Recommend a used transmission fluid exchange machine

[kapster]

I'm looking for a used transmission fluid exchange machine for personal use, there is quite a few options available close to me. My vehicles in the past I could pull a cooler line and pump out old while filling with new. Our new Hyundai pumps new fluid from the pan so this method doesn't work. I plan to clean it out well and only use it on my well maintained vehicles.

I'm mostly interested in the T-tech, wynn transtech II plus, RTI and BG pf5. Any experiences with these machines? The t-tech and BG use the transmission to push new fluid in so no chance of overpressuring. That seems good but they look like a pain for switching fluid type. The Wynn seems popular, does anyone know how it works? I assume just a pump?

 

[bsaint]

I have no idea. But I was just thinking that it's strange how aisin or zf have a fluid life but no real way to remove the fluid from the torque converter. Is that what mainly using these units does? It pushes new fluid through the converter?

 

[Sumboodie]

Why not just drain and refill?

Only time I'd bother with a flush is something like if I swamped a truck and water got in the trans.

 

[kbeefy]

I had the BG PXT and it was pretty nice. Sorry, I don't have experience with the others.

 

[Duster346]

Why not just drain and refill?

Only time I'd bother with a flush is something like if I swamped a truck and water got in the trans.

Agreed .. dump and pump every 6 months, and pan drop every year for filter change.

If your fluid is cooked, no longer red or smells like a skunk's ***, flushing the fluid won't help.

 

[mike93lx]

Agreed .. dump and pump every 6 months, and pan drop every year for filter change.

Do you drive 60k miles a year or something? That is nuts

 

[wafrederick]

Flush machines push all that dirt and crud from the lines around which get dumped into the valve body.One local transmission repair shop in my area makes money off of these doing valve body cleanings

 

[jimindm]

A few years ago I thought I might consider one. I have a small repair shop in my garage at home. I mentioned it to my Snap On tools guy. Told him nothing fancy just used and something that works.

In the next few weeks I had two transmission repair shops, three salvage yards, and a few large shops contact me about selling one. I could have had my pick of ten, and $100 would have bought any of them. None were wore out and even a couple looked pretty new.

I guess at that time I sort of thought if they all have one to get rid of, then maybe I do not need one sitting around.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, many ATs are good for many thousands of miles between service intervals. Some newer brands even list the service interval as being 'never'. Not saying that I agree with such, but way too many AT flushes result in nothing but trouble.

 

[mike93lx]

Yep, many ATs are good for many thousands of miles between service intervals. Some newer brands even list the service interval as being 'never'. Not saying that I agree with such, but way too many AT flushes result in nothing but trouble.

Many tens of thousands of miles

 

[txvwnut]

Had a BG machine at the day job and the transmission shop loved us as we had trans failures due to packing the valve body with ****. After about a year of them using it I suggested to do a flush then drain and change the filter and refill with new fluid from the dispenser and not the machine. Our trips to the trans shop stopped and we scrapped the machine shortly after and went back to pan drops and filter changes.

 

[kapster]

I've read lots of opinions for and against them. A couple things I've concluded but my mind can be changed:

1. I've seen the theory mentioned that a lot of transmissions that people have "flushed" have issues and it's an attempt to fix it. This dislodged stuff or the worn out friction discs won't grip anymore with clean fluid.

2. If flush machines get used on poorly maintained transmissions all the time, I could see how they're be filthy in the hoses and whatnot, potentially putting someone else's sludge in your fairly clean transmission. This is why there's no way I'd have it done at a shop but if I cleaned the machine well and only used it on my well maintained transmissions.

*I don't understand this "valve body packed with ****" especially from a t-tech or BG where it is using the transmissions own pressure on the other side of a piston or bladder to push clean fluid in place of dirty fluid. A fluid exchanger with a pump I could see overpressuring it with more pressure then its used to and knocking stuff loose. Relating to topic 1 above, if there's that much crop in the transmission it's already screwed or relating to topic 2 above, you got the previous guys sludge.

