trans flush or drain?

[chicago96ranger]

Tomorrow I'm going to have the trans fluid changed as the mechanic said it was really dirty and he had to add 3 quarts before it started operating (still slight hesitation) I'm taking it to a trans shop. Truck has 87k miles and has been neglected as it was sitting around for awhile. Should I get it flushed or is that risky? I heard a drop pan drain only gets out 3 quarts. Does anyone know if this trans (4R44E) has a torque converter drain plug to release even more fluid?
I'm just debating what course of action to take. Maybe simple drain and do it again after 100 miles. What do you think?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

There is no torq drain.

Get it flushed, it will do no damage to the transmission. If it already screwed a flush won't fix it. When you flush it at least you will get all of the fluid changed. Trans flush machines hook inline with the cooler hoses and use the pump in the transmission itself to exchange the fluid. There is no way a flush will harm it in anyway possible.

 

[exbass94]

There is no torq drain.

Get it flushed, it will do no damage to the transmission. If it already screwed a flush won't fix it. When you flush it at least you will get all of the fluid changed. Trans flush machines hook inline with the cooler hoses and use the pump in the transmission itself to exchange the fluid. There is no way a flush will harm it in anyway possible.

^^ This!!

 

[BuiltFordTough12]

If your transmission fluid has not been changed according to the Dealers maintenance schedule a flush is not a good idea. If you dont know the fluid change history of your trans and youve got miles on it your better off not messing with it. My truck also needed a trans fluid change after 130 k and I had the pan dropped. When origional trans fluid is not changed every 24-35 k it forms a film around the inside of the case and other internal parts. When a transmission flush is performed it can loosen this film and varnish and clog your valve body. This will certainly lead to clutch failure and you will burn up that transmission quickly. My father bought an explorer brand new in 97 and it ran great. He had the trans flushed at 111K and one week later it burned up. Since that day I vowed to never have a transmission flushed ever again unless I am the one and only owner of the vehichle and follow the mantenance schedule to the mile.

 

[chicago96ranger]

Thanks! I dropped it off and specified a flush but insisted the filter get changed after wards (I read here about the different ways to get fluid drained). I have to trust he will do it this way. He called me up an hour later and said I had a rusted out and leaking cooler line so that jump the cost to $238. I wasn't pleased to hear him say that eventually it will need an overhaul because he says it hesitates. What he didn't know was that the fluid level was probably still too low. I just hope the fluid change helps. Should get it back by Monday.

 

[exbass94]

If your transmission fluid has not been changed according to the Dealers maintenance schedule a flush is not a good idea. If you dont know the fluid change history of your trans and youve got miles on it your better off not messing with it. My truck also needed a trans fluid change after 130 k and I had the pan dropped. When origional trans fluid is not changed every 24-35 k it forms a film around the inside of the case and other internal parts. When a transmission flush is performed it can loosen this film and varnish and clog your valve body. This will certainly lead to clutch failure and you will burn up that transmission quickly. My father bought an explorer brand new in 97 and it ran great. He had the trans flushed at 111K and one week later it burned up. Since that day I vowed to never have a transmission flushed ever again unless I am the one and only owner of the vehichle and follow the mantenance schedule to the mile.

This is false. Flushing a transmission at any mileage will not hurt it. To hear my stance on flushing transmissions, read my post in this thread: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74839

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Flushing the fluid out of it is NO different than how the transmission normally operates. The pump in the trans pushes the old fluid out VIA the cooler lines and picks up new fluid from the machine. It cannot 'dislodge' anything inside the transmission.....

 

[exbass94]

Flushing the fluid out of it is NO different than how the transmission normally operates. The pump in the trans pushes the old fluid out VIA the cooler lines and picks up new fluid from the machine. It cannot 'dislodge' anything inside the transmission.....

Once again, ^^ this!!!

 

[chicago96ranger]

just an update..
the transmission seems to be ok for the most part. it still has that hesitation when it first goes into drive, only instead of before a 2 second gentle easing into drive it now jerks into drive. I plan on picking up a scanner that will give me trans codes and maybe that will tell me something