Transmission shifts hard until fluid is warm

@johnf123_155896, please post back how it works out for you

unfortunately, not every original question poster would post back the finals on if situation improved or they just gave up or took another route

Sure. It might be a couple of weeks, I’m going to have to order a cheap oil pump and do it myself that way I can exchange all the fluid at once with no mess

you will not be able to exchange it all - fluid will still stay in torque converter

IMHO, 2-3 cycles of drain/refill/drive/repeat will get it faster and with less effort

for the price of Import Multi-Vehicle ATF in WallMart, I do not mind the expense

Even if the car is running as I’m doing it? With the method I’m going to use, the car will be running.

Ah, so you are trying to do a “DIY flush” then?

I’m not sure it’s a good idea, besides I’m not even sure you will get better result in the end.

Consider this: if you do drain/fill, then if we assume 60% to be replaced in one go, then you will be down to 16% of old fluid after two iterations, 6% after 3.

If you do “flush”, you will not be able to drain all old fluid in one go, immediately as you start introducing new fluid, it will start getting mixed with old one and you will start dumping down the mixture, not the dirty old one. The ratio of this mix will depend on how fast you introduce the new fluid to compare to the speed of circulation, but something tells me that while spending more effort you will not get substantially (if any) better result.

Go drain/refill, man :slight_smile:

Even with a transmission flush machine there is no way to directly exchange old fluid for new. I wouldn’t want to guess how complete 3 drain and fill cycles would be but it is likely to be at least as successful as a flush.

I’ll be using this guy’s method: (skip to 04:35)

Even if it’s being pumped into the fluid hose input of the trans rather than the dipstick fill port?

you are the one to entertain yourself on this project :slight_smile:

I’m still holding my opinion it’s too much work for diminishing return

I replaced fluid on my 1995 Altima and 2000 Altima, and both times I was something like 5.5 quarts with 10 quarts full capacity

let’s say we have 45% left after the first drain/fill
second one will be 0.45*0.45 => 20.25% left
third cycle: 0.45 * 0.45 * 0.45 => 9% left

since you will buy 4-quart jugs, you will have to get 3 for 2 cycles and 4 for 3 cycles

that’s up to you what you decide to do, I’m just saying from the lazy standpoint

YES, it is nothing what separated old and new fluid, so fluid pump will happily suck the mixture and all rotating parts will whip it up very fast to compare to time you need to introduce the replacement fluid

if you want to spend more money and do it better, go for more cycles

Long story short - I would still need to buy 2 full rounds of ATF to get it to a decent ratio (in this case 20 quarts)?

not exactly

transmission capacity is 10 quarts, but drain plug will allow you to drain only 5.5 quarts or so

each cycle will be roughly 6 quarts

for 2 cycles you will be able to use only 3 galon jugs, they used ot be $17 in Walmart, so $50

I think investing $17 into one more jug (and doing third cycle) will be better than buying pump you will use one time only

I think you’re right. And this is just a simple drain-refill, drain-refill etc without the engine running?

you have to start engine, cycle gears for a minute or two, ideally - drive it for few miles

do not forget, to get that 45% out, you have to get it out of torque converter

Right. Ok, thanks for your help

A specialist transmission shop installed a Ford TC on a Nissan Altima, then filled the transmission with the incorrect fluid? Did that really happen? If so it seems to me the transmission shop should be on the hook to correct all these problems. It’s sort of hard to believe such a thing could happen.

It wasn’t a transmission shop, it was a guy that did it out of his garage who’s worked at AAMCO for like 25 years believe it or not. That’s why we trusted him

Right or wrong I disconnected the trans line to the radiator connected a hose to a 5 gallon bucket, marked off a 5 gallon bucket in quarts, trans holds 12 quarts, poured in trans fluid at the rate it was pouring out, 14 quarts later it was looking spanky new. That was maybe 60k miles ago. Hillbilly trans flush? Got the plan from trailvoy.com. 35k later trans acting a little weird, had a shop do a pan drop and replace the filter. 35k later all is good.

AAMCO is not among favorites on this site forums.
Moreover, many posters recommend running away from them as fast as one can

2 Likes

That explains it then. Plus this guy is considered like the king of the place, he’s like the main guy so go figure. What would be the best alternative?