My manual says to change my fluid every 15k or 1 year but thats not with synthetic fluid, so can i extend it to every 30k maybe?
My car doesn't get hard use.
My car doesn't get hard use.
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Can you extend ATF flushes with synthetic?
- Thread starter trey
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Whoa ! Short interval. What kind of car is this for ?quote:
Originally posted by trey:
My manual says to change my fluid every 15k or 1 year
Here is the thing transmission that require freq. drain fill seldom hold much fluid in the pan and often have a drain plug. If they have made it simply to drain and refill you are better to just comply.
Toyota's are notoris for this. You only get 3-5 quarts out depending on the model and they have a drain plug. It has been my experince that you are better served by following the recomended service. This is especialy true on Toyotas that do not have a user serviceable filter! You need to get contaimnets out of their some how and drain and fill does just that. My Mom's Tundra get 4 quarts of Mobil-1 ATF every 18,000 miles like clock work!
You would have to have close to 100% synthetic fill to think about extending the drains. I would not advise it. It is my opion that even with synthetics automatic transmissions really benifit greatly from regular serviceing!
Toyota's are notoris for this. You only get 3-5 quarts out depending on the model and they have a drain plug. It has been my experince that you are better served by following the recomended service. This is especialy true on Toyotas that do not have a user serviceable filter! You need to get contaimnets out of their some how and drain and fill does just that. My Mom's Tundra get 4 quarts of Mobil-1 ATF every 18,000 miles like clock work!
You would have to have close to 100% synthetic fill to think about extending the drains. I would not advise it. It is my opion that even with synthetics automatic transmissions really benifit greatly from regular serviceing!
trey,
What car do you have? I'm absolutely sure that if you can replace 85-90% (or more) of the ATF in your transmission with synthetic ATF you can safely go up to 3 years and 36k miles. However, recommended drain interval must be the only real benchmark which can be taken for consideration for ATF drain. If manual says replace every 15k miles you probably shouldn't (really shouldn't) go 50k miles. On the other hand if drain interval is 36k you might easily go up to 50k with synthetic ATF. I personally would not risk going over 60-65k miles (or more than 4-5 years) even with synthetic ATF in any car no matter what driving conditions or recommended change interval are. Again to take full advantage of extended drain you should replace as much old ATF with synthetic as possible. But don't overdo it 92% instead of 89% wouldn't make any difference.
Regards,
What car do you have? I'm absolutely sure that if you can replace 85-90% (or more) of the ATF in your transmission with synthetic ATF you can safely go up to 3 years and 36k miles. However, recommended drain interval must be the only real benchmark which can be taken for consideration for ATF drain. If manual says replace every 15k miles you probably shouldn't (really shouldn't) go 50k miles. On the other hand if drain interval is 36k you might easily go up to 50k with synthetic ATF. I personally would not risk going over 60-65k miles (or more than 4-5 years) even with synthetic ATF in any car no matter what driving conditions or recommended change interval are. Again to take full advantage of extended drain you should replace as much old ATF with synthetic as possible. But don't overdo it 92% instead of 89% wouldn't make any difference.
Regards,
trey
Thread starter
I own a 03 nissan maxima and I bought a service manual for it on cd-Rom.
I guess when I said I don't drive it hard I was refering to not really stomping on it a lot and although I do work only 3 miles from my house I take frequent 10-12 miles romps to the gym.
So from what I gathered here, looks like I can extend it a little bit but don't go crazy?
I guess when I said I don't drive it hard I was refering to not really stomping on it a lot and although I do work only 3 miles from my house I take frequent 10-12 miles romps to the gym.
So from what I gathered here, looks like I can extend it a little bit but don't go crazy?
I have an 02 Maxima and have done two of three "drain and fills" on the transmission. After the third I will have 80%+ new oil and will considered that good. I cheaped out and went to Chevron ATF since it was 0.89/qt vs $5 for M1 and I figured I could change it several times and still come out ahead. Car shifts just like always with the Chevron fluid. I wouldn't do it this way with SuperTech I don't think but just bought another case of Chevron at Kragen for the 0.89/qt price to do my S10.
I'd change it more often just because its a nice almost new car.
And, it has a drain plug, doesn't it? This makes the drain/refill easy and cheap insurance against future failures if you keep the car forever.
Plus, you will not remove all the fluid with the drain plug. So, change it more often.
And, it has a drain plug, doesn't it? This makes the drain/refill easy and cheap insurance against future failures if you keep the car forever.
