Transmission fluid flush at 110,000

[ruturaj1989]

I bought a used car (Mitsubishi Galant 2009) in December 2015. It had 86,000 miles on it and now I am at 110,000. Recently I got aware of that car also has transmission fluid which is very important. I think the transmission fluid was never changed. I am thinking about getting the transmission flush at a local shop where they use a machine. The oil seems to be not burnt (slightly brown color).

Should I do flush? Will it break transmission? Can I sue the repair shop and get new transmission if that happens?

PS:

I got few things (new timing belt, pulleys, water pump, spark plug, drive belt, thermostat, valve cover gasket, struts, stabilizer links tires) done in November. (Should have also got valve clearance adjustment done when valve cover gasket was replaced).

Here are pages from Mitsubishi's service manual for the car.

http://imgur.com/a/acnz8

I had a motorcycle which I guess has single oil which circulates through transmission, engine, clutch etc. So I was thinking cars are same. Stupid me.

Update: I did it and since then have around 1,000 mile son it, everything seems fine, car runs much better.

 

[Raizinman]

Does the fluid smell burn and perhaps discolored being brownish instead of redish? If not, I would say go ahead:

1) Drop the skid plate
2) Drop the crossmember
3) Support the transmission
4) Remove the upper part of transmission mount
5) Drain transmission fluid from pan (some have a drain plug)
5) Unbolt transmission pan with dipstick
6) Remove transmission filter (5 or 6 small bolts)
7) Reassemble
8) Install the correct fluid, best is Mitsubishi ATF fluid.
9) Make sure vehicle is running and warmed up for final check

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Should I do flush? Will it break transmission?

What? No - the opposite. Bad fluid will kill your trans. You flush it regularly so it doesn't break.

Barring gross incompetence, of course. (Leaving a drain plug off or something.)

Although your transmission will eventually break anyway. Things wear out. But that does make it hard to prove that X caused Y, when you're working with an old car. Sometimes it was just time.

Can I sue the repair shop and get new transmission if that happens?

Lawyers are more expensive than transmissions, so no.

 

[ruturaj1989]

Does the fluid smell burn and perhaps discolored being brownish instead of redish? If not, I would say go ahead:

1) Drop the skid plate
2) Drop the crossmember
3) Support the transmission
4) Remove the upper part of transmission mount
5) Drain transmission fluid from pan (some have a drain plug)
5) Unbolt transmission pan with dipstick
6) Remove transmission filter (5 or 6 small bolts)
7) Reassemble
8) Install the correct fluid, best is Mitsubishi ATF fluid.
9) Make sure vehicle is running and warmed up for final check

The fluid did not smell burned, it was light brown color. I read service manual (not the user manual) for my car, the filter is not intended to be swapped for service. I am planning to do the flush at a store where they use a machine and they are planning to use Valvoline maxlife ATF (which is SP3 compatible, my car need diamond sp3).

 

[ruturaj1989]

What? No - the opposite. Bad fluid will kill your trans. You flush it regularly so it doesn't break.

Although your transmission will eventually break anyway. Things wear out.

I meant flush by machine, where the connect machine to hose to transmission.

Lawyers are more expensive than transmissions, so no.

LOL, that's sad though.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I meant flush by machine, where the connect machine to hose to transmission.

I don't think so. AFAIK, those machines just collect/capture the transmission fluid for recycling. It's not stuff you want to dump in a sewer, and it'd be a slipping hazard if it spilled on a shop floor. They're not under significant pressure or anything.

Same with A/C gas.

 

[C1]

In general flushes are a "no no" and particularly in your situation with a tranny that might have never been serviced.

(Just been thru all this.)

Just get the transmission serviced normally like it should have been. This is where the fluid is drained, the pan is dropped & the filter is changed then the whole thing is put back together.

Dont believe me then call these guys :

http://sandiegoautorepaircare.com/shoppages/west-ei-cajon-automotive-transmission/

They are on the local radio ( car talk show) every Saturday morning and they talk about your issue/concern.

 

[ruturaj1989]

In general flushes are a "no no" and particularly in your situation with a tranny that might have never been serviced.

(Just been thru all this.)

Just get the transmission serviced normally like it should have been. This is where the fluid is drained, the pan is dropped & the filter is changed then the whole thing is put back together.

Dont believe me then call these guys :

http://sandiegoautorepaircare.com/shoppages/west-ei-cajon-automotive-transmission/

They are on the local radio ( car talk show) every Saturday morning and they talk about your issue/concern.

The thing is, my car's service manual says to use a machine or few instructions where it runs engine and throws out the old fluid then they drain from drain plug put new fuel again run engine throw out old fluid then refill.

I am going to Goodyear and Valvoline tomorrow, will ask them how their procedure works. As per as I have read as long as the machine doesn't use air pressure, it should be fine. (I am just sharing my findings)

 

[Meghan54]

Only thing I'd do is drop the transmission's pan, drain, replace filter, refill what drained. No flush at that age without being serviced at all previously.

 

[ruturaj1989]

Only thing I'd do is drop the transmission's pan, drain, replace filter, refill what drained. No flush at that age without being serviced at all previously.

The car's manual doesn't have anything related to dropping pan. Please have a look (If you want to have look I can give you link to all pages).

http://imgur.com/a/acnz8

Also by looking at images, it appears that my car (4-A/T) does not have a pan?

