Transmission and Coolant Flush

[Lexib_]

I got my oil changed today. They recommended that I have my transmission flushed and the radiator flushed. I've had my transmission and coolant changed before but I never had the system flushed. I have about 136k on my car. Is it a good idea to have my transmission and coolant flushed or would that be a bad idea. Just wondered what your thoughts were.

 

[toppick08]

What kind of vehicle?

 

[Cowgirl]

As the girlfriend of a mechanic, I'll give my not-so-expert-advice.

1. I would think a transmision service (not just fluid change) would be great for the vehicle, especially since it has high mileage. It costs me about $75 to get my vehicle serviced when I take it to the tranny specialist near me.

2. Make sure the person putting coolant in your car (if you get the system flushed) does not mix orange and green coolant.

 

[Magnum]

With old high mileage cars anytime I have flushed or changed the trans fluid on a car that was not maintained I have had problems. So now if I know it was maitained I do it, if not I let it ride.

 

[toppick08]

As the girlfriend of a mechanic, I'll give my not-so-expert-advice.

1. I would think a transmision service (not just fluid change) would be great for the vehicle, especially since it has high mileage. It costs me about $75 to get my vehicle serviced when I take it to the tranny specialist near me.

2. Make sure the person putting coolant in your car (if you get the system flushed) does not mix orange and green coolant.

I would go with the coolant flush, but leave the tranny alone.....just change fluid and filter at recommended times........You bust up some of that gunk in there, then your asking for trouble.......IMO.

 

[GWguy]

With old high mileage cars anytime I have flushed or changed the trans fluid on a car that was not maintained I have had problems. So now if I know it was maitained I do it, if not I let it ride.

Seems to me I read that somewhere else as a recommendation. If the vehicle was high mileage and had never had a tranny flush/change, the chances of getting major leaks was high if you did one. If it had been maintained all along, no issues.

 

[GWguy]

As the girlfriend of a mechanic, I'll give my not-so-expert-advice.

2. Make sure the person putting coolant in your car (if you get the system flushed) does not mix orange and green coolant.

 

[VduvUMarie]

As the girlfriend of a mechanic, I'll give my not-so-expert-advice.

1. I would think a transmision service (not just fluid change) would be great for the vehicle, especially since it has high mileage. It costs me about $75 to get my vehicle serviced when I take it to the tranny specialist near me.

2. Make sure the person putting coolant in your car (if you get the system flushed) does not mix orange and green coolant.

Totally agree. My car is 112,XXX miles and she felt really good after having the transmission serviced- and yes be careful with your coolants!

 

[Lexib_]

What kind of vehicle?

99 chevy cavalier.

 

[Cowgirl]

BF says everyone should drive a manual transmission.

But for real, he said as long as you go to a reputable transmission shop, everything should be fine. As long as they use a good gasket, and your seals are good, your car shouldn't leak. If it does, then it's probably at the pan, and the shop should guarantee their work. If it's not leaking at the pan, then it was probably leaking anyways and you just didn't know it....or it was eventually going to leak anyways.


At least, I think that's what he said. He said a whole bunch of other stuff...so I tried to funnel it down into a manageable thought.

 

[RadioPatrol]

yeah a manual is the way to go ......... learn to drive, not just aim the car


that is until you get Arthritis

 

[toppick08]

BF says everyone should drive a manual transmission.

But for real, he said as long as you go to a reputable transmission shop, everything should be fine. As long as they use a good gasket, and your seals are good, your car shouldn't leak. If it does, then it's probably at the pan, and the shop should guarantee their work. If it's not leaking at the pan, then it was probably leaking anyways and you just didn't know it....or it was eventually going to leak anyways.


At least, I think that's what he said. He said a whole bunch of other stuff...so I tried to funnel it down into a manageable thought.

Your BF has a good point, and so do you RadioPatrol.........Everyone should be taught to drive a stick first.......once you learn it, everything else is a piece of cake.

 

[Bronwyn]

Your BF has a good point, and so do you RadioPatrol.........Everyone should be taught to drive a stick first.......once you learn it, everything else is a piece of cake.

No stick for me. That was a traumatic experiance that I have blocked from my memory forever!!

 

[toppick08]

No stick for me. That was a traumatic experiance that I have blocked from my memory forever!!

 

[Bronwyn]

 

[Wickedwrench]

Seems to me I read that somewhere else as a recommendation. If the vehicle was high mileage and had never had a tranny flush/change, the chances of getting major leaks was high if you did one. If it had been maintained all along, no issues.

On older cars the transmission seals would harden over time. If the fluid was changed the new fluid would soften the seals and cause them to rupture, resulting in a large repair bill. The seals in the newer transmissions seem to hold up better than the old ones did. Flushing/changing fluid on a vehicle that has not been properly maintained at the recommended intervals is a risky proposition.

Coolant is much the same way. An improperly maintained cooling system contains alot of rust and scale from the engine internal parts that shouldn't be there. The problem with flushing the system is that the foreign particles sometimes plug leaks that will become painfully evident once the flush is completed. Again, risky business.

Keep the vehicle maintained properly and the risks are less of a problem. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.