Transmission Flush

KYDeepwater · 12-27-2006, 10:27 AM

I am ready to hit 50,000 miles, and thought about having the power transmission flush done on my 2004 Titan. Called three dealers around me, and they don't have the machine. Called one dealer near my work in northern Cincinnati, they have it but it isn't working. The service tells me how crappy the system is, and it is always broke. Anyway, he tells me the flush is overpriced and not really necessary. He tells me to do a drain and fill, 4 3/4 quarts of fresh fluid, and remove the screen and blow it out with air. He said this is about as good as the flush if done every 50,000 or so. I went and bought 5 quarts of J-matic fluid. Has anyone dropped the pan and removed the screen? Haven't seen one yet. Other trucks I've had used a filter that you replaced with a new one. Any thoughts?

bestatchess · 12-27-2006, 11:33 AM

I think there is something about flushing via the ATF cooler lines in the service manual that involves adding new fluid while the old drains out. I was thinking about doing it in the driveway, but I finally decided just to let the dealer do it with the flush machine.

FlimFlamMan · 12-28-2006, 07:32 PM

Yeah our tranny alone is worth thousands of dollars. I'd play it safe and have the dealer do it like BAC did. Just my .02c

*car* · 12-30-2006, 02:51 AM

forget the screen, just pull the drain plug and re-fill

Sir eel Green · 12-30-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by car

forget the screen, just pull the drain plug and re-fill

What evidence do you have to support this theory? the screen may build up with deposits, causing poor flow and tranny failure. When this occurs is the big question, 100k, 150k, 200k?

*car* · 12-30-2006, 01:54 PM

There is nothing in the nissan service manual that says to clean a screen. They dont even require oil changes.

If your aware of a screen and want to clean it, go for it, Im just saying I wouldnt worry about it.

bigjimbo · 12-30-2006, 03:59 PM

I did it on my tacoma. Drained fluid and replaced the filter.....cost me like $30 total. If you tow a lot, beat on it, or play in the mud....do it...If not I wouldn't worry so much.

**redneckpapa1996** · 12-30-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by car

forget the screen, just pull the drain plug and re-fill

I had mine done at 50,000 miles back in the spring and was told by the service manager that the titans did not have a filter to change like the others...He said it is a pick up screen similar to an oilpump that would be flushed when they flushed it with the machine...

*car* · 12-30-2006, 04:53 PM

so this screen doesnt "filter" at all then? If its like a "pick up" screen, it shouldnt be very dirty. Cleaning the bottom of the pan will probably be all you should concern yourself with.

jessefrank · 12-30-2006, 06:43 PM

I did the DIY flush on my 03 Maxima (remove the trans cooler return line and add fresh fluid as the old drains out) and also did the pan drop and screen cleaning. The machine flush at the dealer was way too expensive and dropping the pan was not part of the flush procedures. I to was uncertain about cleaning the screen and the added hassle of removing the pan, but was glad I had. After draining the fluid I dropped the pan and noticed a lot of metal shavings still in the pan and there as a sort of a sludge/film stuck to the bottom of the pan. This would have not drained out by just removing the drain plug. I used brake cleaner and rags to get it off. As for the screen there was a few metal shavings stuck in it and there was a little of that film stuck to it as well. I just sprayed it off with brake cleaner and replaced it. My Maxima had the screen too and not a "filter", like in the titan's tranny. The screen is just that, a screen and not like other transmission "filters" I've seen for other vehicles.

I would definately recomend dropping the pan and cleaning it out, especially since you have 50k miles on your titan (I had 33k on my Max at the time). While you are in there you might as well clean the screen too. I know the trannies are different (the max used the 4 spd auto), but I don't see why there would be a huge difference in the results. From what I saw I'm probably going to change my fluid at 20k and evaluate service intervals from what I find.
If you do decide to drop the pan, let us know what you find and the condition of your fluid.

-Jesse