Posted on 05/01/2011 10:49:54 AM PDT by Signalman
I own 2 high mileage cars. I have definitely noticed a “lag” in the auto XMSN even when the oil has been changed (i use synthetic).
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Minor transmission problems like your “lag” are usually due to slightly dirty or sticking components... I have used “AUTO-RX” to clean a Mercedes tranny (slow upshifts when cold) and a Taurus (AXOD tranny) that slipped completely out of gear in hard left turns ... The stuff is magic ,, cleans slowly and completely ,, drove both cars another 100k afterwards ... Follow the advice on the website and have the fluid and filter completely changed by a transmission specialist after treatment. http://auto-rx.com/transmissions.html
Don't ever, never take your car to jiffy lube or any of those places.
When ya drain the oil, leave the drain plug out for 15 or 20 minutes. I leave my out for 2 hours. You have to allow all the dirty oil to drain out that is clinging to all the internal engine parts..
If ya don't do this, your putting new oil in with old nasty dirty oil.
If ya like your vehicle, and want it to last, do this.
Right you are about that! My late dad always let the oil drip out of the engine for at least 2-3 hours before adding new oil to the engine. That is how you do the job right!
Dad was right, but this has more to do with engines than transmissions. But transmissions should also be allowed to drain out for at least 20 minutes.
BTW, I sometimes allow my engine oil to drain completely over night before adding new, when I know I wont be using my vehicle over night.
Reminds me of the time as a kid when I changed the engine oil in my car.
I couldn’t figure out why the transmission was slipping while I was out for a test drive. I coasted over to the curb and checked the transmission fluid — nothing. Not a drop.
I checked the oil — it was well above top mark on the dip stick.
I pulled the plug on the transmission fluid instead of the engine oil. The car was fine after I added transmission fluid and drained the oil. My grandfather had a good laugh.
We just had our transmission filter changed and it’s been running lousy ever since. Bringing it back to the shop tomorrow. Maybe I’ll print out this article and bring it with me.
The chaos of the world sucks a lot more with a busted car.
“As for Jiffy Lube, my last visit there a decade ago had them tell me a throttle plate cleaning at $245 was part of my vehicle’s scheduled maintenance. It was not.”
I took a company vehicle to a local place once. As I was waiting in the lobby, I witnessed an almost comical parade of ‘technicians’ bringing hoses, filters, belts, etc. into the lobby to show to this elderly woman. She stood firm and told them ‘no’ every time...but this is how I discovered what the business model of these places is.
Who knows, maybe they asked to clean her throttle plate too :). I can’t remember all the junk they tried to sell her.
I constantly stew about how often to change diff, transfer case, and manual tranny fluid on my 4WD. Was worrying about it even this morning. Not allowed to do it at home and can’t shell out the bucks for the inflated dealer intervals.
Sure.
And the sealed bearings on your wheels need periodic service. /s
Don't ever take your vehicles to a jiffy lube type place.
Trust me.
See 22.
Once my car was out of extended warranty, I began all the maintenance myself.
First time I changed the tranny fluid, it ran poorly. The manual said to use SPII fluid which is what I used. I then read the manufacturer's TSB and there was a bulletin advising the use of SPIII fluid. So, i drained the fluid I just put in and replaced it with SPIII and it ran much better although still had some shift problems due to the amount of SPII fluid that was leftover in the torque converter. I went back, drained the fluid again and added fresh SPIII and that did the trick. Shifts as smooth as silk.
Unfortunately, it cost me an extra $100 worth of fluid to make up for having added the wrong fluid.
Engines consume oil. .... I don’t believe we are talking engines. We are talking transmissions here.
there is nothing wrong with changing your transmission oil and filter- i do it every 30 thousand miles cause your filter starts to stop up with fine clutch shavings. after 30,000 you can pull your oil pan off and scrap about 1/16 of and inch of clutch shavings with your finger. so you know its in the filter if its settled in the pan also. i’ve heard of people putting pure synthetic oils in there trans, and the car woundnt even move cause the clutchs slip to easy due to the oil is to slick- trans fluid is kinda dry when you feel of it, i guess so the clutchs plates can grab better. it is good to change your trans fluid, cause heat will break down any oil over time. oil would last a lifetime if the heat wasnt breaking it down.
For all hydraulics the thing to remember is...keep it cool and keep it clean. Heat will destroy a transmission, and an automatic is run by hydraulics.
2003: Tranny started losing fluid and smoking when it got low. I couldn't drive 20 miles without losing so much fluid that it smoked. Even got pulled over by a State Trooper once 'cuz it was smoking trying to nurse it home (very rural area, no place to stop and pick up a quart or two to get it home).
Bought a large bottle of Lucas Auto Transmission stop leak, filled the tranny with it and drove it 4 more years, no more smoking, no more leaking, and shifting as smooth as the day I got it. The stuff is gold.
Worked in my Ford C-4 also.
You are doing what I do....replace the filter and what is in the pan.
The lube shops are selling a ‘total fluid exchange’.
Say you replace 4 quarts when you drop the pan...there may be another 7 in the transmission...they are trying to scare people into exchanging all of this fluid.
I have operated on the notion that changing out some of the fluid with every filter change will be sufficient...but apparantly some new cars don’t even have changeable filters and pans.
I would never do the ‘transfusion’ the shops offer...seems like alot of stuff can go wrong.
I think you mean pints, not quarts.
Most transmissions that I’ve changed fluid on, or added fluid to were spec’d in pints.
=8-)
yeah, you cant get it all, cause you have approx 3 to 4 quarts in the torqe converter- i always just drop the pan and change filter, and add oil thats needed.
“Chrysler makes its own transmissions....”
That explains a lot.
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