transmission fluid flush? yes or no...

[ram5.7hemi]

i have a 2008 dodge ram 15004x4 quad cab... i bought it with 69k on it a couple years ago. now I'm at 119k and the book says to have transmission serviced at 60k and 120k but mine isn't detailed... should i just do a drain and refill with filters replaced or do a complete flush and everything..? I've heard good and bad about transmission flushing..

 

[m4mckeen]

i would do a complete flush and also change both filters in the tranny. its gunna cost some money but it is way cheaper than rebuilding your tranny

 

[chefred112]

I'm on the other side...I would just do filters and change fluid, flushing scares me..

 

[sylver91]

Working in a shop I see both ends of this, sometimes flushing is beneficial and others its pointless.

If you are just doing preventative maintenance and service, filter and fluid is all that is really needed.

Flushing is more required when you have more debris and contamination from high mileage transmissions that get poorer performance overtime or for a transmission thats been contaminated with coolant from a broken rad cooler for example. And yes in some rare cases flushing can get debris logged in somewhere that can cause issues from slipping gears to smoking the whole thing. But this is very unlikely to happen.

 

[emjohn4]

Did you read the manual?

What does it say about transmission flushes?

(Hint - they are specifically NOT recommended by Chrysler).

 

[Harley Harrold]

I just had my filters replaced along with a fluid change at 70K. For better cooling I had a 3500 trans. fluid cooler added along with a Dorman 4x4 trans. fluid pan on my 07' 1500 4x2.
I think this will be very beneficial to a long transmission life span. Twice the cooling, extra quart + of fluid capacity, and a built in drain plug for easier maintenance.

 

[05daytona]

I'm not a huge fan of flushing the transmission either. The only thing I would flush though, is the trans cooler while you have both filters off.

 

[ram5.7hemi]

Did you read the manual?

What does it say about transmission flushes?

(Hint - they are specifically NOT recommended by Chrysler).

thanks for the hint, i couldn't find anything in the manual for flushing or not flushing.

 

[ram5.7hemi]

Working in a shop I see both ends of this, sometimes flushing is beneficial and others its pointless.

If you are just doing preventative maintenance and service, filter and fluid is all that is really needed.

Flushing is more required when you have more debris and contamination from high mileage transmissions that get poorer performance overtime or for a transmission thats been contaminated with coolant from a broken rad cooler for example. And yes in some rare cases flushing can get debris logged in somewhere that can cause issues from slipping gears to smoking the whole thing. But this is very unlikely to happen.

thanks for your reply, I don't think i will have it flushed... most the miles on the truck are highway miles. around 90% and i have not noticed any transmissions slips or not wanting to go into gear etc. runs very ticking good lol.