How to do a Transmission Flush at Home for $12 

Suggestion; The Process ... Drop the transmission pan and drain all the Trans Fluid. Clean the pan and magnets and if its a paper filter replace - - if its a metal screens filter clean and reinstall. Always undo the filter, you'll always get an additional pint or quart. Put everything back - - add the same amount of fluid (6qts comes out, add 6 qts). Do not start your car .... then undo the transmission lines and attach clear plastic lines from each into a a small bucket that has a level line for up to one quart. Start car DO NOT REV THE ENGINE once you start fluid (old) will go into the bucket (you will now see the fluid entering from one line and the other nothing). Once the bucket has a quart in it stop and a new clean quart of fluid ...Start the process again. Once you get to the third quart you will see the color changing from a dark maroon to a light red. At this point you can continue or stop. This is the best most fluid effiecnt way .. not to mention there is no way to damage the trans ...

If you don't know which is which start the engine and hold both lines and the one that gets warm first is coming from the trans.

You can pour in new fluid as the old comes out. When you have a quart in the pan you add a quart of the new, and keep on like that. When you see 3 quarts in the pan you should have 3 new quarts added, and when you see the dark fluid coming out of the drain hoses and it suddenly changes to clean fluid, you can shut the car off, reconnect the hoses and top it off and go for a test drive. I've done this several times with my old '91 Dodge and it started shifting and sounding like new again. Mine likes clean fluid. Make sure you use the right kind of fluid for your vehicle. I use the right kind but a cheap brand and have had wonderful results. You don't have to run the pump dry.

A little late to the party, but the problems Dodge was having with the transmissions in those trucks had a lot to do with 2 things. 1) the silicone check ball in that lower transmission hose where the hose mounts to the hard line coming from the transmission. The ball would melt and plug the line. You can replace the hoses using a couple of hose 4an x 3/8 hose barbs and some 3/8 hoses. 2) was when you turn off the overdrive you for some reason it stops pumping fluid to the O/D unit. This can be resolved by installing a Sonnax Sure Cure kit in the valve body so it isn't a repair to do if you are new to working on cars. The 46RH/E transmissions are actually really good and very strong, they just had some design flaws from the factory that need to be addressed. Cheers

Done this many times. It works so well. I use fuel lines so it fits snuggly.

I do it this way, too. I have only replaced the filters once. I have Fords, a 2004 and a 2006. Both are Florida cars with original transmissions. 227K miles and 153K miles.

I've done this for years and used it to flush out some nasty transmissions. With no issues. I keep it topped off as it pumps. You can go through a lot of transmission fluid this way but it does work good. Oh and I always pull the pan and clean the magnets in the pan.

Good tips! I have a hand pump that I got from Harbor Freight. It has a hose long enough to get all the way down the dipstick tube. I usually start with that before I change out transmission filters. I haven't had a reason to flush anything yet.

I shoved some 1/4" tubing down my dipstick and siphoned it into a bucket. It took 10+ feet of line and yes, it was slow going and a lil tricky to get the siphon started (I attached a Windex squirt spray bottle to the tubing), but there was practically no mess.

Awesome video Randy. Really love the working videos. Easy flush and thanks for sharing it!!!

In my earlier days of automotive I thought you had to bring it to a shop so they can use their machine but then I found the tranny line method on RU-vid - proof that there’s almost always a cheap, free, or DIY alternative to what people with a shop can do. Doesn’t always mean it’s very safe

I have been doing the same thing for years and it works great, and imma give 👍👍👍👍👍 beacause I am a firm believer in the lucas products

The transmission flush, here where I live in B.C. Canada, costs $202 CAD. THANKS, Randy!👍🍷

Nice video Randy. I love these educational videos. Keep them up it helps so many of us here!! Thumbs up!!

You gotta cycle the gears and do it neutral to get the trans pump moving. Great idea taking the hoses !

