Question:
Is a transmission flush necessary?
snowboard88
2011-05-13 20:17:22 UTC
I have a 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL with 65000 miles on it. I took it in to have the rear tail light repaired and the mechanics did a courtesy inspection. They recommended I get a transmission flush and a brake flush. Are those really necessary with my car having a lower amount of miles? Thank you!
Fourteen answers:
mister ss
2011-05-14 17:35:24 UTC
do not flush the transmission, just have them drop the transmission oil pan and install a new filter in the transmission and yes it"s a good idea to flush the brake system but wait to have it done when you have to get new brake pads installed.
camisa
2016-10-03 05:25:04 UTC
Transmission Flush Necessary
anotherpatient
2016-08-07 12:49:29 UTC
Brake fluid is hydroscopic, if absorbs moisture usually from the filler cap vent and condensation. Water ruins the brake system. Heat makes it worse. Do every three years.

The transmission flush is a rip off. Yup, all the usual suspects - re-builders, shops, associations, etc. - line up promoting this unnecessary service. Much of the used transmission fluid is in the converter and a flush will not remove it. Plus the flush can loosen metal particles in the filter and pan putting them in seals, bearings, etc. The best, but most expensive, is what Honda recommend. Change the fluid, run the car for a few miles, change it again, and repeat a third time. Mixing old with new gradually removes the old fluid.
DrCustom
2011-05-13 20:47:06 UTC
I agree with mkd68GTO, The transmission fluid is just overdue for the flush. Find a shop that can perform an actual trans flush like with a Wynn's flush machine and make sure that they use ATF VI fluid, it is a little higher priced but I believe that is what this transmission requires.

As far as the brake fluid flush is concerned, every three years regardless of mileage is what we recommend at the shop I work in, for the same reasons mkd68GTO said, brake fluid is hygroscpic (absorbs moisture) and it is also the lubricating fluid for the internals of the brake system.. not to mention the corrosion prevention that is lost as it gets older..



Sounds like the shop you have it at is being honest and fair with ya..



Prices for brake flush could be around $95.00 to $125.00

and the trans fluid flush w/ATF VI will probably run you around $175.00 to $200.00

both will have disposal fees and the shop will probably charge misc shop supplies.



Good luck , That is a nice car and it will stay that way if you take care of it..



by the way .... as for what Harley Drive said... DO NOT believe it.. He is confused ,misinformed, lost or just doesn't get it!!! You are on the right track and If he doesn't know a shop that can refinish a brake rotor well enough to work on a vehicle w/ ABS then he needs to listen and learn from someone who does brake work everyday for the last 25 years and 80% of the late model vehicles today have ABS..



Damn!! Talk about a hangover or throwback from the fifties..... LOL
Hayden
2015-08-10 11:00:19 UTC
This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Is a transmission flush necessary?

I have a 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL with 65000 miles on it. I took it in to have the rear tail light repaired and the mechanics did a courtesy inspection. They recommended I get a transmission flush and a brake flush. Are those really necessary with my car having a lower amount of miles? Thank you!
Kenny
2011-05-13 20:48:27 UTC
I agree with GTO. Service manual say to change the brake fluid every two year. I don't take the recommendation myself, but I only change the brake fluid when I change my brakes and then bleed the old fluid out.



Transmission, I would do a filter+fluid change. Not a flush. Some manufacturer stated in the owner's manual to never do a flush(ie Honda).
Top Gun
2011-05-13 20:51:32 UTC
Check the color of the transmission fluid, if it is still red or clear leave it for now, put it down in your future day book. The brake fluid should be okay for now. For sure do a air filter change, and a fuel filter change. Next they will be telling you to flush your radiator and changing the air in your tires. Have the brakes checked first...
Linda Leake
2015-12-08 06:14:19 UTC
On a 2002 sanator hyuandia over 127,000mls need to change transmission fluid car has a slight shaking noise then noise is gone before I drive off,brakes seems to be a little hard to stop with,what needs to be done at this point.
tune_ups
2011-05-13 20:52:01 UTC
Me personally I keep up with my cars as I tow with them and go all over.I never break down. I like preventative maintenance cause its cheaper ( no big repair bills) and your not stranded You car is 5 years old has some miles and you seem to want to keep it. Then change it.a $100ish transmission flush is a lot cheaper then a $2000 ish transmission. It does a lot work. Trick with flushes is you have to get them down early or you can't do them.



Id leave the break fluid alone as sometimes fittings can break if never opened before. Then you got the abs to deal with. Its a good idea thought. I normally use a turkey baster and change the fluid in the reservoir Old fluids do cause problems. Break fluids get dirty and full of moisture. Id only flush it when doing breaks.



