how often should the transmission oil be changed?

[TuffGuy]

i'm coming up on 18k miles and i'm wondering when i need to change the oil.

 

[Colt45]

i dont recall ever changing it..
maybe when your tranny dies on you?
not sure.. call your dealer..(but they might BS you to make more money..)

 

[FelixDeCat]

Read the owners manual but -WATCH OUT!

I think 18k miles is way too soon. Maybe 118k. Maybe. I changed AT fluid once and 2 months later had to lay down $$$$ on a new tranny. Everyone at the shop said never change the AT fluid if you can help it. If you do, have it sucked out of the filler hole.

I usually drive manuals anyway. Ive only changed it on 3 manuals. Made a nice difference.

 

[The Stigenator]

I do transmission oil changes every 30,000 miles. I do my alignment every 15000 miles, rotate tyres every 6000 and my oil changes every 6000 (used to be 3000).

I do tune up's every 30,000 (basically it goes back to toyota and they do the tune up and that is when they change the transmission oil.. ). Transmission runs great.

 

[Shmorq]

My car is at 150,000 miles and I've never changed the transmission oil. The mechanic once topped it up since I guess some of it burned or leaked through osmosis.

 

[montanafan]

I've heard lots of people say to never change it unless you have to for some reason. I've owned 7 vehicles and I've never changed the transmission fluid in any of them. One had over 100,000 miles on it and never had a transmission problem.

 

[desertdweller]

What kind of tranny? Auto or Manual?

Autos--- 30k unless you drive it abnormally hard, then 15 to 20k


Manual-- depends on the tranny and fluid, alot of trannies now
are using synthetic fluids that only need to be changed every 100k.



DD

 

[Rebels7]

My advice is not to change it!! Everyone that I know of that has changed oil in their transmission has had some sort of problem. It is recommended by most new car manuals to change it at 30K, if you do elect to change it, do it within these guidelines. I think problems arrise when people wait until 70K or so and then the new oil makes the old seals in the tranny leak and causes problems. I once ran a 1986 Olds 88 190K and did not change it, also still have a 1983 Madza truck that has 300K on it and I have not changed it yet!!

 

[freebee]

In modern cars there is no such thing as a "tune-up"...though i suppose the occasional valve adjustment may count. Nothing is actually tuned during a spark plug change.

Trans fluid (Auto)should be changed depending on driving conditions, usually no more than 50k miles. (Manuals can last quite awhile longer)It is usually a matter of operating temps, higher temps require more frequent changes (such as those encountered during high speed driving and/or towing). If you doubt the mechanics qualifications, you are better off not having it changed. Then again, you probably wouldn't want to be going to such a mechanic anyway. Usage of synthetic fluid can increase gas mileage, however improper fluid/viscosity can cause more damage than benefit.

The actual process (in most automatic cars) is actually quite simple. Its a matter of removing several bolts, popping off the pan and gasket...though this only drains some of the fluid. (the torque conver holds some fluid that either stays in there or has to be flushed-usually not necessary if you change the fluid often). Some cars (such as my Subaru) has a spin on trans filter and drain plug which eases maintenance a bit.

 

[Phunktion]

I remember about a year ago after I just bought my Saab 900 I decided to check my transmission oil and the thing was bone dry.. there was no oil.. nothing..
Needless to say I've been impressed with how solid that transmission was built.. to this day I wonder how the hell it worked so long without oil in it! Or why it was empty..
Either way I've heard changing the oil by draining and refilling it is bad for the transmission as the oil coats the inner workings of the transmission for optimal functioning.. removing it and sticking fresh oil in it will destroy the accumulated effect of the oil deposits.. I tend to trust this idea as everyone I know that changed their tranny oil has had leaks around the seals and other more scary problems like bad noises coming from the transmission..

 

[killmeplease]

Change your trans fluid every 25000 if you use the regular stuff. I would not advise doing it at all if it has alot of miles on it and has never been done. Alot of transmissions like this fail soon after the service. I think the new detergents just knock alot of crap off and through everything.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Nothing is actually tuned during a spark plug change.

True, but you do notice a bit more kick for a while. Afterall, spark plugs are the business end of the ignition system. Im not even going to bring up fouled plugs...

 

[Evadman]

Shouldn't this be in Highly Technical?

Its your favorite tech again, don't sue me

Ok, really quickly, as I am in a rush. If you change your fluid, do it acording to the manual if you have a late model car ( built since 95 or so ) if before, do NOT chage it. Here is why:

That ATF ( tranny fluid ) isn't really a oil. It is a friction modifier. at low speeds, at acts as a lube. At high speeds, it actually helps the clutches and bands in your tranny "bind" or stick together. When your tranny wears, the ATF wears with it, breaking down into basicly water. If you change your fluid on an old vehicle, those clutches do not want to stick together, and the friction coating on the clutches begind to actually stick to the "steels" between the clutches, and then your tranny will not stay in gear. Time for a rebuild.

