... The one dealership here that is recommending it uses the BG Power Flush Service is a fast, efficient exchange of your vehicle's transmission fluid. They claim It removes the old fluid and replaces it with new, clean transmission fluid in as little as 5-7 minutes, making it one of the fastest and most efficient flushes on the market.
I carefully studied the use of a BG Power Flush and decided I would not want a shop to use that machine on my vehicle. Sorry for the long post, but if you want to know the details, read on.
BG PF5-HO Power Flush and Fluid Exchange System - YouTube is a YouTube video showing how to use the BG Power Flush machine. At the beginning of the video, an operator hooks up a new BG machine to a vehicle, sets the BG machine in bypass mode (no pumping), starts the vehicle engine and lets the engine idle. At that point the vehicle transmission is pumping fluid through the BG machine. Operator notes the flow and pressure is low. Operator resets BG machine to process, and flips a switch to power a 12 volt pump on the BG machine. At 5:55 the operator notes, "The BG pump increased the flow from almost no flow whatsoever to around a gallon per minute." This doesn't make sense.
When I exchange ATF in my 4Runner with the engine at idle, the automatic transmission pumps out 3 quarts of ATF in less than one minute. I shut the engine off in about 20-30 seconds, after 3 quarts was pumped out so that the pump doesn't run dry, add new ATF fluid and repeat the process four times.
Why does the BG operator have to engage a 12 volt BG pump to assist the vehicles automatic transmission pump to flow a gallon per minute at engine idle? How could the vehicle's transmission pump allow the BG machine to pass higher flow through the transmission pump with the engine at idle? Why is the vehicle's automatic transmission ATF flowrate so low at engine idle?
BGPF-5 Transmission Flush Machine - YouTube is a better video on how to connect and operate the BG machine.
BG PF5 Certified Technician - YouTube describes adding BG Quick Clean to the transmission and starting the engine to clean varnish and gum. Then operator exchanges the fluid to remove old ATF and the BG Quick Clean solution. Personally, I would not want any varnish and gum cleaner in my transmission. I also would not want a conditioner added to the new ATF fluid as shown in this video.
In the comment section of the last video is the following post, "Most over-complicated trans flush machine on the market. And this is coming from a career diesel tech." A Ford Tech posts this, "Of all the transmissions I've torn down for the last 16 years, I have yet to witness varnish & gum. The solution to pollution is dilution. Drain and fill every 30k and you're good to go." A guy named Looker posts, "This is NOT a good idea if you care about what your car, these machines mix up fluids and are highly prone to operator error. They use the same fluids on all brands of cars, BG Universal ATF fluid….which is a problem if you care about using OEM fluids. The machine leaves behind flush fluid residue, there is no way to ensure all the old fluid and flush is removed but BG Products is great at pushing these services. Every can that Technician opens…he recovers a “token” that he trades in for $$ from the BG distributor…..all at your expense Mr. Customer."
After studying all of the above, I would not exchange ATF at a shop that uses a BG Power Flush machine because (1) they use a cleaner/conditioner, (2) the machine and hoses are not flushed after each service, therefore the operator must use a BG universal fluid for many vehicles, or have a different flush machine for each fluid type, and (3) the machine is complex to operate and possibly prone to operator error. It's shocking that the technician in the first video was not able to clearly describe how the BG machine operates.
According to the BG website, about 100+ automotive shops in the Phoenix area use BG machines to service automatic transmissions. See
BG Big Dawg(R) II Power Flush and Fluid Exchange System | BG Products, Inc. The newer Big Dawg PF-19 machine operates exactly like the PF-5 in the above videos. The BG website lists several different BG branded ATF products offered to the shops they serve.
