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A Disagreement On Flushing

This is in response to a comment I recieved to an article I wrote in response to a question about transmission servicing at Suite101.com. The person did not leave a name or e-mail address so I have to way of responding directly.

Suite101 would not allow me to respond to him there so hopefully he will find his way over here and read my response to him.

Q. Normally I find Vince to be educated and informed on most subjects. But on this one I must absolutely disagree with him and General Motors. I have been in the GM family for almost 30 years. I was a mechanic, Service advisor, Parts Manager, Service manager, Parts and Service Director, so I think I know a little about servicing a car.

I have seen more than once where a 100% transmission fluid exchange with a machine has solved a transmission-shifting problem and made a customer very happy with the service. Why would you want to replace 1/3 of the fluid in your transmission and leave 2/3's dirty fluid in there. Then add 1/3 new fluid to the dirty fluid. Makes no sense! Would prefer 2/3 month old coffee in the morning with a top off of 1/3 fresh coffee add to it? Absolutely not!

And for Vince to call that service department outright lying is a poor choice of words and very short sighted. Vince is just taking the "company line " and is afraid to stand up and tell the truth, SHAME ON YOU VINCE! These people are looking for the truth, not some old fashion thinking from someone who promotes himself to be informed on up to date service techniques. You owe the dealers you have insulted and the public you have misinformed an apology.

But I know that will never happen because you just can't bring yourself to admit when you are wrong. From now on please research the subject you are speaking on so that you can give an informative answer to a question. And to the person who owned that Chevy 1500, don't be afraid to have the transmission fluid 100% exchanged. It's a better bang for your hard earned buck!!

A. In the article you referenced, How to Fix a 2002 Chevy Silverado the question was about maintenance, which I answered based on the information found in the vehicles owner's manual and the General Motors service manual.

And since you have been associated with all aspects of a General Motors dealerships vehicle support system you must know, full well, the General Motors does not, I repeat, NOT recommend an engine or transmission flush under any circumstances. This warning has been sent to all dealer parts and service departments as a technical bulletin. That bulletin number is, if you want to look it up, 04-06-01-029A dated 11/28/2006. It also states that General Motors will NOT pay for damage done to vehicles as a result of a flush under warranty.

It sure sounds to me that General Motors is pretty serious about the subject.

So if a customer goes to a General Motors service department and the service writer tells him or her that General Motors does recommend an engine or transmission flush as a maintenance service, he is, and there is not a plainer way to say it, lying; plain and simple. Bring that person to me and I'll tell him to his face he's a liar. Am I being harsh? I don't think so. Where I come from we call a spade a spade.

Now if you can show me anywhere in the General Motors owner's manual, General Motors service manual or any General Motors service literature that it is a recommended procedure then I will retract any and all statements that I have made. But until someone can show me documented proof that General Motors does recommend I stand by my position.

Now I will grant you that sometimes an engine or transmission can be flushed with no ill effects and on extremely rare occasions actually fix a problem, the overwhelming majority of the time a flush will do more harm than good. It is like playing reverse Russian Roulette, instead of having one bullet in a chamber you have five.

As for taking the "company line" that is totally false. I am an advocate of the consumer; I have absolutely no ties with any automaker, parts supplier or any aftermarket part makers. My concern is to make sure the vehicle owner is treated fairly and honestly and in that my record speaks for itself.

I stand by what I wrote in that article and the one who should be ashamed is the guy who tries to rip off his customer by using half-truths and outright lies to separate hard earned money from unsuspecting customers. At least I have the courage to sign my articles and not send them anonymously.

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