Y have I NEVER thought of taping the hose to the bucket??? #learninglifelessons

My FJ has a "sealed" (no dip-stick) transmission and this approach can be used on any transmission: 1. Disconnect the radiator "out-fall" line. 2. Install a radiator drain-line into a opaque gallon container. 3. Install a funnel with extension line onto the return line. 4. Run engine, replacing equal Fresh with drained. 5. When drained gallon is full, shut off engine for a second container and second Fresh gallon. 6. Repeat for some 3.x gallons until out-fall is pink. 7. Pull transmission over-full plug (or dip-stick) to ensure transmission is topped off full and adjust as necessary.

Keep up the great work thanks for the awesome content

As a Valvoline worker: this is a really cheap way, that can be inconsistent on certain vehicles, to flush transmission. Funny enough, it’s actually pretty close to how the main machine (not made by Valvoline) works, though the usual machine is often faster and doesn’t require you to gas the engine, as the machine does most of the pumping *while the engine is off.*

Thumbs up and subscribed after I heard what you said at 3:43 - "... just preventative maintenance so that the next guy that gets it...". Good attitude and awesome video!

I usually drop the pan and clean it. it's not a flush but gets the sludge from the bottom.

I do the same thing but remove 2 qts then add 2 qts and so on until you see the clean red fluid.

thanks this is refreshing and practical. Reading the boards on this subject is frustrating at the least.

If you’re have some slipping issues, Lucas transmission fix/stop slip works great!

Scotty Kilmer APPROVES this message. :p

Had a disaster with Toyota Sienna, Radiator burst, mixing coolant with transmission oil and everything was thick purple. Changed radiator and gave it to shop to flush the transmission. Still was getting purple color in transmission. Had drain and fill two times, but the transmission oil was purple. now I can do the flush at home saving tons of money. Thanks

the old trans fluid comes in great for using in a wood STOVE INSIDE a shop in the winter month ANOTHER way to get rid of it.😊

Great video 👍, I plan on doing this to my Trailblazer.

Love it sir. Do a radiator flush. Thanx for the video. 👌👍👍👍👍

Hey randy! Can't wait to watch this

i fell off your videos a while back right before you started doing work with the beard guy. right now im loving your content! keep it up man, you have over 100k more subs than when i first subbed.

Great tip. Thanks.

You could have used handle on bucket to attach hoses to. Also cable ties put in the wrong way round (smooth not notched side) are handy to temporarily hold things.

Man I seen this 2 years ago and I said to myself hey I should try this thank you so much for this

Correction: $72 [or so], assuming 5 quarts plus a pan gasket. And that's if you already have tools. If you only drop the pan and refill that, yeah it can be done for less but... many systems that only replaces about half of fluid. It is not 1982. As for in/out at the radiator... there is a ton of bad information out there [some of it professionally published], plus different car manufacturers do things differently. So, best engineering practice for thermal efficiency from an intercooler? Counterflow: if radiator flows top to bottom, tranmission fluid should flow bottom to top. In the case of purely side to side flow [with a vertical intercooler], then don't worry about it, except where intercooler is horizontal like you might find in a Tacoma and others - then again, you want counterflow . A radiator with sectioned baffles inside making coolant follow an S pattern is basically a side to side design. If you are refilling a transmission as system pumps out/engine running, a handy tool is a 5 quart paint mixing bucket from a paint store- they have gradations on the side. If you can't keep up on the refill while running [quart for quart] shut it down/get it topped off, and then go again. Losing prime on the transmission pump isn't a service - its a rebuild in many cases.

Some Dodge transmission pumps do not run in park. Needs to be in neutral for full flow.

Pretty good but I’ll stick to doing it the messy way- just been doing it thru the pan for 35 years. So I don’t make much of a mess after the years of experience.

I've done with with cars that you can change the filter on, As well as lifting the drive-wheels up and going through all the gears. Never had an issue with it before, and 2 of the cars are still on the road today.

You rock brother

It's a Dodge, the transmission needs to be in neutral in order for the fluid to flow without having to give it gas. It also has to be checked while in neutral. Your method works like the t-tech, only difference is how you fill it. And that was my question when looking for your video. How to fill it safely? Good video thanks!

