Tranny drain and fill

I’ve read a couple of the threads on this and it seems like people have a couple different thoughts on how this should be done. From this I have two main questions: if the whole system holds 12 quarts, and I don’t know what type or brand of fluid is in there already (I can assume what’s in there) how do I know I’m replacing say, 4 quarts, of the correct stuff? Maybe it doesn’t matter. Secondly, if I think that my transmission is under filled currently, based on the dipstick and the fact that I did a tb and a wp job and lost a tiny bit of fluid doing so (maybe more than I thought) should I not bother doing a drain and fill and just fill? The transmission was drained and filled less than 10k miles ago. Thank you all. I did read previous threads before posting my own. So I apologize for contributing to the clutter.

 

If you're concerned about what's in the tranny currently, get a complete flush. There are plenty of BG 'gold' tier service centers sprinkled all around the USA, and BG has an exceptional, better-than-OEM product they'll roll into your system, and guarantee your transmission not to fail after. Shop locator: https://bgfindashop.com/shop-locator/

Otherwise head (and please reply in) the other threads. If the question isn't unique or unrelated, pick the most used "related" thread and reply there. It's painful to try and search for stuff looking for that piece of info someone really needs because of all the clutter sometimes.

 

Thank you very much. I actually did get my trans flushed at one of these places less than 10k ago. I didn’t know it was a special thing. But in that case, if I just need to top it off according to the dip stick, can I do that with NAPA brand stuff or should I go back to said shop and have them do it?

 

If you still have your receipt, I would check to see if they list what fluid was used for the flush.

'00-'02 use ATF. '03-'04 use Type T-IV. '05-'06 use Type WS.

If you're 100% positive you're reading the dipstick correctly, it has a hot and cold level on your truck, IIRC, and you believe it's reading low, you should add (for your year) an adequate amount of ATF. Then shift back/forth through every gear a dozen times before re-testing the level.

 

This is the first time I've heard of BG. Better-than-OEM? Tell me more.

 

BG makes a shitload of great products for cleaning and maintenance. https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/

A few of us on here use them for periodic maintenance. Like Berryman products bitd, they actually engineered some quality products that do the job. I especially love their FrigiClean product for evap coils, it smells better while working as good as the Toyota OEM coil clean kit.

BG offers a transmission flush service. It involves running a cleaner thru the trainsmission to knock any deposits loose, a full full fluid extraction and replacement with new BG fluid, IIRC, it comes w/proprietary conditioner to rejuvenate seals. The service, just like with their BG Dynamic Engine Restoration flush (which will take your engine from thick sludge to shiny and sludge-free again) adds a warranty if done by a BG registered shop, if your transmission (or with the flush, your engine) fails within 30k, 50k, 100k (I forget) miles after, they'll replace it. That's their confidence level in the product.

For the '05-'06 with the sealed transmission, the fluid they use is equivalent to, but exceeds the baseline performance of Toyota's WS fluid. The Toyo/Lex specialty shop in Johns Creek (north ATL) I use when I need dealer-level service done but with veteran techs at the wrench, is a BG Silver location and they recommend using the BG product over Toyota's fluids (though they'll do both). Not only is it cost effective, they've had better results, and you can't beat the warranty. Cost on the service is usually anywhere from $200-400, if I'm remembering right.

The BG flush itself is a "power" flush, but it's low enough pressure that it won't harm solenoids and stuff.

I probably sound like a salesperson on this one. I dug on it a lot, to find the gimmick. The reality is, there isn't one. Like BG's other products, they're a chemical engineering company and they did a fuckton of research to make exceptional products.

The downside is, to protect their brand reputation and cut down on support overhead, they don't sell to the public directly. You must use a licensed/registered BG service station to perform the service. In exchange for that hassle/added cost, they toss on their warranty. They know their products are that good, at least when used by trained techs. If you were to get your hands on their products and wanted to do some of the work on your own, there are training videos from BG on the 'Tube. But they do have some power equipment required for some items.

Quite a few of the products have been reviewed online and proven to . Like the Dynamic Engine Restoration product. Here's one of those videos from a popular, non-shill, not-sponsored-by-BG automotive channel. He actually did two of these, a Dodge Neon and a Camaro. Screencap from the Camaro follows, and both videos are below. Honestly? The BG Dynamic flush is not dissimilar to what my grandfather would do, running diesel in the crankcase of his vehicles and farm equipment to clean it out. But it's probably more gentle, and includes additives sensible for modern seals etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1xOaQG7-g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtiS4AucmJ8​

 

After a 7 mile drive, and running through all the once, the transmission fluid on the stick only reaches to the “cold” end of the stick. I believe at that point it should be at or slightly beyond the “hot end”. I absolutely could be wrong.

 

The proper reading/process is located in the Factory Service Manual/FSM and I think it's also in the Owner's manual.

Both manuals are linked from this forum, you know where to find them. If you haven't already downloaded, now is the time to do it.

 

Not sure which one of these is accurate, but if you recently had it flushed, or drained and filled, the shop that performed the work would know what they put in. It should be DexIII regardless.

 

So if I read this correctly. you could do this if you don't know the last time your trans has been serviced and feel more comfortable that you won't have problems later due to the added warranty?

 

That's effectively what I was told at the shop.

 

I thought about this more. BG products are great. However, if you have a trans with 250k plus miles on it and have never had the fluid changed, I think even the BG super flush would be a mistake. All the clutch plate material floating in suspension in the trans fluid is aiding in taking up gaps and looseness. Give the trans a super flush and all that material would be gone and a good chance your trans would slip.

 

I would agree with you, but I presume they know what they're doing if they're willing to slap a big fat replacement warranty on the process (and in all my searching online I'm finding almost zero cases of anyone needing it). I also assume the additives they're putting in are installed to address things like clutch material in suspension. Their process isn't just a push-old-out-push-new-in ordeal.

 

Damn you @shifty` you just started me into a rabbit hole that I never knew existed......
I actually found a platinum store near me https://maps.app.goo.gl/9aDMbrVXcUJffusY6
Funny store name but that's what the shop locator states, though their very basic website does not tell me they do transmission flush.... let alone BG products.

 

Clutch plates? All of us with FGT V8s have autos with torque converters, only the V6s had the optional manual, and those are dry clutches. Not saying I'm not skeptical of a lot of the additives and flushes out there, but AFAIK if there's any clutch plate material floating around inside my transmission, I've bigger problems to worry about.

 

Soooo… you’re saying your automatic transmission doesn’t have any clutch plates in it? Or you’re simply not worried about the material floating around in the fluid for over 20 plus years and then removing all of it?

 

Evidently, you’ve never pulled a clutch assembly from a modern automatic transmission.

 

Well I'll be damned. Looked up a parts diagram and sure enough there are multiple wet clutches in there. And no, I have not taken apart a modern automatic transmission, primarily work on motorcycle engines so I'm quite familiar with wet clutches. My bad.

 

No worries at all dude. Done my share of motorcycle clutches back in the day too.