Tranny flush recommended for a tranny with 230k miles?

Theres a whining noise in 1st and 2nd gear.

 

If by FLUSH you mean removing the old fluid via pressure then the recommendation is absolutely NOT.
The recommended method is a series of drain and fills, basically just the contents of the pan, over a few months time until the majority of your ATF is replaced.
If you insist on doing all the fluid in one shot it prob won't harm anything just don't attach to any machine that moves the fluid with pressure.
Tons of threads here discussing it...

 

Tranny flushes on high mileage cars are generally discouraged, but it really depends on how it was maintained. If the fluid wasn't changed, it will lose its capacity to clean and the old fluid can actually cook into a varnish that coats the surfaces inside the tranny. Flushing out the old fluid with new then can result in the new fluid cleaning the varnish off the insides of the tranny which then can gum up the works with unpleasant results. If the fluid was changed regularly, that problem shouldn't happen.

 

No flushing, just changing! It really is very easy compared to some I've had to do because thankfully there is a drain plug. Order a case of T-IV from Amazon and do a series of changes over a week or month. I did 4 changes in a matter of days. No issues and the fluid looks good. Catch what comes out and you'll know what to put back in (usually 2 quarts or so).

 

What is the color of the fluid presently? Many threads about this that will help you decide.

 

My 1997 had nasty brown ATF when I got it. I "flushed" most of it via the cooler hose, accidently. Replaced it with ~5qt of fresh fluid. Now it's back to a dark red. I'd still like to drop the pan and clean the magnets tho.

 

if the fluid isn't all burnt looking and smelling and you don't attach one of those machines that forces the old fluid out under pressure like was mentioned above, then probably nothing bad will happen

easiest (and much safer) way to just drain some old fluid and put fresh fluid in is stick some tubing down the transmission filler tube and suck out some fluid (when everything's still cold), then just put back in exactly what you took out

of course before doing any of this check the fluid level itself, which should be done on level ground with the engine running and fluid warmed up, which takes 20+ minutes to get fully warm depending on how cold it is outside

 

Red as I had a drain and fill done a few months ago. I am also gonna replace the filter and check the magnets.

 

this car doesn't really have a trans "filter" it's more just like a metal mesh strainer

 

I noticed lol, have the part and gasket in my garage now. Ordered fluid, waiting on that.

 

Yes, I bet it's good for catching any of the FIPG that may unintentionally get in the pan, but not good for much else.

 

well as long as transmission maintenance isn't completely neglected, there's really not much else it needs to be there for

 

Unfortunately dont know the whole thing except the timing belt and seals were done 40000 miles ago.

 

I just completed two drain and fills on my 98 with 210k miles and it shifts wonderfully. Fluid was a nice red color both times.

 

I only did one and color was already red....no need to keep going?