I just did my first transmission flush on my 2008 Ford ranger. quick question how do you know you got all the oil out of the torque converter? I connected a hose to the lower oil cooler line and had my truck in park running while I kept adding more and more new fluid to flush it, but when I completely drained it. I removed the pan there was hardly any fluid in it at all (less than half a quart) does that mean I got the fluid out of the torque converter ?

Lucas is not good for modern transmissions too thick and if you live in a cold climate it jels up the fluid causing poor shifting just my personal experience

Liked vid, very helpful, let's add roll in their entirety

What your saying is very true remember tho not all transmission can be so simple. You have some transmission that you have to have the car up on a lift to even check the fluid in transmission. If you have a car with no transmission dipstick then your going need more time and some special tool that can pump fluid back into the transmission.

Hey man, thank you very much for posting this. Very helpful. One question: you said that at some point during the old fluid drain, before adding any fresh fluid, would be a good time to turn off and drop the pan, change filter etc. When exactly is that? Do I just go by time (5-6 mins of draining)? or volume of dirty fluid collected? Would appreciate some guidance. Thanks!

Next time put the Lucas on the warm motor and it will make it easy to pour in. Great video 💯

Nice job and very informative.

changing fluid every 40k is key just drain and refil

in the fluid transmission circuit; there is often a temperature valve that opens the circuit toward the cooler; mine opens at 75°celcius

Put it in neutral and it will flow without revving the engine.

Thank you!!

Can I run a hose from a new bottle of fluid to the inlet while pumping out the old fluid at the same time? That way I can activate the pump and get a good flush. I don't care if I have to refill the sump after the filter change.

Great DIY

I smell the burnt automatic oil till here in Holland haha

Thank u for the good job.. Is it possible that you connect the inline to the new oil to be sucked in? Because i dont have dipstick in my car, and thank you

I've been waiting too long. Gotta get mine changed on my '01 Maxima and '12 Genesis coupe. Both are at 130k miles.

Those dodges are known to have trans issues. my cousin always had to add lucas to his dodge trucks. and it would fix the issue for like a year then in a year he had issues again and changed the fluid again and added more lucas and it was good again for anther year. He did that until the frame rusted out and then it went to the salvage yard.

Keep up the good work. Just ignore the hate!

That's what up. Thanks you.

Not squad! Keep it up

Thank you man

Why couldn't you run a clean bucket with new fluid back through the inlet side at the same time?

when it comes to transmission services make like nike and just do it. great vid.

When you see the video before you get the notification

Randy, there is a misconception regarding transmission flushes/fluid exchange/and drain & refill! What you are doing is primarily a fluid exchange which is fine for what your doing! The big problem can be is with an actually flush, where you actually hookup a flush machine that runs high pressure chemical cleaning agent along with clean fluid thru your transmission lines, which can be done at dealerships, or a maintenance repair shop! A flush can cause problems as you've mentioned, to a transmission that has NOT had these types of services regularly throughout its life (that's where the damage can be caused)! That when its best to do a fluid exchange, or a Drain & refill (which can be done on most Japanese Imports, since most of them have a drain plug on there transmission pan)! That will allow you to incorporate new fluid with old fluid, and not causing to much of a shock to your transmission! Keep up the good work Randy!!!

Randy, did you say wally world ? Thought that was a theme park in the national lampoon film lol

You need to start having a Budget Bulletin on the top right of your videos showing what you have in a vehicle so we can follow its progress. How much you have invested in the Dodge?

thank, you for you're video.🙏

Enjoyed the video Randy don't pay attention to the haters hope your having a good weekend 👍 watching from the UK

Amazing video! I've a question tho : My Kia service manual do suggests this exact procedure, perhaps the only difference is that they suggest doing 1 quarter, then turn off the engine + add one quarter and repeat ;also they suggest using the draining plug right after the first and replace what falls through there, but they don't say anything about the filter. My question is, is it too necessary to change it? Some mechanics say no because the filter only catches large pieces, I can import the filter but getting a mechanic that actually accepts to change it is the messy part. Thank you so much in advance

Can you just have one bucket with clean oil going in the inlet and dirty oil comming out the other pipe into the other bucket until oil runs clean?

