2018 cruze premier atf d&f

[toxic]

Just bought this car about a month ago with 72300 miles, nothing on the carfax about any trans fluid changes, so today I drained and filled with pennzoil platinum LV atf, it took just shy of 5qt, measuring what came out. Car currently has 78500 miles and I'd say original trans fluid based on how black it was.

Should I do another drain and fill soon?

 

[nascarnation]

There's a lot of talk online (and I think a GM service bulletin) about the dark color being a result of corrosion inhibitors on parts inside the trans rather than oxidation. Given that these get a grp III syn fluid (Dex VI) fill and wouldn't run all that hot in most duty cycles, I wouldn't expect the fluid to burn down in 70,000 miles. But it's always good to change it out at a reasonable interval. I'd say you're good for another 100,000 miles unless you're doing something to make it run hot (towing loads heavy enough to be in converter mode or lots of time in high ambient stop and go traffic).

 

[RF Overlord]

Just adding to what nascarnation said, there is also a TSB from Ford concerning Mercon LV turning dark quickly (it's normal) along with a vid from a specialist tech who is highly respected in the Ford community demonstrating the same thing.

duck://player/JUBoXyQ7UDQ

Having said all that, it is almost impossible to change ATF too often, so I'd go ahead and do another drain & fill (or 2).