I went to my Infiniti dealership but they only do a pan drop and INSIST the screen is not a replaceable item, they just clean it (the thought occured to me after I left and on my hour long ride home that if its removable to be cleaned then it must be replaceable).
We have two transmission shops in my town but neither one have a bladder type machine and advise against it. The process is breaking into the cooling line and pumping new fluid in with car off, starting car once to remove oil from torque converter.
Quick oil shops have a Tech? machine to do the exchange but its a 20 minute process which doesn't seem right.
I am not a trusting person when it comes to mechanics, I've been burned too many times. I know its a bad attitude to have but I feel I'm getting screwed every time. Infiniti dealership has earned my trust but doesn't perform the procedure with a full flush (although the previous statement I made about the screen not being replaceable makes me wonder).
What are the proper questions to ask? What is a description of a good procedure? and would Grand Isle or Scottsdale have a kit or list of parts I can purchase to bring into a transmission shop?
I also remember it being advised to watch the procedure, neither of the shops that I've contacted will allow that, which just worsens my suspicions although I understand there safety issue.
I apologize for being so long and I Thank You in advance for your thoughts.
92'Q45 with 140,000 miles with a slight whine when idling in gear that seems to be getting louder.
What is the proper transmission flush procedure?
Re: What is the proper transmission flush procedure?
luvmyq45 wrote:I went to my Infiniti dealership but they only do a pan drop and INSIST the screen is not a replaceable item, they just clean it (the thought occured to me after I left and on my hour long ride home that if its removable to be cleaned then it must be replaceable).
We have two transmission shops in my town but neither one have a bladder type machine and advise against it. The process is breaking into the cooling line and pumping new fluid in with car off, starting car once to remove oil from torque converter.
They are wrong the screen is replacable.easy to do too once pan is off anyway.
It does clog up, the higher back pressure from a clogged one is said to cause a "whine".
Getting a machine flush with a good fluid (Bring your own MOBIL1 ATF if u must) , and then a pan drop/clean and filter exchange is the proper procedure.Some places dont put the pan gasket on real well so tip a a small amount to the tech who does it and let him know about the gasket needing to fit just right.
Fred...
If the fluid isn't full it will whine. It's hard to check the level accurately, especially at a quick lube. I park mine hot, let it drain down, then restart in about 10 min, select drive, reverse and park, then pull the stick out once and look at it. If you pull the stick in and out a few times it gets too messy to read accurately. Do your own work as much as possible, there are very few places you can trust to do it right.
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Q45tech
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- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
Strange, I checked with 3 of the 5 Infiniti dealers in Atlanta all 3 had a BG machine transmision flush machine and are happy to change the AT filter [for around $110] and the flush varies $139-$149 including the 14 quarts and a can of BG AT Conditioner.
Maybe some of the 156 dealers out in the boon docks [locations other than Japan or Atlanta] chose not to spend the money for a machine.......this is a clue to their technical competance..........Infiniti doesn't require a machine since it is counterproductive to parts sales unlike the requirement of the Hunter 9700.
The actual exchange process takes 3.5-4 minutes the preliminary steps filling the machine with ATF, connecting to lines, and recirculating for 15-30 minutes in gears [off the ground] while the chemical flush does its thing, then adding conditioner and getting the warm ATF level correct, discoing the unit and flushing the old ATF out of the machine is what takes the hour plus what ever is charged for paper work, lift on off time, belly pan off on, test drive etc. --- Dealers have to charge more to cover the wash and free coffee.If it takes 2.5-3 minutes for 10 quarts to circulate how many passes are enough for the flush solvent to work, it needs to get to 176F so we have found 15 minutes or 5 recirculations to be the minimum.
If I had my choice I would have a can at home and drive [carefully]to the shop with it already in that way you would be sure the time was more than 15 minutes and less than 1 hour. No non emergency WOT shifts with the solvent inside!
How do you clean the pan magnet without dropping and cleaning the pan......plus reverse flushing the metal filter will not get it all guaranteed.
Maybe some of the 156 dealers out in the boon docks [locations other than Japan or Atlanta] chose not to spend the money for a machine.......this is a clue to their technical competance..........Infiniti doesn't require a machine since it is counterproductive to parts sales unlike the requirement of the Hunter 9700.
The actual exchange process takes 3.5-4 minutes the preliminary steps filling the machine with ATF, connecting to lines, and recirculating for 15-30 minutes in gears [off the ground] while the chemical flush does its thing, then adding conditioner and getting the warm ATF level correct, discoing the unit and flushing the old ATF out of the machine is what takes the hour plus what ever is charged for paper work, lift on off time, belly pan off on, test drive etc. --- Dealers have to charge more to cover the wash and free coffee.If it takes 2.5-3 minutes for 10 quarts to circulate how many passes are enough for the flush solvent to work, it needs to get to 176F so we have found 15 minutes or 5 recirculations to be the minimum.
