I'm getting some conflicting opinions from mechanics on whether or not a transmission flush is advised on my '96 Cherokee Sport 4.0 4WD auto. It would seem some places won't touch a vehicles tranny after 100K miles (Sears Auto Center). It has 135,000 miles, I purchased the vehicle at 94K and immediately changed all the fluids (including the tranny). All the service had been done prior to my purchase. Is this advised or should I leave it alone? She runs fine right now but I want to make this vehicle go over 200K if possible and would like to stick to regular maintenance. Any help would be appreciated.
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Tranny Flush over 100,000 miles?
- Thread starter CoastieJ
- Start date
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
Just pull the plug, drain it, and refill it with between 3 and 4 quarts of tranny fluid. Do that every 15,000 miles and monitor the fluid condition.
birchlakeXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Melrose, MN
You mention "all the service has been done prior to my purchase". So can we assume that the previous owner changed tranny fluid a few times when they owned it? If they did, and the fluid wasn't particularly discolored or burnt when you bought it, then I agree with the above strategy from cruiser54. Use Dex/Merc III compatible fluid. Widely available.
I flushed mine at 150k. As long as your using a proper flush machine, one that runs off the trans pump there should be no issue, it simply taps in line with a cooler line and lets new fluid in while keeping the old fluid and will change out dang near 100% of the fluid.
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
No flush needed, simply use the drain plug in the pan. Drain/re-fill 3-4 quarts of Dexron-III/Mercon, once a week for 4 weeks, or until the drained fluid looks like the new fluid. I drain 3-4 quarts once a year and it always looks clean.
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
No need to on an AW4. It was designed that way with a metal screen.
garr
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Nassau County NY
This is the way to go, I used Pep boys ATF that comes in the gallon Jug for $10, I did 6 change-outs the fluid looked brand new.
Also consider installing a cooler http://www.amazon.com/70255-SuperCo...2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1322311638&sr=1-2/& inline tranny filter http://www.amazon.com/Raybestos-Mag...ZA94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1322311518&sr=8-4 , This will drastically extend the life of the tranny.
ParadiseXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Paradise, CA 95969
So, at best it's been 40K since you (or anyone) drained and filled??
Look at your owners manual and check the "regular maintenance" items. I've done regular maintenance on my XJ, probably over-regular and it runs like a top at 235K
Measure what you drain out, put the same amount back in. Don't guess-timate.
Yes, it is just a screen, but it's still a maintenance item. If you are up for dropping the pan and changing the filter...why not. Upgrade the gasket, check your magnets.
OverdriveXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- RICHFIELD, UTAH
I went through the same thing as you. I wanted to do a complete flush etc, after lots of research I decided against a flush. The one thing that stuck in my mind was, that during a flush if something gets loosened up and starts to float around in there it could get lodged in the valve body and then you're up a creek. I did what everyone has suggested. I drained the pan and added new fluid, I'm going to put about 50-75 miles and then do it again and again till the fluid is clean. My tranny shifts fine but the fluid when I got the XJ a few weeks ago was terrible I mean terrible. It smelt so bad it made the gear oil smell good. I'm getting ready (just ordered everything last night) to install a B&M trans cooler and Gauge, besides the tranny fluid change this will also help in keeping my tranny alive for what I hope is a long time.
here is a link to well written article on the subject of installing a Trans cooler.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/transmission-cooler-gauge-install-lots-pics-546626/
With the price of a new transmiision anything you can do to keep it going will help. I've test driven quite a few jeeps while I was looking for mine and some had 260-290,000 miles on the them and the trans had never been replaced, My son's Grand Cherokee has 240,000+ on the original tranny and its fine.
muddypunk
TOOL
- Location
- Coupeville Whidbey Island washington
So Im wondering if anyone has ran seafoams transtune in the AW4 because my fluid is smelly and its been shifting like crap I have drained and replaced fluid and it was no better Im planning on dropping the pan this next weekand changing the filter .I thought about running 1/2 the can to maybe knock some chit out of the trans as I have no place near me that has a trans flush setup .
garr
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Nassau County NY
Running anything but Tranny fluid in the AW4 is asking for trouble.
OverdriveXJ while you are installing the cooler Install a Magnefine in-line filter also, you will be very happy with how nice & clean your tranny fluid stays!
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Thats the way to do it, I just don't see why people go thru all the trouble of multiple drain/refills, a single flush is much more effective and simpler.
5150caz
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Victorville, CA
You can do it your self with two people, just remove one hose from the trans cooler, start the jeep and while one person is holding the hose in a bucket the other one pours trans fluid in and when it starts to come out clean turn off the car and put the hose back on the cooler. This will flush the whole system converter and everything.
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
Don't assume your transmission had the right amount of fluid in it in the first place. Drain it out and service it to the right level on the dipstick according to the manual.
confirm the level is right before pulling the plug, drain out X quarts, replace with X quarts, then double check the dipstick.
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
Ever hear any stories about how a vehicle owner got a higher mileage Transmission flushed at a shop and the Transmission blew up soon after ? Yup, heard that one a lot. Dislodged debris from the power flush is the most common reason given. ( You should also allow for lack of routine maintenance. )
Ever hear any stories about how a Cherokee owner used the drain plug and had the transmission blow up ? Nope, never heard that one.
I buy Dex-III/Merc in gallon bottles at the Farm and Fleet store or WalMart. AW-4 drain and refill takes less time than an oil change. I changed the trans filter at 75,000, it was discolored, but not actually dirty.
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
So instead of doing 4 steps that take 15 minutes, you want to do 7 steps that take an hour?
If I'm checking the dipstick before I start and when I finish, why am I going to spend 30 minutes measuring how much fluid came out of the transmission?
:dunno:
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
I'm with Tim 100% on this one.
