What could it hurt?
Change or Not Chane ATF Fluid
- Thread starter UNC201
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Hey Amsoil, how about a nanofiber transmission filter?
I change 3qts of auto transmission fluid every oil change, it's cheap enough. My '93 Civic presently has 205,000 miles, original, unrebuilt trans.
I change 3qts of auto transmission fluid every oil change, it's cheap enough. My '93 Civic presently has 205,000 miles, original, unrebuilt trans.
Problem with fine filtration on a conventional automatic transmission setup is that the "filter" (bug screen) is on the suction side of the pump instead of on the pressure side like for an engine oil filter. So, too fine of filtration would limit flow to the ATF pump. That is why some people, who would like to keep the wear particles from circulating so freely, install some sort of filter in the cooler circuit. So if you want an Amsoil nonofiber filter, get a remote mount spin on adaptor and appropriate EaO filter and you're almost there.
I changed, drain and refill, the atf on my Toyota Kluger/Highlander 3MZ at 26k miles. The drained out fluid was dark in colour, opaque and did not smell 'sweet'. I do not tow, the car sees hardly any town driving and I drive very gently. And this is supposed to be fluid for life. For the cost of drain & refill I shall be doing every 2 years from now on.
Roger
Roger
Changed my fluid out of my 2002 Explorer with 65k+ on it with the No Dipstick transmission (d!psh!t transmission). This truck never tows, and the fluid was very dark and transmission shifted badly. Flushed it myself and added a remote filter. She shifts beautifully now. I will never wait that many miles again for transmission fluid change, Unless I am running a bypass filter.
The wife's '04 Jaguar Xj8 has a 6 speed ZF transmission that is "sealed for life".
It got its first change of lifetime fluid at its first 10,000 mile service in August '06. I could tell a subtle, but not imaginary, difference in shifting with new fluid after only 2 years / 10K miles on the old fluid, and she is an extremely gentle driver on the car.
Because of this, I'll probably have it done every 10-15K (2-3 years at her driving rate) while we have the car.
That should tell you what I think about filled for life transmissions and lifetime fluids - change it anyway. If it had a dipstick, I'd do it every time I change the oil, like I do on my other cars.
At 20K I did the 3 QT drain and fill and plan to keep on doing it. I might even switch to every 15K if I can find some more reasonably price Honda Z-1 fluid. I have 12 qts now which is good for the next 80K or so. The first d&f the fluid was not very dirty, and still a quite bright red. The goal is to never see dirty fluid come out.
Lots of varied opinions on the Honda 5-speed AT, but when it works right, it is a pleasure to
Lots of varied opinions on the Honda 5-speed AT, but when it works right, it is a pleasure to
I always change mine every 30k on my cars that get over 1/2 the fluid with a pan drop. Even using mineral fluid this is a big improvement over no changes. I've never had a transmission issue yet. Why wait till the fluid is bad? I just got a car that only gets 4 of 10 qts out with a pan drop so I think I'll get a fluid evacuator and change it every 15k or so and filter changes every 30k. Cheap insurance, why not.
Put drain plug in '95 S10 Blazer trans pan. Drain 4 qt. pan capacity every oil change (3,500mi). This is a TH700R, now has 216,000 and shifts and lock up as well as it did at 65,000 when plug was installed. Changed filter when pan was off for plug install. Never changed filter since.
Bob
Bob
What type of drain plug did you install? I have seen some really crummy ones that fall apart. I would put one in if it's good quality.
^^^^^ Yes, it was done at the dealer.
The X type has had a lot of transmission issues - can't recall if it is the Jatco boxes, or the Aisin-Warners, or both, that are so troublesome, but the quality of these boxes is not up to Jaguar standards.
The X type forum at Jag Lovers could provide you more information, and I would encourage you to join there. My sister has an 2004 X type, but I really don't know that much about them.
The X type has had a lot of transmission issues - can't recall if it is the Jatco boxes, or the Aisin-Warners, or both, that are so troublesome, but the quality of these boxes is not up to Jaguar standards.
The X type forum at Jag Lovers could provide you more information, and I would encourage you to join there. My sister has an 2004 X type, but I really don't know that much about them.
Your friend should do some reading at one of the Ford truck forums. I've heard of many people taking these "units" well over 200K. I also have a 95 Aerostar - I bought it when it was less than 2 year old, and I now have 192K miles on it - no problems at all with the transmission.
That being said, I DO change the filter/fluid every 30K or 2 years.
Have you read the Explorer forums...LOL....
BAD TRANSMISSION...BAD TRANSMISSION...GO IN THE CORNER
Just like with the power steering fluid, people think they are non maintenance, NOT. If you want your power steering to be healthy and live long and prosper, FLUSH it out with new ATF. And if your filter concious put one on it (I am).
BAD TRANSMISSION...BAD TRANSMISSION...GO IN THE CORNER
Just like with the power steering fluid, people think they are non maintenance, NOT. If you want your power steering to be healthy and live long and prosper, FLUSH it out with new ATF. And if your filter concious put one on it (I am).
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Some ideas to consider. The ~$5.00 unit referred to is probably the one from B&M, and is widely available.
pagee no workee
this is an interesting statement -- does anyone else see the irony/absurdly self-fulfilling nature of this logic?
I was thinking the same thing the first time I read it. Obviously if you never change your transmission fluid your transmission will fail sooner and be more likely to "die" before the fluid "dies"? However if the transmission really dies before the fluid and it was caused by bad fluid then in reality it was the fluid that must have died first, right? So maybe it is possible the statement "could" be true, although since many people have used their originally transmission to 200k and beyond and I doubt the fluid will last that long I doubt the statement is true all the time or even most of the time. I'm sure it is true of some of the least reliable transmissions however.
Quote:
Have you read the Explorer forums...LOL....
BAD TRANSMISSION...BAD TRANSMISSION...GO IN THE CORNER
Just like with the power steering fluid, people think they are non maintenance, NOT. If you want your power steering to be healthy and live long and prosper, FLUSH it out with new ATF. And if your filter concious put one on it (I am).
Why would I read the Explorer forums, I have an Aerostar? The early A4LD transmission were very bad units. I had an 87 Aerostar, and the transmission was being rebuilt about every two years. I've heard Ford upgraded some of the major parts in the early 90's. As I mentioned, my 95 Aerostar with the same transmission, has been troublefree for 190K+ miles. Same with the power steering, that still has the original fluid in it. (I think I added about 2 ounces of fluid about 5 years ago) No leaks, no noises, no problems.
Many people have gone 200K - 250K on the LATER A4LD transmissions. Not all Ford trucks have the same transmission. My A4LD transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears, and has been completely trouble free. If that's a bad transmission I hope my 05 Trailblazer EXT is just as "bad" as the Aerostar!!!!!
Rhetorical question
xploders have transmissions from #@$%!.
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