Trans Rebuild and Lucas Trans Fix

I bought a used 2002 Ford Windstar about 1 1/2 years ago. About 6 months later during a routine oil change the oil change company suggested I add some Lucas trans fix because there was a minor leak in my transmission. At that point 3/4 of the bottle was put in not to overfill the oil and within the next 2 months I proceeded to add the balance of the oil to the transmission. About a year later the transmission started to leak through the pump seal. I brought the car back for another oil change and they suggested the Lucas trans fix again, but I told them they already suggested to add a bottle during the last oil change. So the oil change place suggested I bring the car to a transmission repair shop to repair the seal.

So I brought the car into the transmission repair shop and they estimated between $500 to $800 for the repair of the seal, the difference in price was if they saw anything else that needed replacing. Once the transmission was apart they noticed that the Lucas additive had been added into the transmission. They told me because of this all the rubber and brass parts must be changed in the transmission. They said that the lucas additive caused the rubber to swell and that would cause the transmission to lock up in time. Of course at this point the transmission was all in pieces on their bench and I had no choice but to get it repaired. now the total cost was $1700!!!

So I then called Lucas customer service (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/../#) to tell them about this problem. The people at Lucas told me that there is nothing in their additive that will dammage a transmission! They asked me to send them a sample of the oil for analysis. Of course when I asked the transmission shop for a sample it had already been discarded in their waste tank along with other transmission oil. The transmission shop did write on the receipt that the additive caused the problem. But when I called back Lucas they said without the oil sample there was nothing they could do!

I figure that someone is lying, either Lucas or the transmission shop! Has anyone else had a similar experience? Can the Lucas additive cause the rubber parts to swell so much that it can dammage the transmission?

I had used this transmission shop in the past to fix a leak on another car and all they did was fix the seal! So now I do not know who to trust!!!!

Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated!

I bought a used 2002 Ford Windstar about 1 1/2 years ago. About 6 months later during a routine oil change the oil change company suggested I add some Lucas trans fix because there was a minor leak in my transmission. At that point 3/4 of the bottle was put in not to overfill the oil and within the next 2 months I proceeded to add the balance of the oil to the transmission. About a year later the transmission started to leak through the pump seal. I brought the car back for another oil change and they suggested the Lucas trans fix again, but I told them they already suggested to add a bottle during the last oil change. So the oil change place suggested I bring the car to a transmission repair shop to repair the seal.

So I brought the car into the transmission repair shop and they estimated between $500 to $800 for the repair of the seal, the difference in price was if they saw anything else that needed replacing. Once the transmission was apart they noticed that the Lucas additive had been added into the transmission. They told me because of this all the rubber and brass parts must be changed in the transmission. They said that the lucas additive caused the rubber to swell and that would cause the transmission to lock up in time. Of course at this point the transmission was all in pieces on their bench and I had no choice but to get it repaired. now the total cost was $1700!!!

So I then called Lucas customer service (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/../#) to tell them about this problem. The people at Lucas told me that there is nothing in their additive that will dammage a transmission! They asked me to send them a sample of the oil for analysis. Of course when I asked the transmission shop for a sample it had already been discarded in their waste tank along with other transmission oil. The transmission shop did write on the receipt that the additive caused the problem. But when I called back Lucas they said without the oil sample there was nothing they could do!

I figure that someone is lying, either Lucas or the transmission shop! Has anyone else had a similar experience? Can the Lucas additive cause the rubber parts to swell so much that it can dammage the transmission?

I had used this transmission shop in the past to fix a leak on another car and all they did was fix the seal! So now I do not know who to trust!!!!

Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated!

I used in in a tranny that I knew was going out. It lasted a little longer. My tranny guy, who I totaly trust, had a fit over it. He had to tear the tranny completely apart and clean every piece. He also stated that the Lucas will kill a tranny. I was not worried, since I knew this before I used it. It is a bandaid, just like any other additive!

Lucas will not kill a transmission.I have used it with no failures yet

Well every part of a tranny should be cleaned after a tear down for rebuilt, my dad did it on every single tranny that he ever rebuilt. I your tranny guy is not doing that and on top of it get a fit for having to do it, I would not be totaly trusty of his practices!

Well every part of a tranny should be cleaned after a tear down for rebuilt, my dad did it on every single tranny that he ever rebuilt. I your tranny guy is not doing that and on top of it get a fit for having to do it, I would not be totaly trusty of his practices!

He threw a fit about using the Lucas. It is hard to clean out of all the ports! This guy builds 1000hp trannys. I trust him with my cash. He is an expert on diesel trannys, built to last.

It's not unusual for a transmission shop to remove the transmission, disassemble and then "find" lots more to fix. However I can also understand how they can't tell untill it is apart.

I don't think you will ever know the answer but I doubt that lucas (which is a premium additive) will harm your transmission. I just doubt it will repair a bad one.