Just wondering if anyone has had these services preformed at any service places? If so any thoughts on them as in was it a waste of money or no? I just purchased a 2000 4wd ltd. Checked the transmission dipstick and the transmission fluid was a dark brown color so im figuring it needs to be changed relatively soon and I looked under the oil cap and it seemed to have some sludge in the engine, nothing extreme but I would like to get it clean in there. Did a google search and a few people on yotatech recommended BG products for the sludge. Just trying to get other peoples perspective on these products and services.
BG Engine Flush / Transmission flush
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shootmymime
New member
if it is something that needs to be done (engine cleaned) do it!
we use BG products at work and let me tell you, they work. BG makes fluid treatments for everything.
i dont want to tell the stores of how BG works and cleans, so i just leave it as that they make some amazing cleaners. i believe its better than seafoam.
we use BG products at work and let me tell you, they work. BG makes fluid treatments for everything.
i dont want to tell the stores of how BG works and cleans, so i just leave it as that they make some amazing cleaners. i believe its better than seafoam.
Would you recommend just adding the treatments myself or going to a mechanic here that has all the BG machines that does the flushes or whatever it is the BG machines do?
asahi4runner
New member
Always get it flush by a pro.
shootmymime
New member
If you can get a hold of the products, some are easy to do yourself.
but the BG machine will work wonders on your engine. it cleans things out that might be trouble if you do it yourself.
get a quote from the shop what they say for the tranny and the engine. i would at least getting the tranny done. the engine oil you can do your self depending how much sludge there is.
but the BG machine will work wonders on your engine. it cleans things out that might be trouble if you do it yourself.
get a quote from the shop what they say for the tranny and the engine. i would at least getting the tranny done. the engine oil you can do your self depending how much sludge there is.
asahi4runner
New member
Thanks, I love seeing people that's close too where I'm . Do you know if anyone holds car meeting around this area?
From what I could tell there wasnt a TON of sludge but all I did was remove the oil cap and look in as best i could. It didn't seem as clean as others have posted pics of, and I recently sold my 01 sr5 for this limited (for multiple reasons two being almost 50,000 less miles and no previous wrecks) and the sr5 had noticeably better gas mileage. Ive already done seafoam in the pcv, cleaned throttle body, and the MAF. Which helped boost the MPG's in the sr5 but had less of an impact on the limited's MPG's
Not that I know of...I know a few months ago someone was kicking around the idea of a meeting and trail riding in Uwharie
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Justin727
New member
I second this!
BG44k fuel additive is used twice a year or depending on how many miles I've put on her during the year
Bumper2Bumper Auto
New member
You can do the BG44K by yourself, but the only way to get the transmission done properly is with the machine. First step is the cleaner gets put in and the transmission is run with it for a while. This breaks up the deposits on the shuttle valves and generally cleans up everything. Then the machine, which has it's hoses connected in series with your cooler line, sucks out the old fluid and replaces it with new. A drain and fill only replaces about 30% of the fluid. A BG flush replaces all of it. Now here is where I go a step beyond BG. While BG states you do not need to replace the filter, I always say if you are breaking up deposits, some of those will get down to your filter. Yes, this does add to the cost of the transmission service, but I suggest in my professional opinion, to replace the transmission filter AFTER the flush is completed.
Illestreker
New member
i'm always leery of transmission flush's because from why I have heard they can create more problems depending on how many miles and the condition of the trans. I've heard if your trans has low miles like 50k or less its fine. If your trans has above 50k and you have already done regularly scheduled oil changes on the trans then the flush should be ok too. But if you have high miles like over 100k and have rarely changed the oil in it then a flush is bad news. why? (once again just what ive heard from others).... The sediments and small amount of gunk that may be in there are actually helping to to keep things "locked in place" or secured. Once its all flushed out and clean many people in these particular situations (high mileage without regular oil changes to trans) will start having transmission problems and worst case a blown trans.
This has never happened to me its just what ive heard from a few different mechanics, dealers, and many many different people on various automotive forums.
So for me personally, I just drop the pan, change the filter, clean the pan real good, and re-fill.
This has never happened to me its just what ive heard from a few different mechanics, dealers, and many many different people on various automotive forums.
So for me personally, I just drop the pan, change the filter, clean the pan real good, and re-fill.
BlackCat914
New member
that's kind of an old wives tale, kinda like the "you cannot switch to regular oil once you've used synthetic" argument. I mean, I wouldn't do a flush on a trans with 300k on it, but only because I wouldn't spend the money on it, not because I thought it would hurt the trans. When you start getting up in the high mileage area, it's also good to do a flush and drop the pan as well.
So I should buy the cleaner and run it for a while before I get the flush done with the machine?
And just an FYI for everyone making the high mileage argument im only at 139,xxx miles so its not really high for the 4runner.
Bumper2Bumper Auto
New member
Usually the shop that does the service will put in the cleaner. You don't really want to DRIVE the truck on the road with the cleaner.
Illestreker
New member
on average how much should this service typically cost?
BamaDrewski
New member
For the dumba$$ on this forum, what is BG? Is that a product name or brand? (Forgive my stupidity)
TheUltimateBohab
New member
I've heard from lots of people not to do flushes unless they have been done continuously since it was new just drain and refill the retards at jiffy lube places and wal-mart service have no brains... dont believe their lies!
BlackWorksInc
New member
This is a sort of blanket statement that has evolved from various sources; basically its both valid and not valid.
Most of the time the Domestic and older non-Domestic transmissions do not respond well to fluid flushes, particularly if they have not been done regularly as the owner's manual/FSM states. The older units tend to have more clearance, deposit build-up, and gunk that seals the whole thing together. Very similar to that ideaology that synthetics cause vehicles to leak (this was true on older vehicles, not so much newer ones.)
That being said, the other part to this is the TYPE of flushing being done. Most transmission fluid flushing machines are of the exchanger type. This means they use transmission fluid pump pressure to exchange fluid after being hooked inline with the fluid circuit (usually via the cooler lines) and these pose the least risk and damage to your vehicle.
Another type is the back-flushing machine which is hooked up in a reverse flow manner and uses an external pump to force fluid through the system to shake loose deposits and clean the system. This system poses a greater risk on many levels, the first being that the back flushing can shake loose large deposits and debris in older non-regularly serviced transmissions which can block ports, filters, and cause issues. The second issue they pose is that if done improperly you could over-pressurize the system and possibly affect the seals (many of the seals are meant to be one way), this is an unlikely effect, but not impossible on older non-regularly serviced units.
The final type is actually the same back-flush style system but it uses a heavy duty solvent to clean out the system rather than fresh fluid and causes the same issues as the above system at a higher risk for non-regularly serviced units because the strength of the chemical can sometimes degrade aged seals, worn clutch material, and loosen large chunks of baked/caked on deposits.
In short, if the transmission has not been serviced regularly I would recommend a drain and fill a few times until the fluid is fresh. IF you decide to use a transmision fluid additive while drain and filling to clean out the transmission, make sure you flush the fluid as best as possible as many of those additives are not meant for prolonged use (i.e. SeaFoam) Also, using a Transmission flush machine of the Fluid Exchanger type won't hurt the vehicle anymore than a Drain and Fill. But I would recommend you stay away from the latter two types of machines for older units and even newer units. Toyota actually does not want the latter two types being used on their transmissions due to their own testing and results according to the factory service reps.
