Accidental Transmission Flush...

[JohnnyOshow22]

1997 LX450 282,000 miles

So Sunday I did an accidental transmission flush... The original (I am assuming they are original) softlines that come from the tranny to the trans cooler (line #1) and from the cooler to the bottom radiator (line #2) finally gave up. For the longest time I thought my steering gear box was leaking but that was not the case. It pumped out 5 quarts before I realized something was wrong. They failed on the engine bay side. As they pass through the radiator support area they turn into a short hardline then switch back to a softline where they then plug into the cooler.

For those who have higher mileage rigs you should check those or if you think something else is leaking. You need to take out the battery box to get to the hoses and I had to undo the front part of the inner fender and pry it away to get the lines on and off. Was a huge pita.

Thanks to @trout bum for coming to my aid.

 

[sbman]

At the age these trucks are, pretty much any hose carrying anything whether it's fuel, oil, trans fluid, or vacuum, it's ready for replacement simply due to age. There's a lot of hoses to look after, and almost any of one of them can cause a serious problem on the road.

 

[baldilocks]

1997 LX450 282,000 miles

So Sunday I did an accidental transmission flush... The original (I am assuming they are original) softlines that come from the tranny to the trans cooler (line #1) and from the cooler to the bottom radiator (line #2) finally gave up. For the longest time I thought my steering gear box was leaking but that was not the case. It pumped out 5 quarts before I realized something was wrong. They failed on the engine bay side. As they pass through the radiator support area they turn into a short hardline then switch back to a softline where they then plug into the cooler.

For those who have higher mileage rigs you should check those or if you think something else is leaking. You need to take out the battery box to get to the hoses and I had to undo the front part of the inner fender and pry it away to get the lines on and off. Was a huge pita.

Thanks to @trout bum for coming to my aid.

View attachment 1448238

Did use oem hoses or generic hydraulic hose?

 

[slow95z]

Did use oem hoses or generic hydraulic hose?

we all know if it wasnt OEM hose then the truck is a total loss.

 

[baldilocks]

we all know if it wasnt OEM hose then the truck is a total loss.

The two hoses off the trans cooler are the only two I have not replaced yet as they seem much newer than 24 years but it would probably be a good idea anyway. I used generic hose in an SAE dimension 1/2" ,I think, for the PS return hose but it's a little bit smaller than the metric hose it replaced.
Just wondered what he used and how it worked out.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

It was generic from autozone. I plan on redoing it soon with the correct type of hose and bypassing the short hard lines because they were such a pain. This was a situation where it was a quick and dirty in a hot parking lot...

Just trying to get awareness out there on this hose as I doubt these have ever been changed out on a lot of 80's

 

[baldilocks]

Those metal tubes allow fluid to pass through the core support with no danger of ever chaffing like a rubber hose will. That's a Very nice design feature. What you have don't there is probably all you will every need to do.

 

[4G63 POWER]

This is really a drain & fill, not a flush.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Those metal tubes allow fluid to pass through the core support with no danger of ever chaffing like a rubber hose will. That's a Very nice design feature. What you have don't there is probably all you will every need to do.

I get it but it's a poorly executed "nice" design feature. The hard lines point downwards where there is almost no room and it was very very difficult to get them off and even harder to get back on. The only way we got them off was by cutting them off and getting them back on took us an hour for two hoses. Yes it prevents chaffing but some sheathing + ziptieing and wrapping of a rubber line will do the same thing and it will be easy to replace if I ever have to again.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

This is really a drain & fill, not a flush.

Like it matters lol

just spreading awareness that at older age this hose that is likely very overlooked by many members could be a problem.

 

[4G63 POWER]

Yes it matters. A flush is when it's hooked up to a trans flush machine. These destroy old transmissions. A huge no no. Your drain & fill is much better than a flush.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Yes it matters. A flush is when it's hooked up to a trans flush machine. These destroy old transmissions. A huge no no. Your drain & fill is much better than a flush.

A lot of fluid got pumped out quickly therefore a flush... if I wanted to drain it I'd pull the plug and let it slowly leak out like you would a diff. I think a flush was the proper term in this case. It's really semantics. Yes there are transmission flushing machines but like I would have access to one in a parking lot.

 

[4G63 POWER]

No you dont want access to one ever.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

No you dont want access to one ever.

Never said I wanted access to one. I was stating the obvious which you aren't seeing... there's no way to have access to a tranny flushing machine in the middle of that parking lot which is clearly depicted in the photo...So bringing up the hole drain/flush thing is totally irrelevant to this thread. I was using the word flush more by definition than in terms of the machine that flushes tranny's...

 

[baldilocks]

I get it but it's a poorly executed "nice" design feature. The hard lines point downwards where there is almost no room and it was very very difficult to get them off and even harder to get back on. The only way we got them off was by cutting them off and getting them back on took us an hour for two hoses. Yes it prevents chaffing but some sheathing + ziptieing and wrapping of a rubber line will do the same thing and it will be easy to replace if I ever have to again.

Toyota knew it would be many years before those hoses needed replacing and that holds true for your repair; you will only do it once. They stuffed a lot into a compact area and did it quite well. If you think that was difficult, I will assume you have never worked on a jet. They make working on my cruiser a joyful weekend activity.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Toyota knew it would be many years before those hoses needed replacing and that holds true for your repair; you will only do it once. They stuffed a lot under a compact area and did it quite well. If you think that was difficult, I will assume you have never worked on a jet. They make working on my cruiser a joyful weekend activity.

Nope never worked on a jet before but I'm sure space is very limited! I'm going to replace those lines again at some point because I'm not 100% sure those are good to use with ATF. It was generic AutoZone crap that I could get my hands on, on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[4G63 POWER]

It's not irrelevant. You are using the wrong terminology and i'm trying to give you advice that flushing is bad. The drain & fill you had is not a flush therefore not bad and your trans will be fine. Though I doubt you were worried about it since you were clueless a real flush is bad for your trans.

 

[baldilocks]

Nope never worked on a jet before but I'm sure space is very limited! I'm going to replace those lines again at some point because I'm not 100% sure those are good to use with ATF. It was generic AutoZone crap that I could get my hands on, on a Sunday afternoon.

You have me thinking Inshoukdnreolace mine even though they are in great shape so I went to toyotaonlineparts.com and with their fat discount, the longer hose from the top of the cooler is $55! Ouch. The bottom was much cheaper. I think I will call around and try to find generic, metric hydraulic hose.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Glad you caught this Johnny! It's definitely one way to empty the tranny!

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

It's not irrelevant. You are using the wrong terminology and i'm trying to give you advice that flushing is bad. The drain & fill you had is not a flush therefore not bad and your trans will be fine. Though I doubt you were worried about it since you were clueless a real flush is bad for your trans.

You got it chief! Trans flushes with a machine on 80's are bad. Got it. Wow that is good tech...
That horse has been beaten dead here on mud several times. Thank you for beating the dead horse

Would you like me to edit the title princess