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Kinda OT aan pathetic, but my moms 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva has 176K and still has the original tranny fluid, but the transmission still shifts like new. I have been telling them to change the fluid for years, but it just seems to keep getting overlooked. Its just an old car and we have got our monies worth out of it, even it had fallen apart 2 years ago.
Its true, I had an '84 Accord LX automatic, with 216K and the tranny was getting weak. I later found out that the car didnt have a filter, or even a transmission pan for that matter... not sure if/when Honda ever changed this or not.
I did 2 drain and fills since year 2000. Old mechanics are no longer around.
I have to go for a long drive (700 total miles) so I changed my oil and noticed my trans fluid was a light brown (not red, but not too dark). So I bring it in to a local mechanic and originally he said he was going to flush it. An hour later he calls me up and says trans fluid is very dirty and a flush is very risky and it's better to just keep on driving the car the way it is.
Since I had 2 drain and fills before I suggested a drain and fill. He said no--transmission fluid is a detergent and you don't know what crud it will let loose. He said he won't replace trans fluid unless it still has a little red left.
I know a flush is more risky than a fill and drain, but is this still risky? By the way the car shifts smooth and no known trans issues.
I am glad he didn't take advantage of me financial wise, but my fluid is dirty. Any advice? Thanks!!
Sounds like he simply doesn't want the liability. Find somebody else to do the change for you, avoid the flush.
I checked with GM, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Honda and several other new car manufacturers and not one recommended an engine or transmission flush as routine maintenance. In fact, they specifically don't recommend it at all!!
Do You Need To Flush? | Suite101.com (http://autotechrepair.suite101.com/article.cfm/040206#ixzz0JrYfnlMb&D - broken link)
The article proves my point going back to 1950 that my mechanic dad taught me to change my oil and substitute one qt of oil with a qt of auto tranny fluid instead which kept the engine and lifters clean and quiet. As a mechanic also taught my sons to do the same. Two are now mechanics.
The article proves my point going back to 1950 that my mechanic dad taught me to change my oil and substitute one qt of oil with a qt of auto tranny fluid instead which kept the engine and lifters clean and quiet. As a mechanic also taught my sons to do the same. Two are now mechanics.
Nice article which made my day.
Steve
Cool. So next oil change on my 4 Cylinder Accord I should put in 3 Quarts of motor oil and I quart of transmission fluid?
Hold your horses frisco. Back in 1950 on for many yrs they were all V8 engines with 5 qts of oil including the filter using 30wt oil. One qt of tranny fluid did not make a big difference.
With todays 4 cyls I would use up to 1/2 qt max with a normal 4 qt engine. Better to use 1/4 qt as a starter to see how it cleans...do not want any engine problems blamed on me.
I am NOT familiar with the new Japanese motors that use 5wt-30wt oil and the such. The oil is very thin at 5wt.
Auto tranny fluid is highly refined motor oil and almost flows like water because of all the small holes it flows thru in the trans...thus cleans the lifters.
Like the saying..."a little drop will do you" so start slowly with the tranny fluid.
Maybe I was lucky... I had 230K on a '91 Accord I had and the tranny was still perfect, aside from the "whining" that plagued all of them. My aunt bought a brand new '91 Accord in December of 1990. I rode it in when it had 3 miles on it! Still had that tranny "whine/whistle", but I never minded it. That was an amazingly dependable and trouble free car.
I have never had a tranny or engine flush & i never will. Just keep your tranny filled with clean red trans fluid. I do though have a leak & im going to have it checked out.
2. drop the pan. clean out the fluid and clean the pan.
3. allow pan to dry.
4. replace pan.
5. replace fluid.
Done.
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Its just an old car and we have got our monies worth out of it, even it had fallen apart 2 years ago. 
