Should I flush 04 STX ATX?

bmohr225 · Post by **bmohr225** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:08 pm

I got this car with 135k on it. It's in great condition but i'm almost positive that the tranny fluids never been changed on it. It's most definitely not a clear cherry color. More like clear brown or green. I was told that at this point it wouldn't be wise to get a fluid change or flush, and that it also wasnt a good idea to break the seal on the filter pan. So what should I do? Just leave it alone?

Alex Kurdian · Post by **Alex Kurdian** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:33 pm

mate my car was fine until i flushed it for the 1st time ...and let me say it has suxed dogs balls...3 times Chrysler sealed the pan and each time its still leaking...i got my mechanic to seal it and it was fine for a couple of months and now somewhere again its leaking...I've had it up to here with Auto transmissions...they suck...!

bmohr225 · Post by **bmohr225** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:10 pm

I'm going to take that as a no-go on the flush. Thanks, I just wanted to know if this was true or not. Real life story confirms it.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:27 am

It shouldn't be green in color by any means. If it is greenish, that most likely means that antifreeze is mixing with the fluid and your transmission will be gone very shortly. If so, stop driving it now! You'll most likely need a new radiator as well as a flush anyways.

As for a proper way to flush the transmission, take the return line off and keep running the transmission in drive letting the old fluid drain into a pan. Put it back in park, top it off again, and repeat until the fluid is the proper color.

You should also change the filter. I've just used gaskets, torqued the bolts in proper order, and no leaks.

bmohr225 · Post by **bmohr225** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:55 am

Okay I went out and checked it and it's not green, my bad. It's a clear rusty color, still has a little red in it. I also might add that the lucas treatment has been added to this tranny.

The research I did online stated that if I were to do a transmission fluid change for the first time after this long that my transmission would just break because at this point it's relying on the dust and shaving and if they were to go away I would be left with slippage.

This is not true?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:05 am

bmohr225 wrote:The research I did online stated that if I were to do a transmission fluid change for the first time after this long that my transmission would just break because at this point it's relying on the dust and shaving and if they were to go away I would be left with slippage.

This is not true?

It's an old wives tale. Having anything floating around in your trans is bad, even if it is part of the clutch-packs. The only reason they fail is due to improper servicing (too much fluid, not enough fluid, wrong type of fluid) or horrible mistreatment over their lifespan. It just happens that you hear about it because people who have a problem are more likely to go online and blog about it rather than someone who had no problems.

If you take it to a shop that knows what they're doing, you shouldn't have any problems. Trans fluid changes aren't that hard, but they can be if not done correctly.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:28 pm

Usually ATX's that die after a fluid change were going to die anyways. The new fluid had nothing to do with it. But because it happened shortly afterwards, they think that's what caused it, not the miles/years of previous neglect.

The best thing you can do is get an external cooler, and bypass the one in the radiator. As darthroush already mentioned this, it has become a fairly common problem in the last few years, as out cars have been aging.

If you live where it gets cold, a Perma Cool thermostat is recommended. Too low ATF temp does affect the 41te's shifting.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:10 pm

Just don't have a machine backflush done on it (the most popular way to do it). Flush it with the cooler lines.

bmohr225 · Post by **bmohr225** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:58 pm

darthroush wrote:Just don't have a machine backflush done on it (the most popular way to do it). Flush it with the cooler lines.

Okay I don't understand. Where could I get this done and know that that's the way they're going to do it...?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:10 pm

You can do it yourself...see post 4. If you want someone else to do it, you could take it to a shop and explain that you don't want a machine flush.

stairmaster3001 · Post by **stairmaster3001** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:46 pm

it would be easy if dodge made a drain plug for the atx trannys but i pulled my pan and put a new filter and fluid and it was fine. What the best thingto do to prevent leaks is to get a whole new pan and the grey gasket sealer and put a thin layer on the gasket. i never had any leaks with my atx neon.

bmohr225 · Post by **bmohr225** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:27 pm

Post 4?

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:02 pm

Post #4

darthroush wrote:It shouldn't be green in color by any means. If it is greenish, that most likely means that antifreeze is mixing with the fluid and your transmission will be gone very shortly. If so, stop driving it now! You'll most likely need a new radiator as well as a flush anyways.

As for a proper way to flush the transmission, take the return line off and keep running the transmission in drive letting the old fluid drain into a pan. Put it back in park, top it off again, and repeat until the fluid is the proper color.

You should also change the filter. I've just used gaskets, torqued the bolts in proper order, and no leaks.

2GN.ORG

Should I flush 04 STX ATX?

Should I flush 04 STX ATX?

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