[Shotimes] Re: ATX, "lugging" and flushing

[MonsieurBoo@aol.com]

>>> "The PCM won't allow you to lug it. Lugging isn't just running at a low 
RPM,
it is running at a low RPM with a heavy load on it. The PCM will see that
and downshift."

Paul L Fisher
================================

That makes sense.  Actually I try to stay away from those.  Doing all I can 
to baby my 10 y/o ATX.  

Re:  flushing and filters.  Well, it all depends.  If the direction of the 
flush is against the normal flow direction it will lift stuff off the filter and 
send it backwards through the relevant parts of the tranny.  I guess this 
constitutes "cleaning the filter", but according to Murphy, if it doesn't come 
all the way out, it will end up stuck in the worst possible spot.  Conversely, 
if the direction of the flush is the same as the normal flow direction, you 
could end up with a bunch of non-soluble material coming downstream and not 
getting past the filter on the way out, possibly causing it to clog.  Clogged 
filter --> gorked tranny.

The latter scenario is apparently the most common one because the majority of 
flush machines are the kind that hook up externally to the tranny cooler 
lines.  They generally don't add any extra pressure at all (so that part of the 
warning is a granny's tale), but they work by turning on the car engine, putting 
it in gear (if needed) and using the tranny's fluid pump to move the old 
fluid out and suck new fluid in.  This causes a gradual dilution of the old fluid 
and you keep it up till it "runs clear".  BTW since the pump is part of YOUR 
CAR, if you feel ingenious you can do this at home with a big container of new 
ATF perched off the ground and a big pan under the car But I know none of you 
would ever chance that!  <GRIN>

Naturally with this style of purging, the ATF flows in the usual direction so 
you have to watch for insoluble stuff clogging the filter.  Which, of course, 
you can't do without dropping the pan...

This is the main reason why there is one camp who says, if your fluid is 
really old and skanky, don't flush it.  I would amend that to say, don't flush it 
blindly -- i.e. without dropping the pan.  If it's old and skanky ... it 
SHOULD be flushed.

There is a type of flusher that hooks up to the pump itself which, of course, 
requires popping the pan.  With this approach, because there is minimal 
recirculation of the old fluid, the new fluid stays almost pristine.  Obviously it 
provides a golden opportunity to change the filter.  Because of the extra 
labor these almost always cost more.  They are also less common.  

People always start mentioning these cautions when this subject comes up on 
other lists, so I just wanted to bring them up here for discussion too.   
Personally I think the purge is a great concept but I'd always spend the extra to 
scunge out the pan and change the filter at the same time.

Cheers,
mark LaBarre
94 atx 125k