Is there any way to drain just a little trans fluid? It is over the max level right now and I also want to add some sea foam trans treatment to help with all its problems.

I dont think its ever been changed and alot of people tell me if I change it there is a 50/50 chance it will help or that it will kill the transmission. I dont have the money to replace it right now so I cant take that risk.

 

If it's got a lot of miles.. that's actually a true thing.

If you want to just drain a little you could disconnect the tranny line coming from the rad. That would be easy.

Also, I'm not sure what you have. But in times past some fords had a drain plug in the TQ convertor. That would be a very easy way to drain just a little.

If you really think it's on its way out.. don't sea foam it. That will do the same thing as new fluid. It'll disolve particals and possible plug up passages.

Rich

 

why would changing the fluid kill the tranny?

 

x2

 

well basically if you have, say 80,000+ (or so) miles on transmission fluid, the clutches and bands wear and stay floating around this fluid. That actually is helping the clutches and bands apply, so you go ahead and drain all that stuff out...That brand new fresh fluid will actually make things worse by not containing that worn material in it to help things run smoothly and as tight as can be. Causing excess slipping. Slipping = Heat. Heat = Dead Trans.

 

The truck has about 175k on it and the fluid may have been changed once in its life. The fluid in it now is burn and dark. My brother added some transmission treatment stuff to it before (think thats why its a little above full) and it seemed to help for a wile. Some people have said I should add some stuff to it and other have said I should just leave it alone.

Any other opinions on if I should add this stuff or not?

Ohh and I have a tans cooler so I can just disconnect that.

 

Get it flushed.

 

At 175K you got the life out of the vehicle. I don't believe in adding stuff like that, so if the fluid is burnt you are headed for a tranny rebuild or new vehicle. I say flush the tranny, but make sure you use the correct fluid.

 

Would Not Touch It At 175 Just Leave If Like Goodygotacuda Said It Will Last Longer I Have Seen Peoble Change At High Mialage With Nothing Wrong With The Trany When They Came In And After Need A New Trany After It Was Changed

 

Just add some Lucas No-Slip or whatever it is. I used it on 2 vehicle and it does wonders for them.

 

Hmm I still get people saying to leave it alone, flush it, or add some additive. I think I may add a small amount of the seafoam stuff since I already have it and see what happens. I think flushing it at this high of mileage would be a very big risk at killing it.

 

This is just more anecdotal evidence...probably not very helpful, but in high school I drove my dad's old work truck (85 Chevy 3/4 ton with 350 v8 and turbo 400 3 speed auto tranny) with about 180,000 miles on it. It had some slippage, especially between 1st and 2nd when cold. I dropped the tranny pan and did a filter/fluid change (but not flush...just replaced all the fluid that came out with the pan removed) and it worked great after that.

 

so you just reused the old fluid and changed the filter? Thats a good idea there, might have to consider doing that.

 

With that high of mileage, do not flush the fluid! Like other said before particles sitting in the cooler/rad can be transported into the trans itself during a flush and cause failure. Just "replace" the fluid.

It usually only costs 75 bucks or so and is well worth it.

 

I would leave the fluid in, don't flush and add lucas trans fix.

 

Im going to try just adding some transmission additive to it and see how that works out.
When I have the money to risk killing the trans ill try just changing the fluid.

 

To get to the point vs opinions..

Changing the filter is fine. This insures that the pumps are fed properly. That *may* be your problem?

Changing the fluid can however disolve the sludge and film that's been built up in and on the passages, clutches, and such. When that happens you run the risk of plugging up small passages, wiping clean the clutch plates, and changing the viscosity of the fluid. This may or may not "work".

If the fluid smells burnt I'd leave it alone. If it's just dirty.. give it a try.

Personally I'd not do anything. I'd rather put every penny aside in savings for a rebuild or junk yard swap.

Rich

 

ahh lol Idont know what I should do.

Ok im just going to not touch it, I mean its working good enough to get me where I need to go.

 

Well not quite...threw out the old fluid that came out when I dropped the pan, but didn't flush the tranny so there was still some old fluid left in there. Put in a new filter, put the pan back on, then filled to normal operating range with new fluid.

 

Don't touch it. It will cause bigger problems. In the shop if a car or truck comes in with more than 70k miles i won't touch the trans fluid. Way I was taught and that man knew his stuff when it come to transmission.

 

yea im not going to mess with it. I dont have the money to fix it so if it was go die now I would be screwed.