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Ford Squasher
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2004
01:56:17

Subject: Hey AMSOIL Guy, What to do with 110K
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I just bought a 2000 Dakota QC with 110,000 miles and no maintenance history (in the process of trying to get it now). It runs great and all the fluids look / smell good and not burnt. I was going to flush the tranny fluid and change filter, put in some AMSIOL and have one more to-do checked off. Problem is all the mechanics around here are recommending against touching the tranny, much less changing the filter if it hasn't been done in the past 60K miles. They say the new fluid has alot of detergent that will not be good for the old internal seals. They all say to let it go and put AMSOIL in during the rebuild. So much for preventative maintenance - what to do? Can I at least change the filter and put in some kind of new fluid?

Thanks Alot,
Ford Squasher

2000 QC 5.9L AWD
Dual Cat-back Exhaust
CAI
32" tires
4.10 gears coming
#1 Goal - To beat brothers Lightning on thanksgiving.



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11/02/2004
09:14:22

AMSOIL Dealer #1061837, Steven Roark = Amzoil
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Ford Squasher,

Without the maintenance history you do not know if the transmission was serviced at the appropriate intervals or if it was a NEGLECTED transmission.

On a 2000 model Dakota (or any vehicle for that matter) with 110,000 miles I do not think that doing a fluid change would harm anything if the fluid does not already have a burnt smell, and you stated "all the fluids look / smell good and not burnt".

Changing the fluid in a NEGLECTED transmission is ALWAYS risky regardless if you are refilling with conventional petroleum (dino) ... or synthetic.

If the transmission seems very "fluid tight" and you have reason to believe that the mileage was mostly highway miles and that the transmission was not "overworked", then I would go ahead and switch to synthetic and try to get the most life out of the transmission.

I would also recommend that you only perform a filter and fluid change and skip the flush.

Hopefully, the prior owner will be able to provide you with the maintenance history so that you will feel more comfortable with your decision.
__________________________________________________

You can click the following link and Request a FREE Amsoil Catalog



Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Ford Squasher
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2004
01:31:19

RE: Hey AMSOIL Guy, What to do with 110K
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Thanks Alot,
So if I skipped the flush, then I would have about 30-40% AMSOIL synthetic in there, right? I always thought mixing was bad. If it's all good and I do this, should I also change the pan fluid and filter (since I would be in there anyway) more often until the tranny does go - say every 20k miles or so from now on?

Thanks Alot,
Ford Squasher

2000 QC 5.9L AWD
Dual Cat-back Exhaust
CAI
32" tires
4.10 gears coming
#1 Goal - To beat brothers Lightning on thanksgiving.



Rick
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2004
08:20:38

RE: Hey AMSOIL Guy, What to do with 110K
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If you do a search on this site you will learn about how to change your fluids and get more out. I think the Ams Guy ment no after market flushes in a can and not that you should not perform a complete fluid change.



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11/04/2004
11:19:41

AMSOIL Dealer - ATF Retail Prices November 2004
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That is correct Rick.

... and for Ford Squasher,

ATF Fluid Change:

Changing Your Transmission Fluid in 12 EASY Steps:

1. Make sure the fluid is warm. Warm up your Dakota so the transmission is at normal operating temperature. Pull the transmission dipstick. Fresh fluid is translucent and cherry red. Some darkening is normal, but if it is reddish brown or mustard color and smells like burnt varnish, it is worn out.

2. Drain the fluid by loosening the pan. Select the correct filter replacement based on pan shape and prepare a large pan to catch the fluid. Then loosen each pan bolt a turn or two and loosen one corner more than rest. Drain mostly from this corner.

3. Finish removing the pan and any gasket material from the pan or case. Avoid scratching the metal and make sure the pan’s gasket surface isn’t bent or distorted.

4. Remove the old filter. Most transmission filters are held in place with a bolt or two, but some are held by a clip. Be careful to include O-Rings or other seals.

5. Install a new filter. Use the clips or bolts from the old filter. Be sure O-Rings, etc. are in place. If the filter has a long intake neck, gently push the neck into place without unseating the O-Ring.

6. Clean the pan thoroughly. Inspect the pan before cleaning. A small amount of fine grey clutch dust is normal. However, if you find metal shavings, there has been transmission damage. Clean the pan with solvent and wipe dry so there is no harmful residue.

7. Position gasket on pan. Some gaskets have four holes slightly smaller than the rest to allow four bolts through the pan and through these smaller holes to hold the gasket in place.

8. Hand tighten pan bolts in a criss-cross pattern. After that, use a torque wrench to tighten bolts to proper ft-lbs as per manufacturer.

9. Refill the transmission using only the amount shown as “refill capacity” in the owners manual or "AMSOIL Product Selection Guide,” using the type of fluid specified for the vehicle.

10. If doing only a partial fluid replacement, skip to instruction 12 below. If doing a complete fluid replacement, follow the steps in instruction 11.

11. You now have replaced the fluid in the pan. To replace the fluid in the torque converter and oil cooler also, follow these steps.

Step 1. Obtain the total system capacity of the vehicle from the manufacturer or I can provide it for you. Have this amount readily available.

Step 2. Disconnect the oil cooler line from the oil cooler. As you may not know which is the pressure side and which is the return side, have both directed so the stream of fluid will be directed toward a receptacle.

Step 3. With another person, be prepared to add ATF to the fill area as it is being pumped out of the oil cooler line.

Step 4. Start the engine, and as the old fluid is pumped out, add fresh fluid to the pan.

Step 5. When either the fluid color brightens or the total capacity has been replaced, shut the engine off and re-attach the oil cooler line. All fluids has now been changed.

12. Recheck the fluid level. With the truck on level ground, set the parking brake and the transmission in “Park” or “Neutral.” Let the engine idle for a few minutes. Shift the transmission into different positions before returning the lever to “Park” or “Neutral.” Check the fluid level again and check for leaks.

____________________________________________________________


This is really a "two-person" or a "three person" DIY operation. The ATF will come out faster than it goes in ... so you may need to stop and restart the engine a few times.

____________________________________________________________


__________ __________

__________________________________________________


Amsoil Synthetic Universal ATF --- Retail Pricing, Nov. 2004

(preferred customers and dealers receive discounted pricing of approximately 20%)

Product Codes - Quantity/Size - Retail Pricing

ATF-QT - (1) quart bottle ------------ $7.85

ATF-01 - (12) quart bottles --------- $93.00

ATF-TP - (1) 2 1/2-gallon bottle ---- $74.55

ATF-05 - (2) 2 1/2-gallon bottles - $147.10

ATF-30 - (1) 30-gallon drum ------- $691.00

ATF-55 - (1) 55-gallon drum ----- $1,181.00
__________________________________________________

You can Request a FREE Amsoil Catalog by clicking the following link:



Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Ford Squasher
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
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11/04/2004
14:14:47

RE: Hey AMSOIL Guy, What to do with 110K
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Message:
Thanks Alot,
What you wrote is what I was referring to as a 'flush'. I saw this procedure on the AMSOIL website a couple weeks ago. So now we are on the same page. I don't really trust the Tranny Shop Flush, so it would be the DIY type fluid change for sure that I will go ahead with and hope for the best.
BTW, I was also told not to put a shift kit in because of the high miles. I was looking into a TRANSGO Heavy Duty setup. Any thoughts?
Thanks Alot,
Ford Squasher

2000 QC 5.9L AWD
Dual Cat-back Exhaust
CAI
32" tires
4.10 gears coming
#1 Goal - To beat brothers Lightning on Thanksgiving. - pushed out to Christmas.



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