thnx a bunch guys

[touringcamry]

Flush will exchange more fluid than a drain and refill. Flush takes longer to do than a drain and refill and will cost more.

A drain and refill is probably sufficient. If you do your own maintenance, maybe do a drain and refill when you change your oil the next two or three oil changes.

The filter is just a metal screen. You don't have to clean it, but you can if you want.

[gdanaher]

If you have never changed the fluid in 80k km then you really don't want to 'flush'. It is likely to stir up some loose crap that will in time clog the internal ports and pistons in the transmission. You have a dip stick. The fluid should look nice and rosey red, as new. If it is purple or brownish it should be changed. How often? Depends on your driving habits. That's why you should check it. 50k km would not be too often for a drain and refill, and if you are handy you can pretty well do this yourself by the old trusted method of unhooking the transmission from the cooler and letting it pump itself dry in about 30 seconds. Add a couple litres back in, reconnect the hose, and let it idle for a minute, shifting through all the gears. Stop, unhook and drain again, reconnect the hose and fill to proper mark.

[ToyotaToday]

I recommend a drain and fill but do it 3 or 4 times. why 3 or 4 times? Every time you do a drain and fill only 1/3 of all the fluid is changed as 2/3 remains the torque converter. When you drive the car, it circulates fluid that's in the torque converter with the fluid in the pan.

Here's why I recommend at least 3 or 4 drain and fills.

The first drain and fill, you will have about 66% dirty fluid remaining,
The second drain and fill, you will have about 44% dirty fluid remaining
The third drain and fill, you will have about 29% dirty fluid remaining
Fourth drain and fill, you will have about 19% dirty fluid remaining
fifth drain and fill, you will have about 13% dirty fluid remaining
6th drain and fill, 9% dirty fluid remaining
and so on.

You basically multiply 0.66666666 for every drain and fill to get % of dirty fluid remaining. I figure 3 or 4 is the best, as it follows the laws of diminishing returns. Also, doing more than 3 or 4 gets costly.

After each drain and fill, drive the car for a few miles, then drain and fill again and repeat the steps.

Read up on how to do a drain and fill, it's not exactly the same as an oil change. The engine needs to be running before checking the fluid level.

[Dna_splice]

haha law of diminishing returns...
haven't heard that term ina while

[Northernstar804]

thnx a lot for the input guys. So I dont ever need to change the transmission filter is that correct?

Originally Posted by gdanaher

If you have never changed the fluid in 80k km then you really don't want to 'flush'. It is likely to stir up some loose crap that will in time clog the internal ports and pistons in the transmission. You have a dip stick. The fluid should look nice and rosey red, as new. If it is purple or brownish it should be changed. How often? Depends on your driving habits. That's why you should check it. 50k km would not be too often for a drain and refill, and if you are handy you can pretty well do this yourself by the old trusted method of unhooking the transmission from the cooler and letting it pump itself dry in about 30 seconds. Add a couple litres back in, reconnect the hose, and let it idle for a minute, shifting through all the gears. Stop, unhook and drain again, reconnect the hose and fill to proper mark.

i read quite a few threads on the forums but people are so divided. some said it's not going to clog the ports while other said it is going to.....so now i am totally confused. is it really good or bad for the car!?!?

[Northernstar804]

Originally Posted by ToyotaToday

I recommend a drain and fill but do it 3 or 4 times. why 3 or 4 times? Every time you do a drain and fill only 1/3 of all the fluid is changed as 2/3 remains the torque converter. When you drive the car, it circulates fluid that's in the torque converter with the fluid in the pan.

Here's why I recommend at least 3 or 4 drain and fills.

The first drain and fill, you will have about 66% dirty fluid remaining,
The second drain and fill, you will have about 44% dirty fluid remaining
The third drain and fill, you will have about 29% dirty fluid remaining
Fourth drain and fill, you will have about 19% dirty fluid remaining
fifth drain and fill, you will have about 13% dirty fluid remaining
6th drain and fill, 9% dirty fluid remaining
and so on.

You basically multiply 0.66666666 for every drain and fill to get % of dirty fluid remaining. I figure 3 or 4 is the best, as it follows the laws of diminishing returns. Also, doing more than 3 or 4 gets costly.

After each drain and fill, drive the car for a few miles, then drain and fill again and repeat the steps.

Read up on how to do a drain and fill, it's not exactly the same as an oil change. The engine needs to be running before checking the fluid level.

haha, i learned this in econ XDD
anyways, i can't do that since i dont have the tool or space to do and shop probably wont do it this way either.....^^"

[ToyotaToday]

Originally Posted by Northernstar804

haha, i learned this in econ XDD
anyways, i can't do that since i dont have the tool or space to do and shop probably wont do it this way either.....^^"

Not sure what you mean, shops will do as many drain and fills you want, but they will just charge you big bucks, of course. I can't see a shop saying no to this.

[Northernstar804]

Originally Posted by ToyotaToday

Not sure what you mean, shops will do as many drain and fills you want, but they will just charge you big bucks, of course. I can't see a shop saying no to this.

lol, I know they will do it but I dont think I am gonna pay that much.
So can anyone verify that is it good for a car with 80000km to do transmission flush or not?? thnx

[gdanaher]

Read my earlier post if you can. If the fluid has never been changed, then flushing at that high mileage is going to loosen the trash that has accumulated. ATF is very detergent. Fresh ATF will seriously clean the surfaces and if you dump too much crap out all at once then the probability of clogging something is going to be pretty high. Better to drain and refill a few times while running the fluid through the system. Take a week or two and refill repeatedly. You still might have the same result of crap lodging in the wrong place. But hey, it's your dime.

[89molavi]

Different stores mean different things when they tell you they are going to flush it. Most would not drop the pan and check/change the filter. This could just back flow crap in the tranny which is not good. So a drain and refill is generally safer, esp if done frequently.

[PlatinumVibe08]

I'm planning on doing a drain and fill on my wife's '02 Camry 2.4L soon. Can anyone tell me how many quarts of fluid I need to buy, and if you know, what quantity of fluid will I end up swapping out?

Thanks!

[ToyotaToday]

Originally Posted by PlatinumVibe08

I'm planning on doing a drain and fill on my wife's '02 Camry 2.4L soon. Can anyone tell me how many quarts of fluid I need to buy, and if you know, what quantity of fluid will I end up swapping out?

Thanks!

I have an 02 V6 and it takes 3.5 litres for a drain and fill, so yours will be roughly 3 to 3.5 litres. I would just buy 4 litres and if you have any left, save it for your next drain and fill. If you haven't done one in awhile, you will need to do a few drain and fills anyway (maybe 3 drain and fills), but don't do one immediately afterwards, wait a week or so.

[PlatinumVibe08]

Thanks ToyotaToday. I would have guessed 4 quarts would do it. I plan on changing it the next three times I change oil at 5K mile intervals. That should get rid of most the original fluid.

PlatinumVibe08