Converter flush-out

What is a safe (and inexpensive) solvent to use to flush-out a torque converter? Mine has less than 1k mi. on it and I just rebuilt the trans. It seems I had a Valve Body issue that completely fried the clutches so lots of sparkley's in the old fluid. Just don't want to pump any un-needed grit through it.

Thanks in advance!
Scott

OOOOO uHh OH....
Sorry to say there pretty much NO WAY your going to get all the junk out. Time to send it out to get it cleaned out.
ie: Rebuilt.

If your a chance taker you could get a remote filter that uses can type oil filter (PH8A) and then clean er out the best you can with some solvent. Then change all the fluid and filter again after you run it for a little bit.

But you never really know if its fully cleaned out untill its cracked apart.
Good luck

Originally Posted by 71hotrodpinto

OOOOO uHh OH....
Sorry to say there pretty much NO WAY your going to get all the junk out. Time to send it out to get it cleaned out.
ie: Rebuilt.

If your a chance taker you could get a remote filter that uses can type oil filter (PH8A) and then clean er out the best you can with some solvent. Then change all the fluid and filter again after you run it for a little bit.

But you never really know if its fully cleaned out untill its cracked apart.
Good luck

That's pretty much what I have planned, since there arent any chunks of metal or anything like that, just really contaminated fluid. But MY QUESTION IS : What type of solvent? What will mix with trans. fluid well enough to rinse it out and not leave a nasty contaminant/mess?

Thanks, Scott

Solvent Is the name.
And youll have to pull the convetor if you havnent already to wash it out as best you can.
DO NOT leave any substantial ammount of solvent in the trans at all when you try to run it..

Im really concerned here though... If there is even one little peice that you dont get, it could get the valve body clogged up even before the filter does any good.
Its your call though..

Converter's out, I just rebuilt the transmission. So it's just called solvent, eh? Like for a solvent tank? Why didn't I think of that?Wonder if they have that @ Harbor Freight.....what about Acetone? I have that right here....and it's cheap....anyone?

P.S. Thanks for the replies Hotrod.
Scott

Originally Posted by '69Scoobyvan

Converter's out, I just rebuilt the transmission. So it's just called solvent, eh? Like for a solvent tank? Why didn't I think of that?Wonder if they have that @ Harbor Freight.....what about Acetone? I have that right here....and it's cheap....anyone?

P.S. Thanks for the replies Hotrod.
Scott

I strongly recommend against Acetone... waaaaay to volitile. I use mineral spirits to clean my tranny parts. Yes, it too is flamable and care needs to be exercised. I was never a fan of the water based solvent/cleaners... they always seemed to leave an oily residue.

Check around. When I worked for the dealer we had a converter flusher machine. It mounted the converter in normal position to a motor and rotated it. Though he opening was a spring loaded cone where solvent circulated with a pump and air pressure. It seamed to do a good job. You cant use it on lock up converters because solvent would ruin the clutch material.

If you have had any volume of foreign material go through your converter you need to replace it. There are one-way clutches and thrust washers in your converter that wear when abrasive (clutch) material goes through it under normal working conditions. Getting the stuff out of the converter just isn't good enough to be sure it will hold up. If your converter has drain plugs in it you can flush it using a pump and hose with 1/8" pipe nipples but you can't replace the worn parts without cutting it open, replacing the worn parts and welding it all back together again. (when you weld it you have to be sure that no weld flashing or metal gets into the converter - most of the "rebuilt" converters that I have seen in my area have welding residue in them. I recommend you buy new parts - not "rebuilt". Some people have good luck - if that's you then flush your converter and use it. If you are like me and a bit on the unlucky side when trying to keep costs down then get a new one.