Flushing all fluids...

[PPro]

Well as winter is approching, I like to spend some time getting my vehicles ready so I dont have to work on them much when its cold. I just finished changing the oil in my truck, and was thinking it may be a good idea to cycle out some of the old fluids and replace them with new. I would also like to start running synthetic fluid wherever I can. I'm using Amsoil 100% synthetic oil, and so far I'm impressed.

I'm thinking:
Tranny
Coolent
and like I said, the oil is already done.

The problem is, I dont have any experience changing either of those. All I've ever done is top them off when they get low.

Im good with my hands, and haven't found something I can't do yet, I just have never done these two items. If anyone has any links/pictures/tutorials to flushing/changing the fluid listed up top that would be great.

Also, is there anything else I should be looking at doing before winter?

Thanks!

 

[MONMIX]

both tasks are cake.

Serch for posts by Aldive, with the title tranny flush ( or some thing simular ) he did a great write up.

As far as cooling it is easy too. Prestone has a flush formula. You drain your rad, fill with water and this stuff and then drain it again. Worked well for me.

A brake flush and a power steering flush may be in your future as well, but not nessicarily immediate.

The only other pre winter ritual I would reccomend is a fresh coat of wax.

 

[PPro]

Fresh coat of wax is already done.

I'll check out some of Al's posts about the tranny flush. Thanks Monmix.

 

[rattleheadXLT]

How often are these fluids really good for? I know they arnt something on the frequent side like oil but in the 4 years ive had my Explorer i cant remember any fluid flushings, just topping off. Break fluid keeps the breaks functional, transmission doesnt hickup and power steering is still solid so id assume i would anticipate when they'd need to be flushed, or is it a time/mileage type deal?

 

[Bill Kemp]

RattleheadXLT, it's just preventive maint. Rad. fluid is usually two yrs. unless the veh. came w/DexCool. Trans. 30 to 50K. Brake & power steering are not usually on a sched. but with the sensors used for brakes now they are effected by moisture if any is in the fluid so a change is sometimes a good thing. If you ever had to change your rack & pinion(I did) you would change your power steering fluid every couple of years.
Having said that, most people never change anything and have no problems. Especially if the veh. is mostly a grocery getter. More/harder use = more maint.

 

[PPro]

Well I bought my truck used '02 Sport. And I'm at 50k now. I dont know how well the previous owner took care of it, so I'm just trying to do some things on my own to keep it running well. I also would like to get all synthetic fluid in it at one point.

I'll prob do the tranny and radiator here this week.

 

[MONMIX]

like many things in the average automobile the degradion is gradual. Take power steering for example. I can say as a first hand witness, you dump out all the junk PS fluid and refill it with fresh ( preferable synthetic ) fluid, all of a sudden the steering feels a bit less mushy. Brakes, same thing.

 

[PPro]

Right, thats kinda the plan. My tranny hasn't been shifting as well as it used to, although I still wouldn't say its shifting "bad." I figure a good, clean synthetic fluid in there should help things.

 

[blast7]

How many miles does your vehicle have? Any current leaks? These are things to keep in mind when changing over to synthetic.

 

[PPro]

Its got 52k on it now, and no leaks that I know of. I park over a clean piece of cardboard in the garage so I am notified of leaks asap.

Synthetic should be fine.

 

[PS94]

Hey, I'm doing the same thing, and came across this thread in a search.....IIRC, these Bad Sally's take Mercon/Dex III in the tranny, t-case and power steering, right? was -20C this moring, and winter has just begun, so a full synthetic treatment is on the way....Shoulda heard the old OHV rattle when she started...and it's only 4 years old!

And - what do the front diffs take?