Need your advice

[ubtripn]

I think I talked about this mod a long time ago and I did it on my sons Explorer and my other truck and so far so good but I want to be certain on my orange 68.

I have a 700R4 tranny, I have literally lost 3 transmissions in life from flushing or changing the fluid, I know this is a debatable topic but for this conversation let's assume I am going to avoid doing this to my truck.

So I want to put a ball valve with a little T handle in-line with my transmission fluid hose running to or from the radiator. (The kind of valve that changes flow down to an opening.) Every time I change the oil I will open the valve and pull one quart of old fluid and put that much new fluid back in through the dipstick filler tube on top. I figure this will "refresh" or keep the transmission fluid fresh. The rate might be two quarts per oil change, not sure yet.

My concern is that the valve I need to use has a smaller orifice that the hose. The end are tapered and ridged to put and keep each hose on. The question is - will this restrict the flow to the detriment of the transmission?

I believe it will not govern the overall flow but just change the flow rate in that region of the fluid circuit for lack of a better term. But physics can be tricky.

Please tell me what you think. Also, let's not talk about flushing or changing fluids doing or not doing damage to transmission. I know it's not supposed to but for me I am 0 for 3. Thanks all.

[Shinysideup]

If the fluid change "kills" the trans it is already toast,you just didnt realize it yet. I have flushed many and were fine before/after.

[ubtripn]

1993 Ford Explorer, A4LD automatic transmission. Bought for my son and ran perfect. Wanted to do all the preventative maintenance that I could so I had the transmission flushed. This was after driving it for 6 months and the tranny performing optimally. Flush is then done and transmission starts slipping off the line immediately. To, "Dirty it up a bit" I added a small bottle of Lucas which resolved the issue 90%. The Exploder is on the road still 5 years later being driven constantly only like a teenager can. I know the arguments surrounding this debate. i am not saying which is correct or wrong, I am saying what I am planning to do. All I asked was if we could "suspend" that debate and talk about the impact of reducing flow diameter through a small portion of the circuit. Your comment does not help at all and I stated before that I do not disagree with that argument, just that I am not following it so let me say you are right and thank you for the input. I would like to know if anybody has the knowledge related to the mod I am making as that is the road I am taking. Thanks.

[mikeshome]

I don't think I would mess with the lines if you just want to change only a bit of the fluid. I would use a maual vacumn pump and suck out the amount and add the same of new through the dip stick tube.

[ubtripn]

THAT is a good idea I had not thought of. I think there is 13 quarts total, will have to look it up so thank you.Thank you very much indeed.

[ubtripn]

I guess my goal was to incorporate refreshing the tranny fluid with my oil change routine but I could use a pump as well. Thank you for sure.

[treveiger]

I'd be leery about altering the transmission lines. Specially if you want to do it to avoid issues down the road. If I were you I'd look into maybe finding a drain plug drain pan if they make one. Or could possibly turn a stock one into one with a drain plug if you were good at welding.

[ubtripn]

Both great ideas, thank you!

[davepl]

I'd look at something like this. You could fish the hose down the dipstick tube, suck a quart or two out, and replace the exact amount you pulled out.

https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-V...ir+vacuum+pump

[ubtripn]

Thank you, will do!

[Stocker]

I wouldn't want to restrict the fluid flow. If your trans pan has a drain plug, consider replacing it with something like a Fumoto plug. That might make it easier to drain a small amount of fluid. If not, maybe it could be tapped for a plug or replaced with a pan that already has a plug.

[clay68c10]

x2 on sucking it out thru the dipstick tube. If the current fluid is super dark or smells burnt, I wouldn't do too much. If not, 2qts at each oil change should do it some good.

A full flush on something with a lot of miles/wear can kill it, I've seen it a few times as in my career as a tech.

[ubtripn]

2 quarts it is and thanks again everybody.

[57taskforce]

I like this idea a lot, I do have a question tho, short of pulling the pan to begin with, how do you know the condition of the filter? I'm not aiming to fuel the debate your trying to avoid so please don't misunderstand, I'm genuinely asking a question. I'd be interested in doing something like this on my own but not so much on an unknown filter.
I guess what I'm saying is that if we're to do this I'd probably pull the pan and change the filter so I have a good baseline to start from. From there out change a quart or two every oil change.

[garyd1961]

If you start changing the fluid at 30,000 and change it every 30,000 you will be alright. If you have one with more than 80,000 and then change the fluid you will release all the crud stuck to the inside of the trans back into the new fluid.
As a tech we are suppose to recommend fluid changes every 30,000 but I have seen lots of vehicles with more than 250,000 and no fluid changes. I think I would just leave it alone and take my chances.

[muley]

Having never tried this application myself, I don't know how well it would work.
But perhaps try an inline squeeze bulb made for boat gas tanks.

[ubtripn]

All very good thoughts. I guess regarding the filter on a 700R4 it just kind of sits on the bottom not doing alot. Not like an oil filter anyway so I was going to leave it and just refresh the fluid slowly as I went.