Debating about ATF analysis

[xBa380]

I am debating if I should send a sample of my ATF fluid to blackstone when I do my drain and fill within the week... I am at 75K miles and have done (3) drain/fills prior at 17K, 30K and 45K... Wondering if it would be a waste of money to send a sample away... IF there was an issue wear wise, what could I really do?

At least with oil, you can see if you have filtration issues, coolant, fuel dilution, etc... But the transmission? If its going bad, its going bad no?

The transmission works as it did new... No slippage, nothing weird. Bright red fluid. Doing a drain/fill is half the work of an oil change so that is why I have been doing it every so often.

So does it make any sense to really test the ATF fluid at all? Or just stick to the oil?

 

[simple_gifts]

Since any result would unlikely change your maintenance regimen (admirable one @ that), I say it is not worth it.

 

[Dave Hess]

I would skip it.

My dad's car is a 2005 and only has 24K miles all city driving.
I have done 3 drain / refills... no need for a used oil analysis on the ATF.

 

[xBa380]

That is what I figured... Thanks!

I think I may just send away the oil. Have not done the last few. See how the engine is doing.

 

[MarkStock]

Skip it.

However, it would be interesting to know what car you have and your driving habits.

And why you went from 17k intervals to a 30k interval.

I know my Ford transmission has a poor history. And when they say 30k interval, that's for a complete change. A drain and fill would only be about 50% actually changed. So if yours is similar, then drain and fill at 17k intervals would be the minimum you should be doing.

 

[Donald]

Like doing your oil, I think a used oil analysis on the used ATF is a good idea. Despite looking bright red it may or may not have wear metals. Be sure and get the TAN. Send it to Polaris, B/S charges too much for the combined used oil analysis w/TAN. I have done a few and always learned things. Since the ATF may stay in there much longer than oil, it would be good to know if wear metals are accumulating in the ATF.

Doing multiple drain & fills is not cost effective. Better to do a cooler line flush yourself. As the ATF gets more and more expensive, multiple drain & fills gets less cost effective.

A single drain & fill to "refresh" the ATF might be a reasonable approach say every other oil change.

 

[xBa380]

I am driving a 2008 Scion xB, AT.

I did 15K intervals at the beginning just because there is more break-in wear at the beginning. So now I plan to do it every 25-30K. The fluid is not badly priced, especially since my brother works at a dealership and gets it at near cost. It is so easy to drain/fill on this car, I figured why not. My next one will be around 100K.

The fluid used is Toyota WS, which is 'life-long' and should not require any changing for the life of the vehicle. But for as easy as it is, I do the drain/fill.

 

[dnewton3]

I have 230k miles on my wife's Villager. Run all those miles with house-brand Dex/Merc type ATF. I had suspicion that something was wrong with the transmission a few years ago; sent in a used oil analysis. Everything came back fine in the used oil analysis. Turned out the problem was something else. In short, I don't think I wasted my money, because it helped me eliminate a concern, so I could focus elsewhere.

But if there is nothing suspected wrong with your ride, why spend the money?

Now, if you did the used oil analysis, and everything came back fine, and you saw good indication that you could extend your OCIs out, then I'd see value in it!

 

[xBa380]

I did the drain/fill today and skipped the sample... No reason to do it! Appreciate the input everyone.

Now I did check how much fluid actually did drain out by weight to compare to the manual of 3.5qts... I used a very accurate postal scale I have and measured the weight of the fluid drained after zeroing it out with just the empty oil pan. Came out to like 3.45 quarts. Was very close!

ATF fluid changed, oil changed and gas tank topped off... Great day.