Bovineplan

Most dealers are not flufhing transmissions anymore. They use a machine to simply let the trans pump out the fluid while pumping in new fluid. More of a machine exchange. The trans flush used to be a machine that under pressure would pump in new fluid, often at pressures higher than a trans typically saw to "flush" the trans.

Lota of debate about drain and fill vs fluid exchange. I am in the drain and fill camp.

Gerf

How would this machine connect to the transmission?

LeX2K

None of the machines I've seen come anywhere close to the pressure produced by the internal pump.

BB9

I believe those machines getting hooked up through the transmission cooler lines.

Gerf

Not at higher pressures than a transmission usually sees, the cooler lines are low pressure.

LeX2K

The manufactures of these machines are not stupid they don't design them to blow up your transmission. Frankly assuming that is dumb.
https://proformancesupply.com/produc...xchange-system

Gerf

Are you saying this machine doesn't use the trans pump to replace the fluid? that would be really dumb.

Striker223

And yet they do cause failures due to the filter not being replaced.....

swfla

iTrader: (1)

From what I recall, threads stated that drain and fill would not cause any buildup of debris and old coagulated fluid to break free due to only gravity being the source of drain and filling. Power flushing can use solvents to beak up clots and force them into the valves and springs of transmission narrow passages where they can hang up and cause malfunction. Much like a freed blood clot traveling in the human body. A fluid exchange with a machine uses no solvents but there is more pressure than gravity. Even if this pressure is the same as the transmission pump in the car, it's more risk than just gravity drain and gravity fill. Certainly some misuse of different terms by members. No one can say for certain if a powered fluid exchange is harmful to an older high mileage transmission without knowing if there are "clots" in the system. But it's safer to assume that is so.

bobusa

Thanks for all the excellent info on this foum guys! I'm really enjoying reading about the LS topics and all the amazing knowledge here.

What would you say if my dealer tells me that my hybrid trans oil does not need changing on my 2011 LS 600h Euro spec.? My car only has 87k miles. He says (as others stated here) it's for the life of the car. I would gues that the hybrid transmision has an easier live most likely than a LS460 regular transmission, so the more reason not to have to change it?

Striker223

The hybrid uses a totally different system, there is actually no reason to change it. The normal autos absolutely need to be serviced as per the actual maker of the trans Aisin

Marc780

I'd do the same but I just assume it'll be more than I want to pay for an LS with just 70,000 miles. Jiffy lube offered to change it but I asked if they'd use my OEM trans fluid (instead of their cheapo generic ATF from the filthy 50 gallon drum etc.) and they said no. I compromised and just had an independent trans shop do a simple drain and refill, even that cost me over $200, but they used my fluid.
So what did that flush cost you?

99rx

iTrader: (6)

I had Lexus change mine shortly after purchasing the vehicle at 84k miles. No issues and peace of mind for me. I plan on doing it every 30k miles or so. If you can afford the $189, it's cheap insurance to do it every 30k miles.

swfla

iTrader: (1)

Preventative maintenance is something never regretted. Lack of maintenance is often regretted. Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind.

dan25man

Hey, just for my own mental sanity. When doing the transmission fluid re-leveling is the engine supposed to be on or off?

I did: plug holes, add fluid, start engine and warm to 35-42C, then I stopped the engine, and opened the drain plug, now getting shifting issues like it's underfilled? Someone at work said the engine should be running for the system to have pressure, else with it off the system/torque converter drains. I probably have it underfilled?