flush or not to flush transmission?

looking to get my transmission flushed but after doing some research I am a little worried. Saw some people saying it can cause issues if you haven't done a transmission flush for a long time and than do one. is this a myth? true? I just purchased the truck about a month ago 2002 2.7L 217,000 miles. the guy I bought it from had it for 2 years and 10,000 miles and only did the basic maintenance. the original owner had it before that and I don't have any records on what he did to it.

 

Myth, I would do a simple fluid change and see how it comes out.

Have the ATF and the rear axle oil changed, have them grease the prop shafts during this as well. Will go a long way.

 

At my dealer we would not recommend a trans flush with that mileage.
I would just drop the pan, replace the filter, reinstall the pan, and refill the system.

 

What was the reasoning?

 

The clutches in an automatic transmission wear out (faster if the fluid is burned or old), but that clutch material will still be suspended in the fluid. When the transmission is flushed, what remnants of that material won't be in the fluid anymore, which can lead to a slipping transmission.

As stated, drain the fluid first to see what it looks like. If there are any kind of metallic flakes and the fluid is real black I highly advise against flushing.

 

http://www.gadgetonline.com/TransFlush.htm

Maybe read this, check your fluid, and decide.

 

When doing a transmission flush we hook a machine in line of the trans hoses with the old fluid pumping out of the trans and the new fluid pumping in, think similar to a dialysis machine, the trans fluid is under pressure while pumping the fluid and with higher mileage ones the seals dont always hold this pressure back, I remember one time the guy next to me blew the input seal and we had to pull the trans for free to replace the seal and the cooked torque converter.

 

Awesome thank you for the info. That was the answer I’ve been looking for. All I've seen before this was people just saying no but no reasoning behind it. I appreciate it!

 

Well that's kind of shitty on the Dealer's part (not yours)

Dealer should know we don't have a "filter" we have a strainer... which should be flushed clean, but would only need to be replaced if there is damage, like a hole in it, which would be a sign of much bigger problems.

I guess it's a good way for a stealership to up sell for another hundered bucks, or so.

Edit*** I guess if you need to remove the strainer, it's easier for the tech to just replace it. But it's actually pretty rare you need to do anything beyond inspect the strainer because there's normally nothing even in it. Again a strainer full of shit is a sign of bigger problems. If it needs to be "replaced" chances are there is more going on. To replace it on a normal drain and fill is a shisty way of up selling.

 

Actually fucker I work at a ford dealer and they have a foam like spongy material in the filter so were not gonna wash that out.
For my tacoma I just do a pan drop, filter replace and refill system. While I could clean my filter I would rather spend 20 extra for a new filter then spend time trying to clean the old one, if I cleaned a customer's I would charge for that extra time and customers don't like that.

Edit - apologize for calling you fucker.

 

Well that explains it. I was talking about OUR filters. Which are not filters.

Notice I specifically said I wasn't blaming YOU... but the dealership. But, I was assuming you worked at a Toyota dealership.

A Toyota dealership replacing the stainer is a bullshit move... and I know for a fact they do it.

 

I would assume Toyota would want to replace the filter for a few reasons that don't make sense if you do your own maintenance and thus know what grade of parts and when they were replaced. Let's say I dont recommend a filter since I assume it'll be the Toyota filter in the trans, vehicles at 200k miles but then it turns out you just bought the vehicle and last time it was changed was at 80k miles with a crappy aftermarket filter that is not flushable. I won't know that till I drop the pan and then what if the filter isn't in stock, now your price just increased for a new filter and you have to wait an extra day for the part and I am annoyed since I am down one lift till the part comes in since I can't just push your truck out missing the pan overnight. It may not be completely right or fair but I try to never assume things about customers cars, especially when I have to open the engine/trans/diff. I would rather list everything I will need assume it will need to be replaced and have all the parts I could reasonably need when I open it then have a unpleasant surprise for both the customer and myself.