Changing transmission fluid: How often?

[irishScott]

See title. Got an oil change not too long ago and the Jiffy Lube guy suggested I get the transmission fluid changed as well. I turned him down because it would have been an extra $140, but he showed me a sample of my car's fluid next to the fresh stuff and there was a huge difference (chocolate brown vs dull red). TMK it's never been changed on this car since we bought it 6 years ago. Personally on that alone I'd get it changed, but the car is technically my parents' (they are paying for it) and they're kinda cheapskate control freaks. So far the only reason they've told me not to do it is "but... it's expensive...", which in my family's lingo means they have no fucking idea what they're talking about. But admittedly neither do I, and If I'm going to use their money and slap them in the face with it, I need a reason. Hence the above question. Pardon my mini-rant.

 

[Bignate603]

How many miles does the car have on it?

What does it say in your owner's manual about changing the fluid? I would start there.

 

[Vette73]

Depends. Some say they can do 100k (would not go that long IMO) and some say 30k.

I usually do 60k for the first one, unless it gets bad or has a lowwer requirment, then 30k after that.

But I would ONLY do a filter kit and fill on your car. Don;t flush it since it has not been done in a long time.

What is the year, make, and model?

 

[Kaervak]

"but... it's expensive..."

Know what's even more expensive than $40 worth of fluid and a filter? A replacement transmission, plus labor costs.

Most older cars state 30,000 miles for trans fluid changes, probably the same for yours. Even though mine states 30,000 for the change, when I did mine at 30k the trans fluid looked perfectly fine but was changed anyway. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[Greenman]

After you figure out when to change the fluid, the problem is going to be finding someone that will change all the fluid. Every oil changer I've dealt with sucks the tranny fluid out through the dipstick hole. On my truck, they get 4 to 5 quarts out using that method, but my transmission holds 12 quarts. Even the dealer told me they use the suck method.

 

[SooperDave]

After you figure out when to change the fluid, the problem is going to be finding someone that will change all the fluid. Every oil changer I've dealt with sucks the tranny fluid out through the dipstick hole. On my truck, they get 4 to 5 quarts out using that method, but my transmission holds 12 quarts. Even the dealer told me they use the suck method.

Thats all you get dropping the pan. The rest is in the converter and a little bit in the cooler. Some converters have a drain plug, many don't. There is a machine that goes in line at the cooler that does a good job but the filter doesn't get changed that way.

 

[Eli]

Brown automatic transmission fluid is a very bad sign. Have it flushed ASAP.

140$ is cheap compared to the $2000 a new transmission will cost you.

Edit: Transmission flushes work well AFAIK. They hook a machine up, and it pumps fluid through the transmission. When like new transmission fluid is coming out the other side, you're done and they cork it back up. I think it usually runs like 16 quarts through.

 

[thescreensavers]

Brown automatic transmission fluid is a very bad sign. Have it flushed ASAP.

140$ is cheap compared to the $2000 a new transmission will cost you.

Edit: Transmission flushes work well AFAIK. They hook a machine up, and it pumps fluid through the transmission. When like new transmission fluid is coming out the other side, you're done and they cork it back up. I think it usually runs like 16 quarts through.

I do mine every 30k, $120 is cheaper then 4.5k

The machine is what I used, hooks up to the return line and plugs into the dip stick, and just swaps the fluid out till whats coming out of the return line is the same color as going in.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I wouldn't take my car to Jiffy Lube if it was the last oil change place on the planet.

On topic: What does the owner's manual say on this subject?

 

[theblackbox]

make sure if you let them do it they know what they are doing and know how to read.

a friend brought his jeep to me after he had his transmission fluid changed and they used 75w95 in the tranny. it's a nv3550, and in their specs even, it says 75w95 exc. nv3550. i went and spoke to their techs, and checked their system. i asked them if they knew what exc meant. appearently, they didn't know or didn't read past 75w95..

in the meantime, we drained the tranny, replaced with rp syncromax and he made them refund cost.

i was glad we caught it, otherwise, the life of his synchronizer would have been cut drastically.


you know you could always just do it yourself...

 

[Iron Woode]

The first thing I would do is take the car to your mechanic and have him check the fluid. I have seen many scams that start by comparing new fluid to some old crap they have laying around and then telling you there is something wrong.

Unfortunately for me, there is no tranny service for my Contour. The best I can do is drain some out using the drain plug.

 

[HarryLui]

But I would ONLY do a filter kit and fill on your car. Don;t flush it since it has not been done in a long time.

Old wife's tale.


In General, every 30k or so, change the ATF. ATF is cheaper than transmission.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have a '92 dodge spirit, I got it with 100,000+ on it, and I haven't changed the tranny fluid since I've owned it. Now at 239,000. Still runs. I heard horror stories about changing the tranny fluid, if you haven't done it in a long time. So I figure, it won't hurt anything to leave it. It leaks oil though.

I finally got a replacement, an '04 Honda Oddysee, and on that one I'm contimplating changing the tranny fluid. It has 90K on it, and I don't know if it's ever been changed.

 

[LTC8K6]

OP said it hasn't been changed in at least 6 years, so it needs to be changed and so does the filter.

Even if it hadn't gone far, it would need to be changed on time, imo.

 

[thomsbrain]

I have a '92 dodge spirit, I got it with 100,000+ on it, and I haven't changed the tranny fluid since I've owned it. Now at 239,000. Still runs. I heard horror stories about changing the tranny fluid, if you haven't done it in a long time. So I figure, it won't hurt anything to leave it. It leaks oil though.

I finally got a replacement, an '04 Honda Oddysee, and on that one I'm contimplating changing the tranny fluid. It has 90K on it, and I don't know if it's ever been changed.

Just pull the dipstick and see what color it is. It will probably have a yellow rubber cover on the end. Look on the right side of the engine bay and peek around stuff until you see it.

 

[jlee]

What's your manual say?

My Tundra apparently has lifetime fluid. That sounds strange to me.

 

[drnickriviera]

What's your manual say?

My Tundra apparently has lifetime fluid. That sounds strange to me.

Yea, so did our ES300 until kaboom.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I heard horror stories about changing the tranny fluid, if you haven't done it in a long time.

People say this all the time. I've only heard horror stories of horror stories, never first hand someone saying 'I flushed my transmissions and it went boom'. Do it but like others have said, take it to a real shop.

 

[BassBomb]

if its a honda, often
don't "flush" it if you have a honda... just drain refill

 

[cbrsurfr]

On my last car I did a drain and fill every year. Filter was non changeable. At least not without dropping the trans. Small price to pay for piece of mind. Current car says 40K interval but it was done around 20K as part of some warranty work.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Worth doing it. Got my 06 Lincoln LS with 23k mi last Aug and promptly changed the ATF (together with power steering and brake fluids). Good preventive maintenance.

 

[DarkThinker]

I was going to ask about Transmission fluid. My newly purchased 07 CTS computer tells me that the lifetime of the Transmission fluid is %38, should I change it now or wait till later?

I was also debating either to do it at the dealership or at some oil change place.

 

[zerocool84]

Yet another thread that would not have to be made if people would read their owners manual.

 

[DougK62]

"I want help/suggestions for work to do on my car but I'm not going to give you any helpful information"

lol

 

[JDub02]

first mistake: jiffy lube

if you can't do it yourself, take your vehicle to a mechanic.