transmission fluid
took my car in today to get the oil changed and the guys there told me that my transmission fluid is dirty and I should get it changed. I know I SHOULD but I'm wondering just how critical it is. The car's only got 48,000 miles on it. How often should I get it done, realistically and practically, if not ideally? It costs over $100 and I'm on somewhat of a budget.
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Its not too hard to do yourself, we do, and its kinda fun, it can get dirty if you dont know what your doing. 48,000 miles, ehhm, we change ours every 25-30 thousand, but alot of shops have a specials, 79 dollars or something.
especially dealers
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If you do your own, itll cost like 30 tops
what kinda car is it? some have to have machines pump it in AND out.
shops have the deals this time of the year, in winter, cause works slow.
Go get some prices.0 -
I would check the fluid myself and see if it is actually dirty. It should be a light pink color with a sweet smell. If it is a dark pink, red or brown and has a burnt smell, it needs to be changed. Alot of shops will tell you that it needs service when it really does not. A friend of mine that was a transmission specialist said he never changed his tranny fluid because it does not go bad. He said to only change it if it starts to lose its light pink color and sweet smell. I changed it on my 2500 and the stuff I drained out looked cleaner than what I put back in. I'm sure you'll get other advice contradiciting what I say. you can also have the "transmission flush" where they suck out all the old and replace with new. Its around $200. I've never had it done.
Good luck.0 -
Drop the pan (only let 1 corner down until most of the oil is out), inspect for metal shavings and chunks (some powder type residue is normal). Install a new filter, replace the gasket and re-install the pan (don't overtighten the bolts). Refill the tranny.
New fluid is red, brown or black and smelling like a used ashtray is bad.0 -
I thought the transmission service was due at 30K miles?
It is important to get it done ASAP.0 -
I agree with what was said earlier. Shop around. There's deals to be had unless you live in a rural area. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TexasVet
I thought the transmission service was due at 30K miles?
It is important to get it done ASAP.
Yeah, but, as always, better late than never. but better on time!0 -
Transmissions are pickey, if the fluid is "dirty" it should be changed but more times than not you will have trouble with it after a service. Although your car is fairly new so warrenty may be an issue. What make/model are we dealing with? 0 -
Tailgunner has it right. ATF is not like engine oil, which gets contaminated by combustion byproducts. I only change my ATF and filter if the stuff is discolored or smells burned.
Out of the 150+ cars I've owned, I have only needed to perform that repair (NOT maintenance) one time.
Oh yeah,...I have never had a trans failure from lack of this repair. If it ain't broke...
D.0 -
On some of the older transmissions(I don't know about newer ones)if the trans fluid was dark and burned and you changed it, all the old gunk built up inside the transmission would be flushed loose by the new fluid and the trans would fail most of the time.With 48000 miles you should be OK. 0 -
I've never changed mine, top it off if needed. My dad has had problems every time he has taken in a car and they flushed or changed the fluid, mind you now he trades in and buys a new vehicle every 3 years, and always seems to have a problem after the shopped has serviced the trannys, these are dealerships and under warrenty. 0 -
it all depends on specs. if the manu suggests changing every 30k, do so. also, most of the time it is really just time to cange the filter. check you specs first. also, if you are at anyway mechanical, check and see if you can do the change yourself. alot of autozoners, advance auto parts, napa, and carquest employees are ace certified mechanics. check out what they have to say. 0 -
I'll shop around. Thanks for the input. Like I said, I know I SHOULD have it done, but I don't think it'll be fatal if I don't get it done immediately. maybe wait for the tax refund to come through. 0 -
check the quality and consistancy of the fluid. if its burt and dark, you shouldnt have waited this long, much less any longer. if its still clean, it can wait till the refund comes in. 0 -
The total miles on the car don't necessarily reflect the state of wear on the transmission fluid. I know a salesman that put an average of 200,000 miles per year on his cars and didn't change the transmisison fluid; but the miles were very easy on the tranmission- average speed about 60 mph and very little change in car speed for mile after mile. Howver, he did regularly check the fluid, made sure it was at the proper level and that as noted above, that it wasn't "burnt". It can still be red and be burnt. That the dip stick out and smell it- if it smells like toast, the fluid will be doing damage to the transmission, and you can either replace it now or, depending on the vulnerability of the transmission design, replace the transmission in a few months to a year.
that cost for a fluid change seems kind of high- but the problem with doing it yourself is that if you pull the drain plug out and let the fluid run out, when it stops there will still be about half of the fluid in the workings of the trans. Not sure if those tubes that pump the old fluid out and new fluid in can be rented.0 -
ford says do it at 60 thousand miles on the newer cars like from 98 on up. If it does not smell burnt do not worry about it for now. 0 -
I drive a dodge truck, tranny problems are horrible on them. So, I change my filter every year. Its easy, takes less then 30 minutes to do and cost about $20. $20 x how ever many years I will own the truck will be a heck of a lot cheaper then problems down the road. 0 -
My '01 Ram 1500,4x4 had one of those switches inside that tells it when to shift etc. go out here a while back.Got serviced then,but otherwise would have never been done probably.
Had about 120k on it then and the guy said the insides looked better than some much newer/lower mileage trucks he's worked on.
I don't abuse it,but I do USE it.Now and then it's got a LOT more weight behind it than it ought'a.
BW0 -
I service my automatics every year and use Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid. The transmission and differential are the two most neglected parts of every automobile. I know people who change their engine oil religiously and never service their trannys. Stupid! 0 -
A buddy of mine had a 95 Mercury Sable. Blew the tranny at 95,000 miles. I asked when he had the fluid changed last.... he said, "huh? There's fluid in there?" [:D]
Whereas I have a 93 Tempo, a car rather known for problematic transmissions (ok transaxles in this case) with 155k on it and the tranny works fine. I change the fluid every 25k or so, and looking at it it needs it too. Usually I do it myself, but have had it done once or twice too. In fact, its getting to that point now... the fluid is 'off red' kind of a brownish red. Plus the pan gasket is shot, I could deal with that while I'm down there......but it will wait for warmer weather.
OTOH, my new mustang is a manual....don't have to worry about gallons of sloshing fluid. [:D]0 -
"Just" changing the filter and replacing the fluid in the pan leaves a couple of quarts of dirty fluid in the torque converter. The first time you start it up and drop it in gear, all the dirty fluid and crap from the converter gets pumped right back into the trans. I alternate between a filter service and a flush at every 25K. It's called "Preventative" Maintenance" for a reason.
A good transmission man can tell what kind of shape the trans is in by the debris in the bottom of the pan, and in the filter. Most times what's in it is just from normal wear.0 -
It is very critical!! Never let your tranny go ALWAYS do the services when they are do not 20,000 later it is the key to the tranny lasting a long or being replaced at regular intervals 0 -
The suggested maintenance intervals are pretty much a way for the manufacturers to increase business in their dealerships' service and parts departments.
If you regularly check your fluid levels, do tune ups when your milage drops, you can safely and economically ignore suggested intervals.
D.0 -
Once you drain all the transmission fluid, gold Plamolive dishwashing detergent actually works wonderfully in transmissions, provided you add several drops of red food coloring to get it to be the right color. Best of luck! 0 -
If you have a Dodge truck just swap out trannies instead of replacing fluid[}:)] 0
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