I had no signs at all, my transmission just decided to slip after a full stop out of blue. Goes into first but slups out second. There was no warning oe symptoms. What you think?

Very helpful Bro😎🤘

Dodgers only pump fluid in gear or neutral the pump doesn't work in park

I can smell that burnt atf just watching this video😂🤣

This is epic hopefully works on my 01 powerstroke

When I was about 18 I had a car that quit moving at all, my dad poured brake fluid in my transmission and got the car moving and I drove it another 2 years

What do you think about ATP AT-200 transmission cooler flush

The pump on dodge rams only really work when in neutral

I love dodge my dakota has 212k on it with the original trans never rebuilt because i adjust the bands when needed and replace that solenoid so. Next time you get a dodge you shpuld adjust the bands and replace the governer pressure control solenoid.

Awsome little hack, just subed thx

I don't recommend a transmission flush. My car ran fine until a shop suggested one. Since then my engine runs rough. Smooth prior.

hey man i wonder if you would know this i have a ford fusion 08 i had someone change a transmission and the mechanic did not even mind to check the transmission like if it had any risidual of and old oil or any and filled it with atm and i drove it for a bit then the car drove like never before asoon as trans got hot it went to neutral and well i did not trust to go back so what should i do like u said if it on the way out i was thinking to flush the oil idk is it savable

Much quieter since you had the new cat put on...

Just do pan drop and filter change annually and you're good if you start from good.

Good video helped me solve a p0740 po

I expect to see a thumbnail clip of this from Scotty with a headline of how changing your fluid like this is wrong. 😂 True story in my experience if you change fluid that is dark and has metal particulates in it with new fluid the difference in viscosity and lack of shavings will then cause the transmission to shift poorly or even begin to slip. Crazy I know but it’s science. I do like the creative trans flush system! That’s pretty slick.

I found it best to drop the pan ONLY and replace the filter and not just a flush.

Wallyworld? Everyone's favorite family fun park sells Buckets? I got mine at Kmart.

On my 95 GMC Yukon, I am going to try taking the fluid out from the oil cooler exit connector and also from the tube that sends oil to the cooler from the tranny (and disposing of what comes out). And then filling through the tube that sends oil back to the tranny from the cooler and then also through the intake connector on the oil cooler. That way I would get a double loop of cleaning. Any place that I would use as a removal point would then be mirrored by a replacement point. I want to try this so that I can clean out anything that may be in-between the cooler and the tranny. I don't think the pump can do this all alone and still give a complete flush. I may also add some Lucas as I am doing this to give the system a good coating of it with new fluid that is used once and then removed. Does this raise any red flags? Danger Danger Will Robinson????

You should of showed which hose is the outlet.....!

Can this method be used I'm cases where water has mixed with the oil in the transmission?

I have a question my 2001 Dodge ram 1500 was low on transmission fluid and I put regular transmission fluid in it will it hurt my transmission it was any one quart

Great way to fry the transmission for the new owner by using Lucas. I love Lucas products and have been using them for years. The truth is when it comes to engines they are great, when it comes to hydraulic systems or transmissions steer clear. They expand seals and prevent lubrication of gears.

I’m just a little confused if this applies to most vehicles? Because you did say this has a transmission cooler from the radiator

ah you got me with the clickbait

I should try this on my Toyota.

Definitely a home made system but if you're happy and clean trany fluid is a mess when it gets spilled . But I like you being honest about different people's views sunburned good summer bad just do what makes you happy . But what's the news on a shop location you showed us a few possible location any more yes it's a lot of $$$$$ but in the long run .

Put the truck in neutral and the fluid will flow out fast without acceleration

The trick is to put it in neutral.... That will pump the fluid out.