DIY flush transmission fluid

[popeye08]

(from http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir.../.ee9950e/4658 )

TRANSMISSION FLUSH PROCEDURE
Q: How can I flush my transmission fluid without bringing it to a shop?

A:

You can actually change virtually all the fluid in the system using the following method. We have 5 Toyota's in the family, and I have done this to them all at least once.
It takes about an hour. Use whatever fluid is recommended on the dipstick, or in the manual. Our Camry's and Corolla's take Dexron, but the Celica takes Toyota Type IV fluid, available only from Toyota, at about $3.50/qt. Use what's recommended, or you'll be sorry. It's still less expensive than having it done.
1. Drop the pan*, drain the fluid, replace the filter, and reinstall the pan as you usually do.
2. Add 3 quarts of fluid. (or however many quarts of fluid are drained from the pan).
3. Remove the fluid return line at the transmission (usually the upper of the two lines), and place it into a one-gallon milk jug or similar semi-transparent container. You may want to place the container in a box with rags around it so that it doesn't spill.
4. Start the engine, and let about a quart or so of fluid get pumped into the milk jug (about 10-15 seconds).
5. Stop the engine, and add a quart of fluid to the transmission.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get new fluid out of the drain line.
You'll use about 8-10 quarts of fluid total, including the 3 you put in at the beginning, so you may need more than one milk jug.
7. Reinstall the drain line to the transmission, start the engine, and check for leaks.
8. With your foot on the brake, put the transmission in each gear, then into Park.
9.Let the car down and check the fluid level on the dipstick. Add fluid if needed to bring it up to the proper level.
10. Take it out for a test drive, and check the fluid level again.

(*One caveat is that it is not nessary to drop the pan. Removing and replacing the filter is not necessary. It is more or less just a screen that doesn't get plugged unless your clutch plates shread or something equally traumatic happens. Brian R.)
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[marc780]

The definitive post, at last. We use the shop-type ATF flushing machines at work, and yeah they work BUT using this method is just as good. IMO, you dont need to pay all that money for a flush - you can do just as good a job with this method; and you know exactly what quality and type of fluid is going in.

[jpbear]

What would an approx cost for a trans flush?

[touringcamry]

Kocho has already posted a DIY on here a while back, doing exactly what was stated above.

Approximate cost of a transmission flush at a shop is around $100 or more, and perhaps $50 for a drain and refill. DIY for the price for 10 quarts of ATF of your choice and about 1 hour of time. And if you need someone to help you out, add the cost of a case of beer.

Dex III fluid costs about $3 for Castrol brand and about $5-6 for Mobil synthetic ATF per quart.

[funnysam]

My avi was having some minor problem with the transmission.
It wouldn't do the kick-down sometimes and often resulted as vibration and noise.
pour in some seafoam trans-tune and ran for 30 something miles.
Then, i did my first DIY trans flush this past weekend.
I didn't know whether it's going to help or not since my fluid looks pretty good on the dip stick. I decided to go from the original Fluid to Mobil 1 synthetic.
The entire process is pretty easy except that i had a hard time getting the hose off between the cooler and the transmission. Took me 2 and half hour to finish up the process.

After Checking on to the fluid level, i went on a road trip the next day.
It's quite amazing that the noise during normal driving actually decreases a lot. And more surprising to me was that i actually pick up 5 MPG. i went from a normally 26-27MPG highway to a 31.8MPG! same thing happened on my return trip!

so ya, the process is highly recommended.

[Techniker]

Originally Posted by funnysam

My avi was having some minor problem with the transmission.
It wouldn't do the kick-down sometimes and often resulted as vibration and noise.
pour in some seafoam trans-tune and ran for 30 something miles.
Then, i did my first DIY trans flush this past weekend.
I didn't know whether it's going to help or not since my fluid looks pretty good on the dip stick. I decided to go from the original Fluid to Mobil 1 synthetic.
The entire process is pretty easy except that i had a hard time getting the hose off between the cooler and the transmission. Took me 2 and half hour to finish up the process.

After Checking on to the fluid level, i went on a road trip the next day.
It's quite amazing that the noise during normal driving actually decreases a lot. And more surprising to me was that i actually pick up 5 MPG. i went from a normally 26-27MPG highway to a 31.8MPG! same thing happened on my return trip!

so ya, the process is highly recommended.

Could someone give more detail on this? Maybe even with pictures? I would hate to pull the wrong line. I drive a 1995 Toyota Camry V6 XLE. I am going to pull the factory service manual, but I want to be absolutely sure.

I recently just threw a sticking solenoid valve code twice and my transmission fluid is brown. (The transmission shop says that the fluid is fine, it's just old, but I don't want to take any chances).

My biggest concern is all of the starting and stopping of the engine so many times. Would it also be possible to just take the intake line off as well and drop it into a can of fresh ATF? If so, why has this not been done?

Thank you in advance,
Techniker

[AlmightyCamry777]

Techniker probably the worst that happens if you pull the wrong line is ATF fluid drains out of the radiator connection instead of the hose.