Transmission flushing at home: Really easy, really effective

[ForbesMarch]

just read previous post.
Wow, I really depend on spell check.
Sorry.

[PierreC]

Curious,

How many of you who performed a trans fluid flush experienced:

Better performance?

No change in performance?

Need new transmission?

Performed a flush using the Gibbons method and Toyota T-IV [pumped through 16.1 liters of fluid] some 3000 miles ago ...

Shifting has improved - it is back to being smooth to the point of being imperceptible when the ATF is warm.

[Omega5]

Thanks Dave,

That's why we are here, we can all contribute ideas and we can all discuss and validate or invalidate them just the same.

I do realize it is an oil pump and yes running any mechanical piece of equip dry will kill it in a hurry, mind you, after draining the oil out of anything it's not dry, it's just not floating in oil. For a very short period of time i would have thought you can run it empty just not long enough for the remaining oil to fly off of moving parts and really dry up. (An infomercial comes to mind from the 90s, "Add XYZ oil treatment and LOOK, this 1976 Oldsmobile is running with no oil or oilpan, and LOOK we can even spray water on it!", yes sure! it will run, just not for long!!)

Just wanted to get your opinion on the idea.

[colin]

17 pages and 163 replies to a thread entitled "Really easy, really effective?
I'm guessing I had better budget my time carefully for any thread that has "difficult" or "confusing" in the tittle.

[zx7king]

Performed the flush last night in about an hour (most of the time was spent measuring). I just cannot believe the difference this has made.
2001 w/ 116k miles and the shifts are as smooth as i could ever imagine. Prior to this, i really thought we were going to be in for a new transmission and with the mileage and value of the vehicle, we would have gotten rid of it . Thanks again for this great site and this thread in particular. My wife drove it 20 miles to work this morning (city and highway) and did not experience any of the harshness that we have in the past.

FYI.. i was able to get Toyota T-IV from carquest for around 4.95/q.

Thanks again,
Charles

[TroyW]

First of all, I'm a new forum member and would like to thank Gibbons and the others for a fantastic thread. I have TWO 2000 S70's with the AW5 tranny's, so would have been facing a hefty bill if I'd had the dealer flush them.

The Castrol Import Multi-Vehicle ATF fluid was discussed earlier as a 3309 compliant fluid. My local AutoZone store not only carries it at $3.39/qt, but has it on sale this week for 50-cents off per quart. I'm going to go pick up three cases at $2.89/qt.

Thanks guys! I'll report back on how the Castrol works out.

[PaperToast]

awsome instructions this needs to get saved on the site somewhere.
i'm thinking of doing the trans flush on mine.
the only question i need answered is, is the 3309 ok to use in my trans?

[dlr97]

awsome instructions this needs to get saved on the site somewhere.
i'm thinking of doing the trans flush on mine.
the only question i need answered is, is the 3309 ok to use in my trans?

Your signature indicates a 1998 V70XC. If that is the case, NO, you do not use 3309 in your transmission. Check your owners manual; probably Dexron III is required. Check at the 1997-2000 V70XC forum.

[TKC2000]

I've owned a '01 XC70 for only a few months now. Car was in great condition for the 117K miles on it when we bought it. Found this thread through the FAQ sticky thread. Have a problem with the trans not coming out of park, I have had to rock the car back and forth to get it to come out. My wife saws she can just sit a wait a few minutes and keep "jiggling" the shifter and it moves out of park. I am going to try this "Gibbons Flush" first to see if the problem goes away.

I personally like to work on my own vehicles for the simple fact that I know what has been done and what hasn't. If it is screwed up then I have only myself to blame. I also learn more about the vehicle and have a better understanding of what needs to be done when something does fail and I don't have the a)time to fix myself, b)tools and equipment. It's also a money factor as well.

[JRL]

Your signature indicates a 1998 V70XC. If that is the case, NO, you do not use 3309 in your transmission. Check your owners manual; probably Dexron III is required. Check at the 1997-2000 V70XC forum.

Incorrect
3309 CAN be used with no ill effects in a 4 speed. There's even a Volvo bulletin about using it if you have harsh shifting. It will not hurt anything and may help