On the topic of "I'd be crazy to have one for a personal shop", this is garage journal is it not? I use Amsoil, and would like to 100% switch out fluid. I did the spill and fill in the Hyundai once so far like everyone recommends, it felt pretty pointless to me. I replaced around a third of the capacity. The cost of a used unit is not that big of a deal, I maintain well and keep vehicles a long time.

I have wondered what the deal is with all the used units. They really are that bad, Are replaced by newer units, or it's more service then people want to pay for?

 

[setfocus]

I'm not transmission guy but I do wrench for a living and I'd just drop the pan and change the filter for mantinance. If it's that bad, take it to a good transmission guy, the clutches are probably shot. Flushing it could fully F it

 

[engineer2]

I don't know about other makes, but Honda advises not to flush their automatics. Filter change is easy, usually on top of the trans under the air cleaner box. Looks like an inline fuel filter. I change it every 60,000 to 80,000 miles. As long as you are in there, check the trans solenoid screens. No need for new gaskets. Takes about 10 minutes. Three times fluid change gets 95% of the fluid but wastes new ****** fluid. Only applicable if you buy used and it's never been changed. Better to do a 1X change every other year or so; 20,000 to 24,000 miles.

 

[sz0k30]

I've had lots of cars, 99% of them were automatics, put on well over a 100,000 miles on many of them. Never once had any trans problems or trans fluid pumped out.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many transmissions now have thermostats inside, so no external connection will truly replace all of the fluid. Best solution is drop the pan and replace what came out. Repeat after 5-10K. 3 or 4 of these and you should be good.

 

[Duster346]

Do you drive 60k miles a year or something? That is nuts

I do not .. may be overkill for the majority of the motoring pubilc, but my opinion is that an automatic transmission is something you cannot over-service. I also feel that the manufacturer's recommended service intervals are way too long.

The specialty stuff I build is used for towing and racing and get beat on pretty good so they get serviced at least 2 times a year. I also service a 250 car fleet during the week, and we do not have a flush machine. Dump and pump, and pan drop/filter change in between.

So, to the OP, sorry I have not helped you much here. But, as a 26 year master mechanic .. I would not recommend flushing transmissions or buying a flush machine.

 

[engineer2]

Many automatic transmission, particularly front wheel drive, don't have pans you drop for service. Some don't even have drain plugs anymore.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many automatic transmission, particularly front wheel drive, don't have pans you drop for service. Some don't even have drain plugs anymore.

ANY MORE ! I can't remember EVER seeing a drain plug on an automatic. Maybe on the torque converter.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm not transmission guy but I do wrench for a living and I'd just drop the pan and change the filter for mantinance. If it's that bad, take it to a good transmission guy, the clutches are probably shot. Flushing it could fully F it

I worked in trans engineering many moons ago. Trans filter change is a waste of $$ !

 

[mike93lx]

ANY MORE ! I can't remember EVER seeing a drain plug on an automatic. Maybe on the torque converter.

Really? My flex has one. So did my 2013 passat. Pretty sure my 2001 ranger 3.0 had a drain plug as well as a pan

 

[boom_bap]

ANY MORE ! I can't remember EVER seeing a drain plug on an automatic. Maybe on the torque converter.

98-2003 4L60E some of them have drain plugs. Still need to drop the pan for a filter change though.

 

[engineer2]

The automatics that don't have a pan usually have a drain plug, unless they are a "sealed for life" model.
Don't know about CVTs. I'm avoiding those for now.
My Hondas that are automatics have drain plugs, no pan, and a filter with no recommended change interval AFAIK. You can change the $15 filter every 60-100k if you want to. They get pretty black inside, but I've never heard of one clogging. The magnetic drain plug collects a little bit of stuff. Maintenance is cheaper than a trans rebuild.

 

[Showkey]

ANY MORE ! I can't remember EVER seeing a drain plug on an automatic. Maybe on the torque converter.

