automatic transmission flush

[90915-YZZA2]

Hi all,

I' going to go to a dealership in a couple of days and have the automatic tranny flushed on my 99 Solara SE. And I'm planning to replace the OEM tranny fluid with Redline D4 ATF. The dealer quoted the labor at $100.

I've searched on similar topics on this forum but I still have the following question:

What would you recommend replacing along with the fluid: tranny filter, gaskets, anything else?
Let's come up with a list of the stuff that would better be replaced when flushing the transmission, so that we could put this list under FAQ section later on as a reference.


Off-topic: BTW, I'd like to share that I bought the Redline D4 ATF oil at $7.75 per bottle plus Redline Complete Fuel System Cleaner at $3.99 at http://www.hrpworld.com/index.cfm?form_ ... n=category
That's really cheap, as ALL other places online I managed to find sell them for more. The regular price per Redline D4 ATF is 8.95 or higher and I usually buy the fuel system cleaner stuff for 4.99 per bottle at PepBoys! Since I bought 17 bottles of oil I saved 20 bicks just on oil! And they shipped fast and it cost only 8 bucks or something - shipped on Tuesday and delivered on Friday by UPS Ground.
They have the whole line of Redline products and they also sell a lot of performance products. Check them out, I'm not sure about the other things but it seems they sell Redline stuff comparatively cheap.

[impactX]

I am using Redline D4 also and I love it. With my hard driving, I can still get 2 years out of those fluid, which mean it's great!

Solara uses a screen instead of a filter, so you don't have to replace that. The only thing that needs to be replaced is the gasket.

Anyway, the only thing I would worry about is dealer stealing your D4 fluid and put some generic fluid in there. Just make sure they are trustworthy.

[kondo]

you might want to invest in a tranny cooler. I put one on and it made a huge difference in shifting. When I went for a flush they said the fuid was burned, but I am SC'd. Even if you are NA the B&M tranny cooler is a good investment, I think I paid around $50-$100 and like another $40 to get it installed.

Nick

[90915-YZZA2]

I am using Redline D4 also and I love it. With my hard driving, I can still get 2 years out of those fluid, which mean it's great!

Solara uses a screen instead of a filter, so you don't have to replace that. The only thing that needs to be replaced is the gasket.

Anyway, the only thing I would worry about is dealer stealing your D4 fluid and put some generic fluid in there. Just make sure they are trustworthy.

I heard a lot of good things about this fluid. How often do you change your D4 fluid: every 15-20k or something?

I'll be watching them doing it, so that nothing like that could happen.

[90915-YZZA2]

you might want to invest in a tranny cooler. I put one on and it made a huge difference in shifting. When I went for a flush they said the fuid was burned, but I am SC'd. Even if you are NA the B&M tranny cooler is a good investment, I think I paid around $50-$100 and like another $40 to get it installed.

Nick

Maybe you can suggest a good place where I can buy it?
And most importantly, can I install it myself or I'd better go to a mechanic with it?

[kondo]

I just bought mine at a local car parts shop. I had a local mechanic put it on, but its easy enough to do you're self.

Nick

[impactX]

I am using Redline D4 also and I love it. With my hard driving, I can still get 2 years out of those fluid, which mean it's great!

Solara uses a screen instead of a filter, so you don't have to replace that. The only thing that needs to be replaced is the gasket.

Anyway, the only thing I would worry about is dealer stealing your D4 fluid and put some generic fluid in there. Just make sure they are trustworthy.

I heard a lot of good things about this fluid. How often do you change your D4 fluid: every 15-20k or something?

I'll be watching them doing it, so that nothing like that could happen.

It really depends on the color of the fluid, my fluid is still at light red after 1 year of hard driving.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

It really depends on the color of the fluid, my fluid is still at light red after 1 year of hard driving.

My camrys fluid is red after 3 years (12K miles in 3 years); however my solara's fluid is darjish after one year (22K miles)...the dealership told me to come back in 3-6 months for a flush when i reach 60K miles..so your right, it totally depends on how you drive..and current conditions of the fluid (color).

[90915-YZZA2]

I also found this post http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php? ... ansmission

Good advice how to prolong the life of your tranny.