[geoff5093]

I checked my transmission fluid today and it was very dark on the dipstick (darker then the oil). And when I wiped it on a white paper towel, it was a dark brown color, and was darker then the oil.

From what I hear it should be a cherry red color. I smelled it but it doesnt smell burnt, but it doesnt have a sweet smell either. I was thinking of using some SeaFoam in it and then drive for a hundred miles or so, then get it flushed, sound like its about time?

 

[hooRAH]

Auto trannies employ some sort of black magic to work as far as I'm concerned (translation: I'm not totally familiar with fluid choices), so I don't know if I would run any seafoam through it unless I saw some previous users results.

Either draining the fluid and refilling or pulling the pan, cleaning the screen and refilling is probably a good idea.

 

[newbie212]

I wouldnt do a flush.. A flush can sometimes make it worse... Just do a drain and refill...

 

[geoff5093]

Well I bought some SeaFoam thats specially designed for automatic transmissions, end i've heard from people here that its great to use to get all that build up out, but you should flush/drain it after so it doesnt have the debris floating around for a while.


I'll post a pic in a minute.

EDIT: Do you have any idea how much a place like jiffy lube would charge for a drain and refill?

 

[GaryS]

ATF is cherry red. Seafoam won't do anything better that a good flush and refill will. I would drain the pain, add ATF and drive it for 20 miles or so. Do another drain and refill because you can't get all of the old stuff out. Keep doing this until you get a cherry color in your ATF. What is Seafoam supposed to do besides make your wallet lighter?


Gary

 

[geoff5093]

ATF is cherry red. Seafoam won't do anything better that a good flush and refill will. I would drain the pain, add ATF and drive it for 20 miles or so. Do another drain and refill because you can't get all of the old stuff out. Keep doing this until you get a cherry color in your ATF. What is Seafoam supposed to do besides make your wallet lighter?

I know it wont make it better. I was saying if I needed to drain/refill my transimission fluid, if that would be a good time to use seafoam to help get all the build up out before the draining

 

[mandyfig]

Drain and fill, do it for 3 times as suggested previously. Then do the drain fill every oil change.

 

[geoff5093]

Drain and fill, do it for 3 times as suggested previously. Then do the drain fill every oil change.

I cant do that myself now since it's freezing out, theres snow on the ground, and I dont have any jack stands.

So how much would it cost at a place like jiffy lube for them to drain and fill it? I'm guessing I would have to drive it around a bit between each drain and fill to get the contaminents out right?

 

[jrschultz]

How many miles on the fluid that's in the tranny? If you got 100K miles or so on the original fluid, then don't have it flushed. I on the other hand have my tranny flushed every 30K miles and that works great for me. If you have a lot of miles on the fluid that is in there, then just drain and refill as others have stated.

 

[geoff5093]

I have no idea, the car has 132K on it. I bought it when it had 123K but I dont know what was done to it.

Anyone have an estimate on what some shops charge for a drain and refill?

 

[nodrogkam]

like i said for another thread, drain and fill. drive a few hundred miles, check again, if dirty drain and fill again.

 

[marc780]

I'm with Gary, i would NOT seafoam this transmission. I have read many posts in this forum from people who flushed their hi mileage (100,000 +) trans and killed it by doing that. (It was thought that the crud was holding it together and letting it still work.) Besides the major wear has already happened - and a flush isn't going to rebuild anything inside, anyway.
I'd just do a fluid change and clean the screen. Then see how she reacts first before doing another.

 

[geoff5093]

Thanks for your comments, I guess i'll just do a drain and refill as well as cleaning the screen. I couldnt find prices anywhere, do you guys have an idea how much they charge for a simple drain and refill?

 

[Eye8Pussies]

it's usually about the same price as an oil change- over here, 30bucks CND, or for a full machine flush- about 80/90bucks CND

 

[Mendelzon]

i wanna do a drain and refill in my Solara 3 times to get it all out. my tranny fluid is also a werid darkish color but no burn smell, have about 82K on the car,Auto. How many Q of ATF will i need for one drain ( how many Q of ATF is gonna come out off the pan) Also Where is the fill spot for the tranny ?? And what do u guys recommend for the ATF oil ?? Since i am going do it 3 times. Sorry for all the questions Thanks in Advance

 

[geoff5093]

Ok, so if I do get a drain and refill, would it really hurt that much to only do it once since spending $30 x3 would be alot.

Also, do they have different qualities of fluids that you can choose from?

 

[newbie212]

Thanks for your comments, I guess i'll just do a drain and refill as well as cleaning the screen. I couldnt find prices anywhere, do you guys have an idea how much they charge for a simple drain and refill?

All you gotta do is call them and ask..

 

[geoff5093]

All you gotta do is call them and ask..

but that would involve me picking up the phone

I'll probably head down there in the next couple of days and find out.

Thanks for your input guys

 

[kamrhee]

One thing I put in is an inline filter for the tranny. Drain and refill (3x) every year a and change the filter every other year. The filter would trap all unwanted /floating materials in the fluid plus the casing of the filter has a series of magnet to would trap metal filing that are in suspension. Just being on the safe side I guess. Besides, a case of ATF is cheaper than the transmission service fee.

kamrhee

 

[geoff5093]

Since so many people think I should do it 3 times, do you think its safe to wait until May-June before doing so? Because right now it's freezing outside, tons of snow, and I currently dont have any jack stands or ramps.