Dirty Tranny Fluid Flush...Yes or No

04Dakota220000miles · #1 11-04-2009, 03:22 PM

2004 Dakota SXT 2WD 3.7 Automatic Reg Cab
220,000 miles
possible engine rebuild 60,000 ago
I have owned it for 500 miles.

I do not want to change the fluid and cause the tranny to slip.

Any experience with tranny flushes on higher mileage possibly dirty fluid.

The Shop said that it smelled burnt.

It seems to shift okay. perhaps a little slow 1-2 or 2-3 but nothing too bad it feels.

Any ideas on this tranny?

Not sure when the fluid was changed last before I got the truck.

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04Dakota220000miles · #2 11-04-2009, 03:30 PM

Any tranny conditioner I can use?

Paints-n-cows · #3 11-04-2009, 07:22 PM

I have heard nothing but bad stories about flushing the tranny. If it were me (and mine now has 239,xxx on it) and I were concerned about the fluid, I would change it, drive for a while and then change it again.

Remember that when you change the fluid, you only get what is in the transmission, not the torque converter. That usually holds as much as the tranny itself.

Independentfool · #4 11-04-2009, 10:57 PM

flush the trans. dont believe the crap you hear about how flushing is a bad idea. blah blah blah. ive heard that myth several times over.
guessing you have a 42re, and i imagine with 220k a rebuild is coming soon anyway though. the slow shifts are normal for the trans BTW.

varsis · #5 11-05-2009, 02:33 AM

If you get it rebuilt I suggest getting a shift kit with full firm shifts. It will increase the life of it GREATLY. Also, what does the fluid look like? Is it pink? Most tranny fluid stays clean unless it was contaminated.