Well, I would like to think this way. If Hyundai thinks that the tranny fluid can go 104k miles without change then the filter should not be in that bad condition either. I am curious now if people really change the filter?

The clock keeps ticking, Miami. Hey, don't know about you, but I used to be young and sexy.

Just got over 30k last week, when my car was 4 years on the road. Not planning any tranny fluid change till maybe 45k, but no later than 60k (if I still live by then).

I'll probably do the drain-and-refill at 30K, like I have done with all my cars in the past. I don't do "severe" driving, but it's mostly suburban stop-and-go. I've followed this practice for all cars I've owned, and have never visited a transmission shop yet (just good luck maybe?).

Well at least delhiboy3732's service had more parts to it. A simple Drain & Fill does not seem to cut it, Warranty wise that is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

But that's what the dealer would do, no? I don't think they use the equipment to flush the tranny.

No most Dealers do a Flush. I wish I could flush my arteries every 10 years or so, to remove the pending cloggage. I have been to

a Dealer that uses a Garden Hose for a Coolant Flush, yet my Transmission/Automotive/Armenian guys did a power

Radiatior Flush. Now that is impressive to see (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/trophy.gif)

nice thread..

It is quite funny that you guys think a power flush will clean out the torque converter. Torque Converters DO NOT have a drain hole or plug. They used to have a drain plug some 50 years ago. It is located outside the tranny case in the bell housing. They are bench filled PRIOR to assembly. That TSB that Amsoil posted is a bunch of BS. Using 12 quarts to remove 6 is a waste. All you are doing is getting the last few drops that have coated the throttle body, gears and clutches. Tilting the car forward and to the left will drain all 6 quarts from the tranny case. You may have a few ounces left in the radiator, but that won't matter much.

Second, there is no tranny pan, the filter is not accessible unless you split the tranny case.

Third, because the filter is not accessible and can't be changed regularly, changing out the fluid every 30K miles like the severe schedule states is the best for longevity. Especially for people who drive short trips and in traffic.

This post has been edited by Perry Manessis: Feb 9 2010, 09:56 PM

Your Sonata Born on Date. Why do you have a Korean Model made in August 05? About the Tranny, thanks for the

Information. I am not a flush advocate, except a power Radiator flush. In fact that is the only Flush I ever got. I should

just visit my Armenian guys the next time I'm in L.A. for a drain and fill. Maybe I'll buy two at their low low Armenian prices!

I4 production in the USA didn't start for some 6 months after V6 production started in May 05.

As for your Armenian friends, you always advocate taking the car back to the dealer, even for a simple oil change.

I'll do a search for that one.

Ha, I know what I have said about my Armenian guys. But it was 15 Years since they last helped me. Saw them last month while visiting.

So the 06 I4 was not produced until 11 of 05? That I didn't know. Award winning thread by the way!

If you are talking about the Amsoil TSB posted by me, it does not say to add 12 quarts to remove 6 quarts. It says to add as much as you remove.

Yes, the first I4's were imported, that's why the VIN starts with a KM and later American made I4's VIN start with 5N.

As for the award, just helping people out by giving pointers is all the award I need.

While I knew about the first I4's, I thought they were just importing the I4 Engine,

and were already geared up for American I4 production. You say 11/05 Perry? Wow!

Production start 2004
Production end 2009
Assembly Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Asan, Korea
Chennai, India
Beijing, China

I believe it was 6 months after V6 production started when they actually built I4 cars in Alabama, I could be off my a month or two, don't remember exactly.

They imported the I4 motors and installed them in the Alabama cars until mid 07, when the I4 manufacturing plant started churning out the Theta II motors that went into the 09's and 10's.

This post has been edited by Perry Manessis: Feb 9 2010, 11:10 PM

Mine was assembled Nov 7 2005 in Alabama. The engine is Korean-made.

I was talking about the part where they say that the fluid will come out of the Torque Converter. Torque Converters are located outside the tranny case in the bell housing. You can't drain it unless it has a drain plug or you bench drain it. Torque Converters haven't had drain plugs since the 60's. I said USING 12 quarts to get out 6 is a waste.

You make a good point. Two things cause tranny fluid to age: heat and compression. Inside the torque converter some heat is generated when there's slipping --- but --- modern cars have a magnetic clutch in parallel with the torque converter; it's your lockout. When it engages you may feel a slight bump, almost like the tranny's changing gears. At that point there's no slippage so the heat has time to dissipate. I wouldn't be surprised if you removed the torque converter from a modern car and bench drained it, if the fluid looked new.

Then there's compression, which is what happens when your transmission shifts, probably thousands of times each year. As Perry perceptively pointed out, that fluid's in a separate part of your tranny. It's exposed to the clutches, which are made of cork (?) that grinds away as the tranny shifts, contaminating the fluid. Years ago Cadillacs shifted smoothly but slipped their clutches so much to do it that their trannys didn't last as long as Lincolns, which shifted with a slight bump; less slippage. BTW, the lockup does nothing to lessen the clutch wear on an automatic.

So the transmission manufacturers keep the clean fluid separate from the dirty fluid and a drain and refill changes all the fluid that can be changed.

How an automatic transmission works and, yes, an automatic transmission does have clutches; the article calls them "bands."

This post has been edited by Dennis the Mennis: Feb 11 2010, 08:31 AM

For all I know, when going to my Honda dealership with our Accord, they told me in order to replace the tranny fluid they have to do a drain & fill THREE TIMES (during 3 separate visit, not at the same time), so all the fluid is replaced. One drain and fill doesn't do it. But that might be specific to Honda. who's tranny is designed somewhat differently than "normal" cars (don't ask me more...).

You are saying you had to go back to the Honda Dealer 3 times to Drain your A/T? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

Sounds like a Root Canal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)