Plus, you will not remove all the fluid with the drain plug. So, change it more often.
If you have a transmission temp gauge then you can see if you can double, triple, or quadriple your drain interval.
It's easy, every 20 degrees you can lower the temp doubles the fluid's life.
So with a gauge and a transmission cooler you could see that you can go 30k, 50k, or maybe higher.
Since synthetic handles heat better yes it will last longer. Maybe not as long as you'd like, but it will last longer.
It's easy, every 20 degrees you can lower the temp doubles the fluid's life.
So with a gauge and a transmission cooler you could see that you can go 30k, 50k, or maybe higher.
Since synthetic handles heat better yes it will last longer. Maybe not as long as you'd like, but it will last longer.
trey
Thread starter
So you never dropped the pan to clean that out? why does this trans have to be so confusing, flushing, drain and fill, dropping the pan, what to do? It just seems that everyone does it different.quote:
Originally posted by gfcrane:
I have an 02 Maxima and have done two of three "drain and fills" on the transmission. After the third I will have 80%+ new oil and will considered that good. I cheaped out and went to Chevron ATF since it was 0.89/qt vs $5 for M1 and I figured I could change it several times and still come out ahead. Car shifts just like always with the Chevron fluid. I wouldn't do it this way with SuperTech I don't think but just bought another case of Chevron at Kragen for the 0.89/qt price to do my S10.
What manual??? car make??
You should be able to extend it to 30k easily with a good synthetic flush because of two reasons that are mentioned:
your location--you don't live in the desert
your driving style--your car doesn't get hard use
But, you'll need to define "doesn't get hard use".
I find that alot of cars that don't get hard use fall into the short trips, never fully warming up, infrequent fuel fillups(stale tank), infrequent maintenance(fluids always low)..... ARE actually in very hard use.
You should be able to extend it to 30k easily with a good synthetic flush because of two reasons that are mentioned:
your location--you don't live in the desert
your driving style--your car doesn't get hard use
But, you'll need to define "doesn't get hard use".
I find that alot of cars that don't get hard use fall into the short trips, never fully warming up, infrequent fuel fillups(stale tank), infrequent maintenance(fluids always low)..... ARE actually in very hard use.
Trey, nothing is confusing.
It depends on the miles on the unit already, filter type, and whether it has a drainplug from the factory.
You need to drop the pan to change the filter. This will allow you to clean the pan and magnets. This should be done every 100k miles or so. Nissan usually uses a lame screen and not a true filter. Basically, the ATF is unfiltered.
Since you have a drainplug, use it as often as you want during that 100k interval. Every 2nd oil change is a great interval regardless of fluid used. This will constantly refresh the fluid and remove contaminents in %% increments.
A complete machine flush might be needed if the fluid is already discolored and there is no history of ATF maintenance. On Nissans, 30k miles if pretty rough on ATF. See one of the popular Maxima websites which were collecting ATF/Oil UOAs.
It depends on the miles on the unit already, filter type, and whether it has a drainplug from the factory.
You need to drop the pan to change the filter. This will allow you to clean the pan and magnets. This should be done every 100k miles or so. Nissan usually uses a lame screen and not a true filter. Basically, the ATF is unfiltered.
Since you have a drainplug, use it as often as you want during that 100k interval. Every 2nd oil change is a great interval regardless of fluid used. This will constantly refresh the fluid and remove contaminents in %% increments.
A complete machine flush might be needed if the fluid is already discolored and there is no history of ATF maintenance. On Nissans, 30k miles if pretty rough on ATF. See one of the popular Maxima websites which were collecting ATF/Oil UOAs.
If you want to extend the life of your transmission and never change the fluid in your transmission, then get a bypass filter for it..Read these articles.. Also visit the bypass forum on this site.
http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/5359 Good article here
http://www.lubetrak.com/newsletter/July09HTML.html Another good article
http://www.gulfcoastfilter.com/why.htm Great information
http://www.bypassfilter.com/ Great site! Ralph Wood is a Bypass
filtration guru and expert for over 40 years!..And a sponser of this site! Read the FAQ's
http://www.wefilterit.com/ Frantz website.. Deborah is the owner.. She is another bypass filtration guru
Check out my webshots page:
http://community.webshots.com/user/mykro5656
http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/5359 Good article here
http://www.lubetrak.com/newsletter/July09HTML.html Another good article
http://www.gulfcoastfilter.com/why.htm Great information
http://www.bypassfilter.com/ Great site! Ralph Wood is a Bypass
filtration guru and expert for over 40 years!..And a sponser of this site! Read the FAQ's
http://www.wefilterit.com/ Frantz website.. Deborah is the owner.. She is another bypass filtration guru
Check out my webshots page:
http://community.webshots.com/user/mykro5656
IMO, have the dealer perform a complete transmission service for you after using A-Rx for the appropriate miles; have him describe the service exactly so that you know what has been done.