 

[Raizinman]

The pressures in some of these automatic transmission fluid replacers are often set too high and can often blow seals, especially on an older transmission. I know that many new car manufacturers such as Honda/Acura do not want them used as they can cause damage.

You seem to be pretty intent to do it your way; so go ahead and let us know how it all came out.

 

[ruturaj1989]

The pressures in some of these automatic transmission fluid replacers are often set too high and can often blow seals, especially on an older transmission. I know that many new car manufacturers such as Honda/Acura do not want them used as they can cause damage.

You seem to be pretty intent to do it your way, so go ahead and let us know how it all came out.

What I am planning is go to local lube change shop, check what kind of machine they have. It appears that some machines like below let's car spit out the fluid. If they have one like this I am going to do it. Also, did you have a chance to look at the attached manual?

https://youtu.be/nQ3m16LS1VI

 

[DaTT]

I would personally not take it to a oil and lube shop for this service. Often the workers are young and not adequately trained on the equipment. I would take it to the Mitsubishi dealer for peace of mind.

 

[Raizinman]

I did look at T-Tech site and did not understand what they said about 100% replacement of fluid that they claimed.

For example: If you car holds 8 quarts of transmission fluid and they load this T-Tech with 8 new fresh quarts of transmission fluid. And then they start the exchange of fluid. Isn't the new fluid that goes in going to get mixed in immediately with the old fluid? Especially since the engine is running. I sort of stopped when I got to this as when I find one lie in a products description, it sort of turns me off on the product. I have a similar product in my shop, but rarely use it and I also don't claim that it can 100% replace all the transmission fluid.

Also, even if it did replace all or most of the fluid, what about all the gunk in the transmission that will now be loosen and floating around? Will the transmission filter catch all this? The filter that is probably full, since it has never had a transmission service? Don't expect Jiffy Lube or Valvoline to buy you a new transmission (I am on retainer with Valvoline), they won't.

 

[DaTT]

It is a fluid transfer. The one I have used in the past (worked at a lube shop many many years ago) usually took a few quarts/liters more to eliminate the mix between old and new fluid that would initially happen at the start of the process.

Also, you wouldn't "loosen up any gunk" because there is no change in the way the transmission is circulating the fluid, just that old stuff is being pumped out as new stuff pumped in instead of the fluid going around in a circle....think of it as a blood transfusion. Unfortunately the filter is not changed with this method.

 

[ruturaj1989]

I would personally not take it to a oil and lube shop for this service. Often the workers are young and not adequately trained on the equipment. I would take it to the Mitsubishi dealer for peace of mind.

Thank you for replying.
I hate going to dealers, they charge a lot. Last time I went to a local one for timing belt he gave an estimate of $700-1000 for timing belt depending on the quality of parts they use. I decided to go with Goodyear since they were charging $90, my car takes around 8 quarts of ATF (they used Valvoline MaxLife) and they also used trans cleaner (VP094), so it sounded like a fair deal.

I did look at T-Tech site and did not understand what they said about 100% replacement of fluid that they claimed.

For example: If you car holds 8 quarts of transmission fluid and they load this T-Tech with 8 new fresh quarts of transmission fluid. And then they start the exchange of fluid. Isn't the new fluid that goes in going to get mixed in immediately with the old fluid? Especially since the engine is running. I sort of stopped when I got to this as when I find one lie in a products description, it sort of turns me off on the product. I have a similar product in my shop, but rarely use it and I also don't claim that it can 100% replace all the transmission fluid.

Also, even if it did replace all or most of the fluid, what about all the gunk in the transmission that will now be loosen and floating around? Will the transmission filter catch all this? The filter that is probably full, since it has never had a transmission service? Don't expect Jiffy Lube or Valvoline to buy you a new transmission (I am on retainer with Valvoline), they won't.

Thank you for replying.
As DaTT said in his post, I think they add extra fluid to overcome mixing and since the engine (I mean the whole system including transmission) is doing the everyday routine it won't move things inside.

Even if the fluid mixes with old one and I found the color is not reddish, I will go back there and ask them to do it again.

It is a fluid transfer. The one I have used in the past (worked at a lube shop many many years ago) usually took a few quarts/liters more to eliminate the mix between old and new fluid that would initially happen at the start of the process.

Also, you wouldn't "loosen up any gunk" because there is no change in the way the transmission is circulating the fluid, just that old stuff is being pumped out as new stuff pumped in instead of the fluid going around in a circle....think of it as a blood transfusion. Unfortunately the filter is not changed with this method.

Thank you for replying.
I have a service manual (the one with thousands of pages, which has everything there is to know about the mechanics of the car) for my car and it doesn't mention filter in transmission section. As per some advice on other forums given to other people, there is one but it is not user serviceable, following are exact words

there is no "pan" to speak of. there is a valve body cover, but there's nothing to service behind it.
the filter is permanent, and can ONLY be replaced with the removal of the trans and splitting the case halves.

 

[DaTT]

Glad it worked out for you. And yes, some transmissions do not have a filter that is serviceable.

 

[desy]

I've done the lube flush as few times with no issues in older vehicles, I've also done the full drop filters and resets, big price difference which I save for my newer lower mile vehicles since I tend to keep

 

[Zorba]

I meant flush by machine, where the connect machine to hose to transmission.

Do not do a machine flush on an old tranny. This is how I lost my first car . It is fine if you have been religious about tranny flushes, but I doubt that fluid has ever been touched and those machines tend to knock crap loose that causes issues. Just do a drain refill a few times over a week or so.