If I had my choice I would have a can at home and drive [carefully]to the shop with it already in that way you would be sure the time was more than 15 minutes and less than 1 hour. No non emergency WOT shifts with the solvent inside!
How do you clean the pan magnet without dropping and cleaning the pan......plus reverse flushing the metal filter will not get it all guaranteed.
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nadirgholi
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 5:27 pm
- Car: 94' Q45t- 236K miles.
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
We have had the BG machine for almost 6 years, we do [5] BG Quick Clean/plus conditioner flushes per week say 1,300-1,500 total since 1996.
But we are careful to double flush if the ATF doesn't return to perfect color......this is the key to success.
We warn every customer [who asks and note on the work order] if the transfer time exceeds norms of 3.5 minutes because this indicates poor internal pump flow [internal damage]......another secret.
To my knowledge we have never had an in shop or even a month later failure from a flush. But a few times we refuse if the transmission seems too far gone. We have tried a few on goners and generally they seem to help but not cure!
The problem is we made say $150,000 in revenue but lost out on the $400,000 we would have made in replacing only 10% [150] of the ones we flushed. We have customers who are so paranoid they get a flush every 6 months and you thought my once a year was excessive and my every 2 year pan drop.
The 94Q with 255k and oem transmission gets flushed every 20k [twice a year currently] and had 3 pan drops/cleans/filter changes.
This one is on borrowed time but seems adequate [definitely not as new but has all the gears] at present.
But we are careful to double flush if the ATF doesn't return to perfect color......this is the key to success.
We warn every customer [who asks and note on the work order] if the transfer time exceeds norms of 3.5 minutes because this indicates poor internal pump flow [internal damage]......another secret.
To my knowledge we have never had an in shop or even a month later failure from a flush. But a few times we refuse if the transmission seems too far gone. We have tried a few on goners and generally they seem to help but not cure!
The problem is we made say $150,000 in revenue but lost out on the $400,000 we would have made in replacing only 10% [150] of the ones we flushed. We have customers who are so paranoid they get a flush every 6 months and you thought my once a year was excessive and my every 2 year pan drop.
The 94Q with 255k and oem transmission gets flushed every 20k [twice a year currently] and had 3 pan drops/cleans/filter changes.
This one is on borrowed time but seems adequate [definitely not as new but has all the gears] at present.
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nadirgholi
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 5:27 pm
- Car: 94' Q45t- 236K miles.
Okay. My take from your response is chemical resurculation is not necessary.
In two weeks it will be two years since I did the last one (35K.) It still has perfect ATF color. My mechanic (Infiniti,and they have BG AT flush machine) is against dropping the pan and even the flush. He says the color is perfect. He is totally against chemical resurculation on high milage Qs.
In two weeks it will be two years since I did the last one (35K.) It still has perfect ATF color. My mechanic (Infiniti,and they have BG AT flush machine) is against dropping the pan and even the flush. He says the color is perfect. He is totally against chemical resurculation on high milage Qs.
should I go to the trouble of droping the pan, prior to a flush to clean the magnet and replace the filter? If so, should I also change the filter after the flushing? Should I use the transmission flush from in the Infinity Parst USA transmission servicing kit, before or after the flush?
Thanks,
Stephen
Thanks,
Stephen
If you want an email pic of what a filthy transmission original filter looks like after a first time dealer flush after 85,000 miles, drop me a line. transmission whined like crazy after the flush, dealer told former owner he now needed a new trans. I bought the car for $1,500 and towed home. DONT'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU. The filter is easily replaceable and you should after a flush.
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Q45tech
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- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
Our $129.95 flush includes BG Quick Clean and 15 total minutes of driving on a lift in each gear to circulate then after the flush a can of BG Conditioner is added. My 2nd transmission used this technique for 178,000 miles getting flushed at least 7 times so the Extra BG chemicals certainaly don't hurt.
DougQ45 wrote:first time dealer flush after 85,000 miles . . . transmission whined like crazy after the flush
Dennis
Two questions
Getting ready at 90K to do a flush with synthetic ATF to keep the Q purring - the above quote really rattled me - with all of your experience on complete flush & fills, have you experienced this transmission "whine" if the transmission was in good shape (no whines, apparent perfect shifting) to start with ?
Second - you mentioned Black Lubegard Quote »Try a 1/4 to 1/2 bottle of Lubegard Black the highly modfied friction component may help..........easy to get too much and cause 4th gear lockup slipping problems............try 3 ounces for a week then another 3 ounces........too much and you'll have to drain all and start over.[/quote] on a J30 thread, same recommendation and concerns regarding a 96 Q ?
Thanks for all of your expertise on the forums - It really is a pleasure to find your breadth of expertise and willingness to share it .
Mike
Mike: Look at the color of your transmission fluid from the dipstick. If it is nice and red (doubtfull unless former owner changed fluid regulary) then you may just want to flush, drop pan and replace filter. If the fluid is brown, have flushed 1X, add cleaner, and flush again, then drop pan and replace filter. keep checking the dipstick for nice red tranns fluid.