Chilton book says flush ATX at 15,000 miles, true?

[ziggy]

I have a chilton book,for a 95 plymouth neon. It says to flush or change ATX ATF+3 or 4 fluid at 15,000 miles, under sever use. Outside of that, todo it every 60,000 miles. Some other neon users, do 30,000 to 40,000 miles flush or change.
Does 15,000, under stop and go driving, apply? Or should be good for 60,000 miles?

 

[Johnny]

Most all manufactures consider stop and go driving as sever use. Do you have the owners manual for your 95 Neon? I personally would not wait until 60K.

 

[ZZman]

Most will tell you every 2 yrs or 30,000 miles if you want to play it safe. 15,000 is overkill.

I would say severe use would be towing situations or high heat conditions.

 

[Donald]

I agree with ZZman. But this would be a complete fluid replacement every 2 yrs or 30K miles. Not a single drain and refill. If you wanted to do a single drain and refill every 15K that should be a good way to go also.

If you upgrade to synthetic then you can probably go 50K-60K miles even in stop and go.

Add a Magnefine filter and things will even be better off.

 

[The Critic]

That was probably an appropriate interval back in the day for ATF+3. ATF+4 was a lot better than +3, and as a result, intervals were often doubled.

 

[artificialist]

ATF+4 is already synthetic.

 

[VK56VD]

do a drain and refill every 15-20k miles if possible. is there a drain plug or do you have to drop the entire pan?

 

[JohnBrowning]

First it is not over kill at all look at the size of the sump and how seldom you change out the fluid. I would stick to 15,000 miles no matter what. I would use ATF+4 or Redline C+ATF.

 

[bulwnkl]

'95 Neon? That's the not-really-electronic 3-speed A/T rather than the 4-speed in the 2nd gens. That transmission is not really a weak point in the vehicle. Drain and refill @ 30k w/ATF+4 (or the C+ recommendation made) will probably be fine if you're not towing. 15k won't hurt, but shouldn't be necessary in that trans in that vehicle.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Well the good thing is that if he does 15,000 mile OCI ont he trans he can easily use cheaper ATF+4 like Walmarts brand or Costal etc.... and really not worry about it. If he does decide to go 30,000 miles wich is still a decent OCI I would only use Redline C+ ATF since it is trully 100% synthetic group IV and group V with some super premium ingredients in the additive package. I have a UOA on this site of Redline C+ATF in my Dodge Dakota and it looks great!!! In fact it is one of the best automatic transmission UOA on this site! So just something to keep in mind!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
Well the good thing is that if he does 15,000 mile OCI ont he trans he can easily use cheaper ATF+4 like Walmarts brand or Costal etc.... and really not worry about it. If he does decide to go 30,000 miles wich is still a decent OCI I would only use Redline C+ ATF since it is trully 100% synthetic group IV and group V with some super premium ingredients in the additive package. I have a UOA on this site of Redline C+ATF in my Dodge Dakota and it looks great!!! In fact it is one of the best automatic transmission UOA on this site! So just something to keep in mind!

Maybe Redline has better basestocks, but does its additive package have the same durability as the approved fill(which has been validated for 100k+ of service)?

 

[Tempest]

Do you have any proof of the contrary?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Do you have any proof of the contrary?

Neither have I seen any proof that it does. Given RL's history with its formulations, I have my doubts, but that's just my opinion.

 

[unDummy]

What history?

Doubt all you want. I'll doubt OE validation with all the failures that I've seen over the years. So, who is better? the aftermarket or the OE? I've worked for both. OE is still playing catch up!

 

[AzFireGuy79]

I thought it was common knowledge that engineers calculate when a car will start to have mechanical issues and this is when they come up with a time/milage marker for such things as warranties and service on various components on the vehicle. OEM transmission fluid going 100K in any car is ridiculous. And tell me what really does approved mean? That the car maker payed some company/institution to conduct some tests that make their fluid the only "approved" one and thus leaving the end customer with no real alternative.

 

[smokey1]

I would change the transmission fluid in our '86 Chevy NOVA ( Corolla ) every 33,000 miles and the 3 speed transmission shifted smooth as silk until the engine went at 265,000 miles . That was under very extreme conditions of 2 motor routes , 1 was 365 days of the year and the other on weekends . GOOD LUCK