A/T fluid change?

[02slera]

My 02 sle has 114,000 miles on it now. im looking to change the transmission fluid, should i? i've been told by some that if the car has been this far with no tranny fluid change, changing it now could mess it up. On the other hand it seems to me that i should change the fluid and filter as the fluid may "break down" and not do its job after so many miles. I'm also wondering if i want to get the fluid changed what fluid should i use? and is there a special way to get all the fluid out? does it have to be pumped out?

[ThatVietGuy]

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php? ... sion+fluid

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php? ... sion+fluid

As for changing the fluid now and causing damage, I have never, EVER heard of anything like that. If it's never been changed before though, you might want to do more than just a simple drain-and-fill.

[02slera]

oh damn. im THAT guy. i just sat down and typed the question before searching. sorry everyone.

[02slera]

ok now that i have searched.... it seems that going to a shop to have a machine "flush out" the ATF could possibly mess up the transmission because of the 114k miles on it.? so if thats true, it seems i can take the cooling line off the radiator and run the engine so the ATF comes out and fill new fluid in the top at the same time to "flush" it out that way.? and once again any recommendations on a good synthetic ATF is appreciated.

[Chinky420]

i use royal purple atf in my auto

if you want a complete fluid change, goto a shop and have them flush it, it should cost around $150

the a/t uses something absurd like 14 quarts of fluid (i believe some may be in the torque converter though). doing a manual drain/refill (DIY) will be time consuming and won't get all the fluid out at once. if you drain/refill, you'll have to do it about 3 or 4 times to get 'fresh' a/t fluid all throughout the system (hence the reason mechanics use a pump mechanism to get all the fluid out).

the parts are easy to get to, the pan is reasonably easy to drop, and the filter is easy to replace, but it's still a hassle to lift your car three times within a week, when a mechanic can hook you upto a machine and do it in one afternoon.

i can't verify or deny the claims about flushing harming a high milage auto tranny, as you can read in my previous thread (thanks thatvietguy) i ended up having to take mine to get a new tranny. but my damage wasn't from doing a fluid change, i did my fluid change in response to obvious tranny damage, so my tranny was already dead by the time i made it to the mechanic.

having done a drain/refill (kinda) + filter change before, i would recommend taking it to a shop, just because it's much easier.

now, if they're charging over $200 for the flush, then i'd find another shop or consider doing it myself.

[02slera]

thank you for valuable input. i will start asking the local shops about getting it done on my car. however im still unsure as to which fluid i will use, i've heard people say that amsoil has good atf as well as royal purple and im wondering about valvoline or other options.

[Jakecallun20]

114k? I wouldn't touch a flush. Just do a few drain and refills over the next few weeks. After 3 or 4 your transmission will have all it's fluid completely changed. After so many miles, your transmission gets "used to" all that gunk and crap and in some cases its actually what holds your transmission together. When you flush it all out.....then you have problems. I just did a transmission fluid change with AMSoil in my Honda, shifted much smoother afterwards.

[02slera]

ah yes thats what i was afraid of. anyone think that the diy flush is worth trying? meaning i take one of the cooling lines loose from the radiator and run the engine and as fluid is circulated i collect the old fluid in a pan and add new fluid to the top. seems like it might work but i dont know much at all about transmissions.

[Jakecallun20]

ah yes thats what i was afraid of. anyone think that the diy flush is worth trying? meaning i take one of the cooling lines loose from the radiator and run the engine and as fluid is circulated i collect the old fluid in a pan and add new fluid to the top. seems like it might work but i dont know much at all about transmissions.

You could do that, personally I'd rather just drain and refill a few times. That is me personally. Either way it will get done. It is an important task that shouldn't be neglected, if you want your transmission to last. I do know that the A541e transmission is solid, but from personal experience I also know it likes fresh fluid.

[02slera]

good to hear its solid, thats one of main reasons for getting a toyota, i was always a more of a ford fan and my last vehicle was a 99 explorer xlt 4.0 sohc 5 speed auto. the 5 speed auto went out at 130k miles (though i admit i never changed the fluid/filter). i believe ford builds ok vehicles if you ignore their P.O.S. transmissions. im taking care of this solara best i can and hopefully the transmission holds up better. I believe i will try to flush it myself because im feeling kinda good about it, also i need to know which line flows which direction for cooling as i plan on adding additional cooling to the system. THANK YOU Jakecallun20 as you have convinced me to stay away from the transmission shop's flush procedure.

[02slera]

UPDATE:
Just purchased a transmission cooler, seems like an ok one...

Hayden Transaver Plus automatic transmission coolers
Provides more cooling power in 33% less space with high efficiency aluminum fins, louvers, and exclusive oil turbulators. Resists vibration damage with super-strong 100% brazed construction.

And i think I'm going to go with Amsoil ATF, will just buy a filter kit from napa or something.

[dug320]

There really no such thing as an AT flush. There is only one way to do it properly (properly means this is how Toyota tells its techs). It takes four cycles of drain and fill after the third empty change the filter.

Simply drain it and fill drive for 15 minutes. Drain and fill drive for 15 minutes. Drain and fill drive for 15 minutes. Drain change filter and fill.

[Jakecallun20]

UPDATE:
Just purchased a transmission cooler, seems like an ok one...

Hayden Transaver Plus automatic transmission coolers
Provides more cooling power in 33% less space with high efficiency aluminum fins, louvers, and exclusive oil turbulators. Resists vibration damage with super-strong 100% brazed construction.

And i think I'm going to go with Amsoil ATF, will just buy a filter kit from napa or something.

Good call with the Amsoil! And that hayden is fairly simple to install. Thats the same kind most of us Accord guys use with the Auto-tragic on the AV6's

[02slera]

Sweet. Now the issue is... Should i go with Amsoil universal ATF, or, Amsoil Torque Drive ATF? it says both will work in my car. the torque drive is really made for some allison tranny but it says it will work in place of TES-389 (formerly Dexron III). My most important issue is protecting the tranny, second to that i would like quick smooth shifts, anyone have experience on the difference between the two fluids?

[Sla]

114k? I wouldn't touch a flush. Just do a few drain and refills over the next few weeks. After 3 or 4 your transmission will have all it's fluid completely changed. After so many miles, your transmission gets "used to" all that gunk and crap and in some cases its actually what holds your transmission together. When you flush it all out.....then you have problems. I just did a transmission fluid change with AMSoil in my Honda, shifted much smoother afterwards.

okay thats exactly what my firend told me