Guys I need to put off a tranny build for a few (3-4) months, mine was very "mushy" so I syphened fluid and put a 24oz thing of lucas stop slip. My "5th gear" (torque converter lockup thing between 3 and 4) came back and the trans feels much better. My oil is dark brown, I'm thinking about having it flushed. i called the dealership and they told me they just wanted to drain the oil and install a new filter and adjust the bands, for $180 I can do that.... The truck has just over 100K with no previous trans maintenence. What would you do?

Leave it alone?
dump the oil and filter and put a new one on with additive in oil?
Have it flushed?
Syphen more oil and add more additive?

 

Brown fluid and no prior maint probably means it is toast. In my opinion, don't throw any more money at it since you plan to rebuild it in a few months anyway, at least that is what I would do right or wrong.

 

Would you spend $60 on dumping the pan and filter?

 

You should service your tranny around every 20,000 miles. If your tranny is still working after 100,000 miles w/o any service. I would hold off on putting anything in it (money wise) and do a build when you can in a few months (like stated above from you, 3-4 months). I don't think another 2-3,000 miles more is gonna toast it even more......LOL

 

Yea, I hope so, but I will be moving 5 hours north at the end of feb and I may have to make 2 or 3 trips to get my stuff there.... I may add another 24oz of stop slip and hope for the best!

 

Sam, by all means drop the pan and put a fresh filter on it. This will get some of the fluid changed too. If you want drop the pan again in a month and change the fluid again. Be prepared to do one more filter too. Anything like this can extend the life. Not changing that filter is bad.
Why not get a double deep pan and put it on so you have a drain plug?

 

In this situation it is a crap shoot. Darn if ya do and darn if ya don't. Don't do a flush, do a fluid exchange with some BG tranny fluid conditioner. Or, just drop the pan and change the fluid and filter. ( I would probably just do this only). Pick your poison, either one being done on a tranny with no maintenance can cause issues.

 

I agree with J-Fox. Drop the pan and put on a fresh filter. Replace what you can with new ATF +4 fluid. If you have the funds, go ahead and get a double deep pan..........you can still use it when you finally get the trans built. Do not flush!

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I agree. Don't flush, but change the fluid and filter. Do this a couple of times before you get your tranny built. If you don't, when you finally get it done, you will still have crap in the lines and cooler that will contaminate the new trans. Good luck.