Second, install a auxiliary "stacked-plate" cooler after the radiator cooler, and a small, inexpensive inline filter (MAGNEFINE). Buy and use a high-quality fluid.
Do annual changes (or 25K) whichever comes first.
I rigged my cooler/filter set-ups on my Jeep Cherokee to enable the MAGNEFINE filters on the the power steering and transmission to be the low point of each system; mounted at an easy-to-service point so as to allow complete, annual flushes. (At least, until analysis can confirm the value of possibly going to two-year intervals of 50k versus the current annual mileage and change interval of 25k).
Do a search on these products. The B&M Racing #70268 cooler bypasses cold fluid automatically. The Magnefine filter is also a FORD part number for dealer re-built transmissions. Neither is expensive. Just be sure to use VERY high quality hose and fittings so as to preclude any leaks.
I'm sure the boards appropriate to your make of car will have more info, especially as to mounts.
Here is a good link to one:
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/gtp/trans.html
Cool, clean transmission fluid of a high-quality type should keep that item pretty happy.
I chose to run SCHAEFFERS Dexron-Mercon #204s as the Aisin-Warner piece in our Jeep had lived on conventional fluids before. (And a fill of cheap, clean fluid was made after installation of above, then a 1.5x capacity flush & fill with 204s to ensure new fluid throughout. Will likely change again before 15k is up -- just to be nitpicky -- to change filter and fluid; then revert to 25k or as above with analysis).
Second, install a auxiliary "stacked-plate" cooler after the radiator cooler, and a small, inexpensive inline filter (MAGNEFINE). Buy and use a high-quality fluid.
Do annual changes (or 25K) whichever comes first.
I rigged my cooler/filter set-ups on my Jeep Cherokee to enable the MAGNEFINE filters on the the power steering and transmission to be the low point of each system; mounted at an easy-to-service point so as to allow complete, annual flushes. (At least, until analysis can confirm the value of possibly going to two-year intervals of 50k versus the current annual mileage and change interval of 25k).
Do a search on these products. The B&M Racing #70268 cooler bypasses cold fluid automatically. The Magnefine filter is also a FORD part number for dealer re-built transmissions. Neither is expensive. Just be sure to use VERY high quality hose and fittings so as to preclude any leaks.
I'm sure the boards appropriate to your make of car will have more info, especially as to mounts.
Here is a good link to one:
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/gtp/trans.html
Cool, clean transmission fluid of a high-quality type should keep that item pretty happy.
I chose to run SCHAEFFERS Dexron-Mercon #204s as the Aisin-Warner piece in our Jeep had lived on conventional fluids before. (And a fill of cheap, clean fluid was made after installation of above, then a 1.5x capacity flush & fill with 204s to ensure new fluid throughout. Will likely change again before 15k is up -- just to be nitpicky -- to change filter and fluid; then revert to 25k or as above with analysis).
Good posts! I also drive a newer Maxima ('02). After reading experiences from other Maxima owners, I decided to do preventive maintenance on the transmission by doing frequent drain and fill (every year) with quality ATF (I'm using Mobil 1 ATF). Drain and fill takes around 4 quarts of fluid, which even at Mobil 1 prices, it is still cheaper than replacing a transmission.
[ March 25, 2004, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: GimmeTorq ]
[ March 25, 2004, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: GimmeTorq ]
trey
Thread starter
Hey sounds good to me too, i'm going to get a flush done at a shop and then do drain and refills like every year, tquote:
Originally posted by GimmeTorq:
Good posts! I also drive a newer Maxima ('02). After reading experiences from other Maxima owners, I decided to do preventive maintenance on the transmission by doing frequent drain and fill (every year) with quality ATF (I'm using Mobil 1 ATF). Drain and fill takes around 4 quarts of fluid, which even at Mobil 1 prices, it is still cheaper than replacing a transmission.
thanks guys for the tips.
trey, I dropped the pan once with my 01 Max to clean it, and highly recommend it...at least once. The magnet was coated with metal shavings so thick it looked like a fuzzy catepillar. After that I just do the "drain & fill" every 15K.
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