P-30 Transmission Fluid change interval

[crazeevw]

I ally thought to pull tranny dipstick when changing out fuel pump. Fluid is pink, but I can tell its time to change it.
What are others opinions on best way to do fluid change? Flush? Drop pan and remove fluid from torque converter? If you've changed your fluid, how often do you plan on fluid change?
Thanks, Derek

[choctawmel]

If it hasn't been flush on a regular bases, flushing could cause the transmission to fail. It's best to change the filter, clean the magnet and put new fluid in.
It's a messy job to do it right: Find a pan big enough to take a bath in to catch all the oil. Drain the oil, drop the pan, remove the filter, stick a tube up the pump inlet, put other end of tube in large bucket of new transmission fluid, start engine, pour gallon after gallon of fluid into bucket that is sucked in the the inlet pump till the old fluid is all gone and only clean new fluid is running out all over the of bottom of transmission into tub big enough to take bath in. Stop engine, install new filter, gasket, pan, pour more gallons of new fluid in to full mark. Easy job.
DIY costing to flush my transmission: 5 gallon transmission fluid- $100 (cheap fluid, not for me) $300 (good stuff); 2 50# floor dry absorbent $20; HazMat bill for large oil slick and rescue after slipping and falling in to tub big enough to take bath in which is now full of old dirty oil with you floating in- $?????.?? The pictures the wife would take while they are pouring floor dry all over you (Oh NO! that's me in those pictures) so as to drag you out of the oily bath? Priceless!

[r carl]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

I ally thought to pull tranny dipstick when changing out fuel pump. Fluid is pink, but I can tell its time to change it.
What are others opinions on best way to do fluid change? Flush? Drop pan and remove fluid from torque converter? If you've changed your fluid, how often do you plan on fluid change?
Thanks, Derek

Just drop the pan and R&R the filter, clean the pan and install. Should take around 5qt. Do it every 25k.

[Keyair]

Redline is one of the best..
But to be honest, I think Valvoline Maxlife takes some beating...
I pay $15.99 per gallon for it...
Valvoline.com > Products > MaxLife > Automatic Transmission Fluid MaxLife > MaxLife® DEX/MERC ATF

[DaveFL]

Is the external filter a std option for the 454 or an add on by PO?
I would think change interval would depend on driving conditions and load.
I have a temp gauge and for the first year I didn't see it move, on pulling toad I noticed it moved up a couple of notches, 180 vs. 210 on hills or small eastern mountains.

[choctawmel]

The Silver Bullet has a 4L80e. W/O the convertor it takes 8 quarts plus the spin on filter, plus the deep pan. That's about 3 gallon. I put over 5 gallon in it the first time I filled it.... And I did that 3 times in 500 miles and an overhaul. Had a bad torque convertor (another 5 gal), then an internal part failed and killed the trany (5 more gal).

[Myrtle lynn]

Ok I was just left stranded. My 86 345. I was driving north I75 towards atl pulling my wrangler doing about 70 mph and all of a sudden it acted like I put it into neutral. Got off interstate with the low gear. Had towed home 250 miles. The shop said maybe a modulator. Ideas? I did a flush on it about 4k miles ago. It just turned 60001k miles. Thanks!

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Myrtle lynn

Ok I was just left stranded. My 86 345. I was driving north I75 towards atl pulling my wrangler doing about 70 mph and all of a sudden it acted like I put it into neutral. Got off interstate with the low gear. Had towed home 250 miles. The shop said maybe a modulator. Ideas? I did a flush on it about 4k miles ago. It just turned 60001k miles. Thanks!

I have heard of the same story before, that happening to people who have had their trans flushed. The pressure from flushing sometimes damages gaskets.

[crazeevw]

ok, so no flush on tranny for me. Will do a complete rebuild at some point and do all of the upgrades on tranny. No long distance trips planned for a few years, all within the state, and probably not much over 300 miles round trip. Not because I don't want to go further, work, work, work, $$$$$ is the cause, lol
Thanks, Derek

[Mike Leary]

The pro that built our trans wanted it flushed and the magnetic insert removed after 500 miles. He said to not worry about the fluid unless the clear color was changing, which would be a indication of the bands burning.

[Myrtle lynn]

Originally Posted by r carl

I have heard of the same story before, that happening to people who have had their trans flushed. The pressure from flushing sometimes damages gaskets.

Well the way I look at it was it was time for a fluid change. I Gus thats the problem owning an express lube with having a flush machine handy. :-) it was the last part on the Moho I haven't done anything with except the flush. I broke down in a safe convenient spot. I will get this fixed and keep moving and dumping $$$$$$$$$..$$$ in her. For a bit longer. Haha. I just hope it will be done for my 2000 mile Key West trip in few weeks.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by Myrtle lynn

. Haha. I just hope it will be done for my 2000 mile Key West trip in few weeks.

Key West... That's where I'd like to be for the winter. But it won't happen this year.