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new or used tranny fluid?


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goosecrane
User

Jan 2, 2015, 10:19 AM

Post #1 of 12 (1744 views)
new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

I have a 1998 k1500. I do not know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. I know it can go bad changing fluid with high mileage. I changed my shift solenoids approx a year ago. I saved all the fluid I could, changed the filter and topped off with new fluid using my old fluid. I now had to pull the tranny to replace rear main seal.the fluid in the transfer case was horrible. I saved the tranny fluid. I know they share fluid, but it was worse in the transfer. So my question is, do I use my old fluid I have and top off, or risk it and change fluid? I wasted about a gal that was in the transfer case. Thanks for any input on this controversial subject.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 2, 2015, 10:30 AM

Post #2 of 12 (1733 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

Doubt you'll get one answer. Personally I would never re-use trans fluid, brake fluid NEVER or most other fluids.


High miles (you said) and same old fluid. Part of it new with your work probably wont harm anything and if anything help a little.


There are opinions of not flushing out entire systems that are old as it can bring out a problem lurking sooner but IMO it was there anyway so add with new - you decide you changing it all,


T



gsferraro
Veteran

Jan 2, 2015, 12:03 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1723 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

Just a heads up, the trans and the transfer case may take the same fluid, but they do not "share" fluid. There is a fill for the trans and a fill for the transfer case. Gary


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 2, 2015, 12:57 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1719 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

OK - done. Don't re-use these fluids............ Tom


goosecrane
User

Jan 2, 2015, 3:25 PM

Post #5 of 12 (1710 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

Ok cool guys thanks. I want to change all fluid, just waned someone to tell me to. I was a service advising in a ford dealership for many years, and we would not service a transmission with high miles that had never been serviced. We had done some, and I have personally seen the clutches come apart after changing fluid. It has been explained to me that it is a ph thing. I'm changing it screw it.


goosecrane
User

Jan 2, 2015, 3:29 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1709 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

A note on what I just posted. Who's to say the fluid caused the friction disc problem.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 2, 2015, 3:53 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1708 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

Gary is the real trans expert around here but let me explain what i understand about that issue. As a tranny wears out the seals deteriorate and the slipping clutches mix clutch material in to the fluid. This substance tends to help seal the rubber seals keeping the pressure up. The new fluid has a high detergent content and washes the sludge away from the seals causing a lot of leakage past the seals so the clutches don't apply with as much force any more.

Clean fluid is a good thing as long as it is done before the damage is done.



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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.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 2, 2015, 3:55 PM)


goosecrane
User

Jan 2, 2015, 6:19 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1701 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

So....find fluid with no detergent? Do they make that?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 2, 2015, 6:22 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1700 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

No such thing.



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

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.



goosecrane
User

Jan 2, 2015, 6:31 PM

Post #10 of 12 (1698 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

So what would you recommend doing?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 2, 2015, 6:38 PM

Post #11 of 12 (1693 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

That depends on the current condition of the fluid. If it's dark and smells burnt, I wouldn't touch it. If it's still red or pink in color, go for it.



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

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.



gsferraro
Veteran

Jan 2, 2015, 6:46 PM

Post #12 of 12 (1689 views)
Re: new or used tranny fluid? Sign In

Agree with HammerSmile






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