Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted
Please someone explain why changing automatic transmission fluid is a crap shoot in an older vehicle?
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I've read for at least on some of the volvos with "lifetime fluids", people go 100K-200K on the transmission oil (2000's era). Some dealerships are reluctant to do complete flushes on them b/c of liability, something like the debri in the worn out oil has worn the clutch plates to the point where if you remove the debri, there isn't anything holding it together. Removing the oil "somehow" removes some "stiction" quality, and with the new oil, the worn out plates slide and the tranny soon craps out- so people will do "partial flushes" instead. Also, i've seen it recommended to keep the old fluid and if the clutch slips, to put the old stuff back in. I haVE no idea how that much debri doesn't clog up the actuators and stuff.
I'm not advocating any of this- just relaying. In terms of total vs. partial flush, you'll see people who have done fine with full flushes, and people who have nothing but troubles. Hence the crapshoot. I'm of the opinion that that the transmission was gonna be on the way out anyway if it gets to that point. I wouldn't even report that if dealerships weren't saying that.
But if you catch the change early- then the debri hasn't damaged anything, so the flush works well. I've done at least 7 or so on my cars just fine.