is transmission fluid power flush good ?

[leev]

I own a Ford Focus 2003, automatic, 2.3 engine, 35,000 miles.
The maintanance schedule manual recommends a transmission fluid "change" every 30,000 miles.
The local Ford dealerships say this means a "power flush" (or flushing of the transmission fluid).
I think I understand the difference between a regular "change" and the "power flush" and
I also know there is some controversy about the "power flush" method.
Do you think the manual by using the word
"change" refers to just a change (drain old fluid and replace with new) or they refer to a "flush" ?
What do you recommend ?

Thank you !

[Sponsor]

[cafociguy]

Power flush sounds cooler and is probably more expensive, ha ha, on my old cars I always just drained and replaced, not sure.

[penguin]

I suspect that they are not really doing a "flush," in the sense that some sort of solvent or cleaning agent is used, but rather are using the word "flush" in the sense of a 100% fluid exchange, as opposed to a "drop the tranny pan" change, which typically only replaces 40-60% of the fluid.

I would not do any sort of real flush, but a 100% exchange is superior to the "drop the pan" method, except that the tranmission filter is not replaced and the pan/magnet is not inspected or cleaned.

I recommend alternating between a 100% fluid exchange method, and dropping the pan method, over the life of the vehicle.

Of course, the absolute best method would be to first do the drop the pan method, replacing the filter and cleaning the pan/magnet, then fill it up with cheap fluid and have a 100% exchange done. But this, IMHO, would not be cost-effective and is overkill. Hence the recommendation to alternate the methods.

Oh, and I might add that if the fluid is really bad, e.g., very dark with a burnt smell, then a 100% replacement method is definitely the way to go.

[DURATECoftheDesert]

This so called powerflush is good... But I never let ford touch my car.
Ford drains the fluid 100% with a replacement tranny filter, other small business shop do that to; and it's half the price on what ford offers.

So let me say this... U can do with ford for the full price to get the job done; or have a small business do the exact samething that ford does... but with more money in ur wallet.

[Xetchx]

Power flush- this should be the pump flush type thing. It's were they hook up a pump to your tranny and pump clean fluid in and pump out the old stuff untill it comes out clean. This is the only way to get a complete 100% fluid change. But as stated earlier it has a draw back the filter and magnet don't get changed or cleaned this way. The power flush is a good alternet for dropping the pan but shouldn't be done every time, that filter needs to be changed every once in awhile.

Edit: also this only works on a Auto tranny

and SPI you can never get 100% fluid change by dropping the pan, the converter holds alot

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Nevermind, I wrote all that stuff, then decided not to post it after reading further in the manual.

You can use the transmission to drain a portion of the fluid from the transmission and then add fluid if you want to flush it. This is done by disconnecting the lower transmission cooler hose (return) from the radiator, attatching a hose to the cooler outlet, then running that hose to a bucket. Turn the engine on, run it at idle until approximately 3 qts have been removed which should take less than 2 mins. Then add fluid to the fill point.

This is what the Helms manual recommends for fluid drain and refill. You can also do this before you try to replace the filter, but it is sure that there will still be fluid in the pan so prepare something to catch drips if you value your driveway or working area.

To remove the transmission line: push the connector forward, press the clip, and pull off.

[DomestikZx3]

^^^ best way to it IMO the filter is good to be changed but is actually not a big deal, its supposed to be good up to 100k miles but its always good to check anyways.

im doing the ^^ this method this weekend if all goes well.

[GreenEnvy]

drop the pan and change fluid and filter. either way you do it only 50-70% of the fluid is actually changed. many people seem to forget that the torque converter holds about half of the volume and unless the engine is running, the fluid stays in it and doesn't circulate.
always drop the pan and remove the filter to inspect it and what may be in the bottom of the pan. change filter, clean and put back together.
the power flush they use here involves removing the cooler lines and hooking up a machine which back flushes the system, not a real good idea.
reason... the filter traps particles right? well, if the fluid is flowing backward through it what happens to alot of those particles that were trapped?

[DomestikZx3]

The method that whynotthinkwhynot had posted before me is a complete flush, it flushes the convertor also. its the same thing as those machine just without the machine and labor

the power flush they use here involves removing the cooler lines and hooking up a machine which back flushes the system, not a real good idea.
reason... the filter traps particles right? well, if the fluid is flowing backward through it what happens to alot of those particles that were trapped?

since when is the fluid going backwards?

[gerryyy]

Quick question aboout 5 spd manual tranmission. Do you change the fluid in those? I've got an 06 ST than just turned 12 K.