opinion on tranny flush

[littlegreystar]

Hey all,

I'm the new owner of a 99 Camry with 95000 miles. Tranny shifts perfect but the fluid is no longer bright pink by any means. It's not burnt either. I've heard the horror stories of what happens to a tranny if you flush it and the fluid is shot.

My question is, do you think it's a good idea to flush it? And has anyone ever actually experienced a tranny dying after a flush?

Thanks guys

-Vin

[JMSinMD]

It really depends on the previous maintenance performed on the vehicle. I get mine flushed every 30k since new instead of drain and fill, so to do mine at 90 k or 120 k would be ok. If it has never been done let sleeping dogs lay and just do a drain and fill. The best thing I did for my family of Toyota's is to create service schedules. I run a 5k oil change and rotate and balance interval, 10k alignment and air filter interval, 30k engine coolant fluid flush, transmission/differential/clutch fluid flush (depending on auto or manual), brake fluid flush interval, 60k power steering fluid flush, tune up, fuel filter and pcv valve change and 90k thermostat, timing belt and water pump. Hope this helps. Jon.ps. I will try to illustrate my spreadsheet service schedule below.

5k OC RB
10k OC RB CA AF
15k OC RB
20k OC RB CA AF
25k OC RB
30k OC RB CA AF EC ATF DF BF
35k OC RB
40k OC RB CA AF
45k OC RB
50k OC RB CA AF
55k OC RB
60k OC RB CA AF EC ATF DF BF PS TU FF PCV
65k OC RB
70k OC RB CA AF
75k OC RB
80k OC RB CA AF
85k OC RB
90k OC RB CA AF EC ATF DF BF THE TB WP

[toyoonly]

I think that my tranny could use a flush, however I dont know if it ever has been flushed before. Its a 1992 V6 Auto, and the fluid looks kinda old, but doesnt smell bad. I was going to get a flush, but now im not sure. What do you guys think?

[Gary_602Z]

Drain and fill!
Do it again every 10k or so until you get it looking better.

Gary

[moocow]

99 Camry 4 cyl at about 90k miles, I flushed had the trans maintenence done at a shop for about $90, drained transmission fluid and filter, shifts a bit smoother after that.

[stir_fry_boy]

Instead of flushing every 30k, every other oil change I drain and fill the transmission (3 qt ATF) because it circulates in the tranny and costs much much less than the flush and you pour 3 qt transmission fluid every 6k miles so for every 30k that would mean you should have put about 18 qt through the transmission costing you about $7 each time x 5 times in 30k = $35 instead of a whopping $130 for a flush. Makes since, sure, you don't get ALL the tranny fluid out every time you drain, but you get about 1/3 of it out and you pour 18 qt through it over 30k miles. That's a lot more transmission fluid than the shop uses when you go for a tranny flush. Very cost efective and you need to change the oil every 3k miles anyway under there and it is just as easy as changing your oil.

[nodrogkam]

flushed at 75K. felt better after that and fluids has stayed pink/red. Prior to flush just the drain and fills didnt help. It was near brown before the flush.

[Obelix]

Drained and filled at 70k and changed the trans kit (filter) ... the fluid stays pink since... (now i have 84K

[camrycoupe95]

Just had mine flushed at Jiffy Lube. They had a half price deal, $49.95 for the flush, so the oil change and flush was $81. Hooked it up to the machine that used my trannys own pump. They didn't do the pan gasket or fliter so if my tranny poops out after this then it's an expensive lession learned.