Top Tech Repair - Ask the Technician
I've got a question as to how often should I get my transmission flushed and serviced, I pull a heavy camper in the summer and a four place snow machine trailer in the winter, Everyone tells me so
Well Don, By the way thanks for your question--this is cool I hope some others read this as well! As to your question I know there is a lot of different ideas out there 30k,40k,100,000k---but there is a problem with these mileages "THE MANUFACTURE HAS SET SOME OF THESE TIME TABLES FOR THE RECOMMENED SERVICES", in the real world we wouldn't overload our vehicles when camping or abuse the vehicle when attempting to pull a long grade for miles to drop the snowmachines---with out a thought for the transmission! I can't tell you exactly when to perform your services but I can use myself as an example: I have used our 97 Suburban for towing our camper and pulling heavy loads over long distances since we bought it new! Now I can honestly tell you this vehicle hasn't been babied---I have put 157,000 miles on it and the transmission is still working great--(although the engine's starting to tire)! I have always been a believer in proper maintenance and after purchasing the vehicle new wanted to take perfect care of the unit! The first flush was performed around 27,000 miles and the first service around 38,000! I have pulled many heavy trailers over hundreds of miles repeatedly back to back and have found that if when the fluid starts to just darken and I mean just start its time period! ATF fluid doesn't like heat and breaks down pretty quickly when placed under extreme pressures and temps! By performing these flushes every 15--25,000 miles the transmission has greatly exceeded my expectations for it life!
I expected to have to rebuild the unit around 100,000 miles, especially how I abuse this vehicle--but the simple flushes have extended the transmissions life remarkably! The abuse I subject it to is trail blazing in deep snow in the winter, repeatedly going back and forth pedal to the metal to gain a few feet at a time---that creates a lot of heat even at -10 below and real heavy loads which I've seen take out many other 4L60's! All I've ever used in my transmission is plain old ATF and WYNNS chemicals to flush out and service! YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU FAIL TO CHANGE YOUR ENGINE OIL FOR 20,000 MILES YOUR GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM, SO WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND RUN YOUR TRANSMISSION TO 50, OR 60,000 MILES PRIOR TO SERVICING? Given the cost to repair or replace these units (some costing more than the engine!), a preventive measure such as flushing should really make sense! Don, simply put when the fluid starts to darken even a little bit the unit should be properly flushed and flushed properly---not with a couple gallons but with at least 3 gallons and more if needed! The Ford Superdutys have taken at times over six gallons to flush clean, this is really the cheapest way to extend the life of the transmission--PERIOD
P.S. to properly flush a transmission we have found that performing a flush quicker than 1/2 an hr and not flushing with enough new fluid isn't a good idea, what usually happens is when your vehicle is serviced the next time more often than not the servicing tech may recommend a flush due to the fluid color! OUR FLUSHES TAKE ALL OF AN HOUR TO PROPERLY PERFORM, TO ENSURE WE HAVE FLUSHED AND NOT JUST RINSED OUT THE UNIT! Any questions feel free to call any time! Thanks Darin.
I expected to have to rebuild the unit around 100,000 miles, especially how I abuse this vehicle--but the simple flushes have extended the transmissions life remarkably! The abuse I subject it to is trail blazing in deep snow in the winter, repeatedly going back and forth pedal to the metal to gain a few feet at a time---that creates a lot of heat even at -10 below and real heavy loads which I've seen take out many other 4L60's! All I've ever used in my transmission is plain old ATF and WYNNS chemicals to flush out and service! YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU FAIL TO CHANGE YOUR ENGINE OIL FOR 20,000 MILES YOUR GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM, SO WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND RUN YOUR TRANSMISSION TO 50, OR 60,000 MILES PRIOR TO SERVICING? Given the cost to repair or replace these units (some costing more than the engine!), a preventive measure such as flushing should really make sense! Don, simply put when the fluid starts to darken even a little bit the unit should be properly flushed and flushed properly---not with a couple gallons but with at least 3 gallons and more if needed! The Ford Superdutys have taken at times over six gallons to flush clean, this is really the cheapest way to extend the life of the transmission--PERIOD
P.S. to properly flush a transmission we have found that performing a flush quicker than 1/2 an hr and not flushing with enough new fluid isn't a good idea, what usually happens is when your vehicle is serviced the next time more often than not the servicing tech may recommend a flush due to the fluid color! OUR FLUSHES TAKE ALL OF AN HOUR TO PROPERLY PERFORM, TO ENSURE WE HAVE FLUSHED AND NOT JUST RINSED OUT THE UNIT! Any questions feel free to call any time! Thanks Darin.