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Automatic transmission fluid change method


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Davemaster84
Novice

Apr 11, 2023, 6:23 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1088 views)
Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

Hi everyone, I am about to change my transmission fluid from this car:
Kia magentis EX 2.7 2008 (Kia optima) 5 speed automatic transmission , uses 9.5 L of ATF SPiii type HK fluid (which I manage to import 6L so far)
car has 97.000km or 62k miles and according to the manual it is still in range to do the change. Car is a daily usage although I dont drive it through long distances at all.

Since the fluid is brown I am not up for a flush that is done with an external pump as I have searched tons of videos that are against it unless your transmission is rather new , also top transmission repair centers including the brand`s are not taking me because my car is too old and because the transmision isnpt broken(crazy huh?) , anyway I am between this 2 options :
Do just a pan change without removing the filter and repeat after a few kms until the fluid comes pink
Try to get a mechanic to do the soft flush wish probably Ill need to teach him/her (using the hose that goes from the trans to the radiator , unplug it and with the engine on remove one quarter , add one quarter and repeat until comesback pink)
Or bite the bullet and pay for a flush , problem is seems I am going to need to import the filter since the online local stores are confused with my car lol
Which would be better/safer?
Thanks in advanced.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 11, 2023, 7:19 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1082 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

The word "flush" is used too loosely. These machines don't really force or agitate anything. Most of them just allow the trans internal pump to do the pushing and the machine just replaces what is pumped out quart for quart.

The bigger concern you have is the high detergent content in the new fluid. If the current fluid is that dirty sometimes the related sludge is what is sealing the system and cleaning it out is not always a good idea.

The key to fluid change is to keep the fluid clean, not replace dirty fluid.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Davemaster84
Novice

Apr 11, 2023, 8:06 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1079 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

Thank you for your reply, in your opinion what would be better , to add a little new fluid so it helps the oerall mixture to be clean or to do the full flush and take all out?. A transmission mechanic told me he could do the flush but he would need 2 more quarts of fluid to make sure all gets out , so I guess it is the pump flush while another said they only do pan flushes .


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 12, 2023, 3:56 AM

Post #4 of 7 (1050 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

If the fluid is that bad it may be too late. There are varying opinions on whether it is a good idea to change fluid at this point as the clean fluid can do more harm than good in some instances.

Dropping the pan only won't do a lot for cleaning the fluid as you will always be mixing the new fluid with a large quantity of dirty fluid.

Me personally, I don't like to mess with them when they get that bad, especially if there is any burnt smell.

If it's at the point where it's only darkened with no clutch material turned into sludge, you may be OK to flush it now.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Davemaster84
Novice

Apr 12, 2023, 2:56 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1026 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

I did the correct procedure to check the oil today and it is brown not black , didn't have any material with it and didn't smell bad, also I managed to get the Kia repair manual for this car and they specifically suggest the "soft flush" which is the one that's done by unplugging the hose that goes to the radiator and take one quarter, add one quarter, only problem is the filter. Last question: Would it be ok if I leave the old one? The repair manual dint state anything about it at all.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 12, 2023, 3:01 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1023 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In


Quote
the "soft flush" which is the one that's done by unplugging the hose that goes to the radiator and take one quarter, add one quarte


I just read the instructions and they want you to shut the engine off between drains. That will work.

I don't know the specifics about this one but most of the filters are just screens and unless the clutches are coming apart they should be clean.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 12, 2023, 3:06 PM)


Davemaster84
Novice

Apr 12, 2023, 3:46 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1018 views)
Re: Automatic transmission fluid change method Sign In

Once again thank you so much!






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