Transmission: Drain & Fill or Flush

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

The only difference between Dextron 3 and 4 is that 4 is synthetic; like an upgrade to the type 3... I usually use the Toyota stuff though in Toyotas.

Thats what I do for my ES (since its at 190K miles, no one does flushing). In the summers toyota offers nice coupons, thats when i stock up on this, red coolant and other nick-nacks.

[DrakkkarDarkbladE]

Read this post http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=22694&highlight=.

I did a transmission flush myself. It made a very noticeable difference in the shift quality.

I would do a drain and fill at least 3 times, putting in the new gasket and filter on the final go around.

I have driven almost 16k miles since my transmission flush and the oil still looks like it was just put in.

My personal recommendation is Royal Purple MAX ATF (Expensive as hell, and very hard to find a store that sells it, but worth every penny). I also use Royal Purple Engine Oil 5W-30.

http://www.royalpurple.com/

[unbalancedwood]

Well I just did the drain and fill for the first time. Had to go buy one of those weird hex bolt sets at the store, maybe ill return it at the end of all this and plead 'wrong size.'

But anyways, aside from the winds being "20-45mph with gusts at 65" I definitely got all the 65mph winds though. It was blowing the fluid that was draining all over the place, thankfully in one direction. Of course I didnt want to be out there long so I drained as much as I could, I think i could have been out there all night waiting for the little drips to come out.

Well when that was done, pour'd it into a gallon jug, which the fluid was only about...3/5's full (60&). Now I checked it at the dip stick yesterday and it was fine, or at least I thought it was.

Well thankfully I cought it early, hopefully the low fluid didnt do anything too bad to my transmission

Other then that, it shifts really nice (AUTO) and when i put it in different gears its not as hard as it use to be. Time to celebrate...gym. THANKS ALL!!

Drakkar, I would go for the more expensive stuff but...its more expensive...me = cheap. But I may do this three times just to make sure, it was pretty dark compared to the new stuff.

[orlin03]

Sorry I didnt think to mention that the level will go down on the stick after it's gone through all the gears a few times. It was still reading on the stick though, so you shouldnt have any problems; it's better for them to be a quart low than half a quart high!

[unbalancedwood]

Sorry I didnt think to mention that the level will go down on the stick after it's gone through all the gears a few times. It was still reading on the stick though, so you shouldnt have any problems; it's better for them to be a quart low than half a quart high!

Soooo....

I took about 2 QTs out..all that would really come out.
And put 3.5 in (whole jug). What does that mean?

[orlin03]

Sounds like you were running low for awhile!

[unbalancedwood]

haha...im glad theres forums like these to make an idiot like me into somewhat of a genius