If you have a new car, chage the fluid according to the manual as long is it is still RED in color. If it changes to brown, you over heated the fluid, and as soon as you chage it a bunch of the friction coating is going to come off the clutches, and clog the filter. Instant rebuild.

And for everyone's knowledge, I have NEVER chaged the fluid on ANY of my vehicles. One is a ford econoline van from 1985, with over 800k on it. ( only 7 engines so far ) I use it for delivery of computer stuff all over

More knoledge: 30k to 50k is what is listed in most manuals for ATF change. If you do decide to chage the ATF, make sure that the company removes the fluid from the converter. It can hold up to 1/2 of the fluid in a trannny, up to 2 gallons.

 

[Kelvrick]

My mechanic says once a year. So, 15k miles? I'd do it every 20k miles. We've known him for a while, so I think he's giving good advice.

 

[SuperSix]

I wouldn't change it.. I have a drain plug on my pan, and drain it into a clean container. Then I change the filter, and replace the fluid I took out.

 

[Troubleshooters]

i'm coming up on 18k miles and i'm wondering when i need to change the oil.

Yes do it I hear some of the comments on a lot of these forums and I'm amazed at the ignorance. The only time I would not recommend changing your fluid is if it is brown or worse as this will just cost you a bigger problem due to the new fluid eating up what's left of the clutches. I don't care what fluid you use V VI whatever change it at 20,000 its done its job. Most manufacturers for some reason decided to place the catalytic right next to the tranny creating too much heat which is the main problem in transmission failure except for front drive. Don't listen to this crap of 100,000 miles and even 150,000 anything over 30,000 is too much

 

[Troubleshooters]

My mechanic says once a year. So, 15k miles? I'd do it every 20k miles. We've known him for a while, so I think he's giving good advice.

You have a honest smart mechanic, don't believe all this talk of 40,000 miles unless you don't mind forking over $2,000 for a tranny

 

[Red Squirrel]

I change it twice a year. You can reuse the same oil for like 10,000km but you want to switch to winter formula in winter and then back to summer formula in summer. I just keep it in a tupperware container and swap it at the same time as the tires, and also change blinker fluid as the photon transducers start to go dim as the formula ages. You lose about 0.1 lumens per km unless you have a lumen saver installed on the alternator but I never bothered, they are kind of expensive.

I'm probably due to rotate the muffler bearings I think I'll get the shop to do that, it's a pain getting them off without the proper tools.

 

[IronWing]

At least once every eighteen years, like this thread.

 

[Farmer]

Read your owner's manual, it varies depending on your manufacturer.

A lot of ZF boxes (their 8 speed is really popular) are "sealed for life" and are really not user serviceable (you have to take the oilpan off to change the filter, and there are temperature restrictions to when to check fill level that required you have a OBDII scanner).

It's definitely something I'd leave to a trusted OEM-certified dealer mechanic.

 

[killster1]

I do transmission oil changes every 30,000 miles. I do my alignment every 15000 miles, rotate tyres every 6000 and my oil changes every 6000 (used to be 3000).

I do tune up's every 30,000 (basically it goes back to toyota and they do the tune up and that is when they change the transmission oil.. ). Transmission runs great.

lulz i wonder if anyone really does Anything to your car. i have attempted tuneups at 75,000 and the cars plugs and wires still great. Yea good to change things before it goes out but i only change my oil every 5-6k by the time the car needs anything else its most likely going to the next person.

Transmission fluid is a 75,000 mile change imo.

 

[bigi]

With most cars, it is hard to do 100% ATF change. I do mine at every 40K. Do it if you intend to have it for more than 100K.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I change it twice a year. You can reuse the same oil for like 10,000km but you want to switch to winter formula in winter and then back to summer formula in summer. I just keep it in a tupperware container and swap it at the same time as the tires, and also change blinker fluid as the photon transducers start to go dim as the formula ages. You lose about 0.1 lumens per km unless you have a lumen saver installed on the alternator but I never bothered, they are kind of expensive.

I'm probably due to rotate the muffler bearings I think I'll get the shop to do that, it's a pain getting them off without the proper tools.

You're really funny! Really!

Couldn't read all the posts, but scanned several.

There are two printed guides for any car: the owner's manual, which is just a booklet; and the factory shop manual, which challenges the 3rd New Int'l Webster's for weight and volume. Either one should have the recommended service schedule for everything, including the transmission fluid.

If I keep the same car mechanic for several years, his customer database and vehicle history would be his guide. So I usually just say "check and service the transmission" once annually.

Someone mentioned the problem of having to remove the entire tranny oil pan, or removing fluid through the filler tube. That's a messy job for the home mechanic, I'd think.

 

[MadScientist]

Bottom line, go by what your manual says, 18K is way too soon to change.

 

[Troubleshooters]

Bottom line, go by what your manual says, 18K is way too soon to change.

Manual no way, if you go by what the manual says you will never do any maintenance on it, 20,000 is more than enough for any fluid the cleaner the better overheating and fluid breakdown is the biggest problems in transmissions and having the catalyst converter inches from the transmission don't help matters any.