Think you may have transposed your thoughts?
Drain plugs on the trans case or pan are very common. Even today…
Drain plugs on the torque converter are very very very rare.

Mercedes had some, they were a pain to access, Allen head plug that was too tight and no room for the wrench, cover, crank rotation, cross member drop required ……so…….dealer would do the drain fill, run, drain fill again and done.

Drain, fill, run, drain, fill is very common with some brands…….especially with software update service bulletin

 

[sz0k30]

ANY MORE ! I can't remember EVER seeing a drain plug on an automatic. Maybe on the torque conver

You're right. Transmissions thru at least the 60's, 70's and 80's that I know of didn't have drain plugs. You had to loosen & tilt the pan down so you didn't get all the fluid on you. The only plugs came on aftermarket pans. On the occasions I did drop the pan, I always replaced it with a pan with a plug.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I just do a drain-n-fill at every oil change (or so) on our newer cars.

-Ryan

 

[Treeman]

LOL, the OP hasn't received much assistance to his question, and I won't be able to help either. Discussing transmission care is not unlike politics. You see lots of bias and misinformation. Good luck OP.

 

[tester19]

Yes be aware that if the car has a thermostatic valve in the cooler lines which is very common these days. The valve will be shut when you attempt to flush so very little is accomplished. Shops that do flushes won't mention this as it's much more profitable to take the easy way out and only disconnect a single line. They should be dropping the pan and cleaning the magnets as well as replacing the filter.

But that takes more skill and work. I have only seen one torque converter with a plug in a MB E350 I serviced the transmission on. Good idea but it was very difficult getting to the drain plug and getting it back in.
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[CGarage]

Why not just drain and refill?

Only time I'd bother with a flush is something like if I swamped a truck and water got in the trans.

Do multiple drain and fills.

It is way lower risk than using the machine.

And you can use inexpensive transmission fluid for this.

 

[jsmeece]

And you can use inexpensive transmission fluid for this.

That is one of the worst thing one can do to newer transmissions use the wrong inexpensive fluid.

 

[CGarage]

I drain and fill transmission fluid every year or 12,000 miles. I use synthetic ATF always.

 

[pl_silverado]

Look around for an older snap on transkare eetf305a. Best one around, it was made for them by advantage engineering. They still make new ones at $3k+, but you can find a used snapon for $300-700.

Drain and refill thru the dipstick tube in less than 10 min with no mess. I paid $250 for mine when a local service station was going out of business.

 

[zmotorsports]

I do not .. may be overkill for the majority of the motoring pubilc, but my opinion is that an automatic transmission is something you cannot over-service. I also feel that the manufacturer's recommended service intervals are way too long.

The specialty stuff I build is used for towing and racing and get beat on pretty good so they get serviced at least 2 times a year. I also service a 250 car fleet during the week, and we do not have a flush machine. Dump and pump, and pan drop/filter change in between.

So, to the OP, sorry I have not helped you much here. But, as a 26 year master mechanic .. I would not recommend flushing transmissions or buying a flush machine.

Agree on all points.

I am not a fan of power flushing transmissions as I've seen too many with issues afterwards. I am also in the camp of servicing automatic transmissions sooner than OEM recommendations. Especially with using in what is called extreme conditions.

If you look at Chrysler service manual it will has a schedule A and schedule B. Schedule A show normal driving conditions and the engine and trans are serviced at a longer interval. However, if you read closely what Schedule B consists of, it lists; towing, high heat, stop & go traffic, etc. That is what it calls severe conditions and that's what most of us call daily driving which is a much shorter service interval than Schedule A.

When I was building transmissions for tow vehicles and motorhomes I highly recommended sooner intervals than OEM specs and even then they were in need of service when they came into the shop. Even in my LS powered Jeep Wrangler with the six-speed 6L80 transmission I service it much sooner than OEM specs because of the slow off-road use and I keep a close eye on my transmission temperatures and adjust driving accordingly.