I also use the baster to drain the power steering reservoir so it can be refilled with fresh fluid every couple of years. I run the car get almost complete empty, fill it up turn the wheels then repeat 3 - 4 times.



Every 3000ish miles you also should be running a can of injector clearer. Its only $2 for concentrated stuff. Cheap pay off.



Its best to keep up on the transmission fluids It gets almost 100 percent of the fluids out. If you get the flushes done early you can keep doing flushed . If you let it go for 100k plus you can only safety drain a few quarts out and change the filter. Even if you only get flushes every other time should have the filter changed too.



I used to work at a few fast lube places. Heard story's of flushes on old cars that were never taken car off. After the flush they would not make it out so we would never do flushes on those cars. If it was kept up on we could flush them out with no problems.



If not mistaken yours is good for 100k. So you may not want to get it now but I wouldn't go till 100k. A transmission flush is a lot cheaper then a transmission. I change my fluids every 2 years. but that's just me. I do not go through transmissions either. Yet I tow bigger vehicles then mine in my little s10.







The issue with brake fluid is that it absorbs moisture. When this moisture laden fluid is in the caliper, the heat generated can cause it to boil. Most people don't use there brakes that hard, but if you drive in the hills or tow something, this situation can come into play.





Here is a good link yahoo has about it.









For optimum protection, change the fluid and filter every 30,000 miles (unless you have a new vehicle that is filled with Dexron III ATF which is supposed to be good for 100,000 miles).



If you think this is propaganda put forth by the suppliers of ATF to sell more fluid, think again. According to the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association, 90% of ALL transmission failures are caused by overheating. And most of these can be blamed on worn out fluid that should have been replaced.



On most vehicles, the automatic transmission fluid is cooled by a small heat exchanger inside the bottom or end tank of the radiator. Hot ATF from the transmission circulates through a short loop of pipe and is thus "cooled." Cooling is a relative term here, however, because the radiator itself may be running at anywhere from 180 to 220 degrees F.!



Tests have shown that the typical original equipment oil cooler is marginal at best. ATF that enters the radiator cooler at 300 degrees F. leaves at 240 to 270 degrees F., which is only a 10 to 20% drop in temperature, and is nowhere good enough for extended fluid life.



Any number of things can push ATF temperatures beyond the system's ability to maintain safe limits: towing a trailer, mountain driving, driving at sustained high speeds during hot weather, stop-and-go driving in city traffic, "rocking" an automatic transmission from drive to reverse to free a tire from mud or snow, etc. Problems in the cooling system itself such as a low coolant level, a defective cooling fan, fan clutch, thermostat or water pump, an obstructed radiator, etc., will also diminish ATF cooling efficiency. In some cases, transmission overheating can even lead to engine coolant overheating! That's why there's a good demand for auxiliary add-on transmission cooler





http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/transmission/ques123_0.html
Harley Drive
2011-05-13 20:44:08 UTC
neither system should be flushed , you can see why american cars have such poor reliability reputations , a transmission flush can damage the seals and actually force metal particles into valves the circulation of fluid in a transmission is only designed to go one way through the filter , just drain and re-fill three times replacing the filter on the third time for full fluid replacement, with the brakes just bleed the brakes refilling the master cylinder tank as you go until the correct amount has been bled through, usually about a pint per corner, ABS means any kind of flush has to be done carefully so as not to damage or unbalance the ABS, and NEVER resurface or skim brake rotors on ABS systems a regular workshop can never grind them true enough and the ABS will read it as a malfunction, while you are at it never rotate tires that's another hangover from the fifties radial and directional tires are wrecked by rotating
mdk68gto, ase certified m tech
2011-05-13 20:35:06 UTC
the brake flush is not a bad idea every 2 years, that fluid will pull moisture out of the air and that contamination will drop the boiling point of the fluid. the trans is due to be serviced every 50,000 miles. a flush night be the only way to do that one. if it is the 4t65e, a pan service would work well. if it is not that trans and i dont know the name of that one just yet, it does not have a dipstick or a pan so that service would be an impossible task.
oneiloilokano
2011-05-13 20:43:49 UTC
Transmission absolutely necessary.

Brakes ? Not unless your having some kind of brake problem.
salemcripple
2011-05-13 20:26:46 UTC
depending on what your fluid looks like. It may, or may not. If the fluid is burnt, i wouldn't have it done. A flush at this point could cause more damage. The brake fluid flush on the other hand is never a bad idea. On the other hand you could do a home flush by simply draining the fluid, changing the filter, refilling, driving it till it's warm, and repeating.
Paul
2011-05-13 20:24:31 UTC
Transmission Yes Depending the Condition of the Fluid (Darker & Gritty, YES) Brake Fluid NO unless you are having Brake Problems.


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