The other day, I was looking at my maintenance records and noticed I'm due for an ATF flush in roughly 10,000 km (6,250 miles). As my transmission was already treated with ARX, I reckoned it wouldnt hurt to add 45 ml (1.5 ounces) of ARX to the ATF until the 10,000 km mark. I thought nothing of it, but when I drove the truck afterwards there was a noticeable difference. The shifts were smooth, but now you do not feel the shifts at all. I also had a problem this sorted out - when I shifted into reverse, I would have to wait a second or two before giving it a bit of gas or else it would spin the rear wheels followed by a bang.
Now I'm wondering...when roughly 1,500 km (~1,000 miles) before it's time to flush, would it be worth topping up the ARX so I have half a bottle in the transmission? I'm now considering cleaning my transmission each time I'm due for an ATF flush. Thank you.
ok, I'm not altogether sure everything you are asking, but I would not necesarily run with ARX in there all the time unless a small amount in there helps your unit in a noticeably positive way. I would go easy on ARX in there all the time as it could affect the coefficient of friction in the clutches. You mentioned that now you don't even feel the shifts. I like to feel my shifts some. Let's me know there is no excessive slipping in the clutches between shifts. Generally you want to run a 6 oz dose for about 1000-1500 miles before a complete flush-out with new ATF. I don't see a problem doing this every time as long as you are actually doing a complete flush afterwards.
ARX has esters in it and esters will affect friction some. Clutch engagement and shift feel are affected by fluid viscosity, friction characteristic, and system pressures. The ARX is there to clean contaminants from the metal and anything that would affect proper operation of any of the valves that control the fluid circuits which operate the unit.
Many thanks for the response, and all the useful information! My question was a bit confusing, sorry...what I wanted to ask was this. I decided I would treat my transmission with ARX before every service, and this time I only added a small dose - which made quite a difference. Would it be worth topping up the fluid to 6 oz. about 1,000-1,500 miles before I actually perform the fluid change, or would the 1.5 oz. I've had in there for 6,250 miles be enough?
That being said, I understand the esters in ARX will affect friction in the transmission. But since adding the 1.5 oz. to the ATF, my fuel consumption went from 16 MPG to 18 MPG! The get-up-and-go has also improved quite a bit, as there seems to be more torque from a standstill.
I am curious it almost seems like you have a continual cleaning going on ? did you drain your torque converter on initial Auto-Rx Application ? can think of no reason why you would need more cleaning than standard Auto-Rx Application provides.
It sounds like the last time you changed your fluid with Auto-Rx in there that you did not get out all of the old fluid. This is what I did when I drained my fluid:
1) I did my own T-Tech through the cooler lines 2) I would then drain the fluid in the pan every 2 weeks until it looked perfectly clean.
My feeling is that after a treatment of Auto-Rx in the transmission that cleaning and some junk will keep being suspended for a short amount of time. How many miles were on the trans when you changed the fluid. I hope you dropped the pan and changed the filter when this was done since when I dropped my pan there was a layer of goo all over the bottom of the transmission pan.
Many thanks for the responses. The last time I did a transmission flush, I had the technican drop the pan, clean the screen filter, replace all gaskets and refill. After that, the cooler line was opened and new, fresh ATF was poured in until the fluid changed color. The ATF is a nice, brightish red color.
I have religiously changed my ATF every 35,000 km (22,000 miles), and right now it's been 27,000 km (17,000 miles) since the last ATF flush.
I am confused is this the manual application you describe that your mechanic did ? if not than I believe your torque converter is still fulll of contaminants. A T-Tec Cleaning is so much easier and faster.
For Do-It-Yourself Mechanics Only (technical expertise required)
If you are willing to do it yourself here's our recommendation. Install 6 oz's of Auto-RX and run 1000-1500 miles to clean the transmission.
THEN drop pan, change filter, reinstall. Measuring the old fluid in pan into a milk bottle type container, install that amount of new ATF back into transmission. Disconnect BOTH ATF cooler lines at radiator and place a container or pan under each line end (helps to have an assistant). Start engine, shut down after 1 or 2 quarts have come out one of the lines. Refill exact amount of fresh fluid in transmission (this keeps air out of the system).
Start engine again and repeat until clean fluid is coming out of cooler line. This is messy and time consuming but will purge all old ATF from transmission and torque converter. Reinstall cooler lines and start car, cycle through gears, place in park and check level per owners manual. Check for leaks. Top up as necessary after driving and heated up. Don't overfill.
You just safely flushed the whole system, no T-TEC $ cost and Auto-RX has removed the dirt and contamination from your transmission.
