How often should I change my ATF??

[drewjp]

I have an '02 PT Cruiser 2.4L with 31000 miles.

At 24k, I did a pan drop, filter change, and filled with 4.5 qts. Redline C+ ATF...

If I only do pan drops with filter changes and Redline fill-up, how often should I do it?

I'm not sure about the total capacity of ATF my car has, but I'd like to get it transitioned to a good % of Redline, but every time I do a pan drop and refill, I know I'm losing some of my previous Redline fluid as well as used Mopar fluid.

I just want my transmission to last a long time!! Please help!

 

[unDummy]

If you want the transmission to last a long time, install a good ATF filter and an extra ATF cooler.

Did you inspect the ATF filter for debris? The stock ATF filter would probably last longer.

Install a drainplug to make servicing easier and more frequent.

Since you are doing a partial fluid exchange, 15k is a good interval. With the drainplug, you could change the OEM filter every 4th or 5th interval.

 

[The Critic]

ATF+4 has been field tested extensively for over 100,000 miles by its developers, even under severe service. DC considers ATF+4 to be lifetime fill under normal service, but requires a partial fluid and filter change @ 60,000 mi intervals under severe service.

ATF+4's additive package should provide good anti-wear protection for the life of the unit. If you were to change the fluid, the difference would be in improved shift quality, not unit life. Any effect on the unit's life due to more frequent fluid changes would be minimal at best.

With that said, I'd do a partial fluid change every 30,000 miles solely for performance reasons, to maintain maximum shift quality.

 

[Steelers]

Using Redline (or any synthetic fluid) I would have no concerns about going 30K in between services. Any sooner could be a waste of good fluid.

 

[stingray427]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steelers:
Using Redline (or any synthetic fluid) I would have no concerns about going 30K in between services. Any sooner could be a waste of good fluid.

---

So this discredits the belief like the engine motor oil after break in you should change all fluids to remove the metal shavings in rear diff. and automatic transmission?
Per my manual it's 50,000 miles for the first automatic trans. service

 

[stingray427]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewjp:
I have an '02 PT Cruiser 2.4L with 31000 miles.

At 24k, I did a pan drop, filter change, and filled with 4.5 qts. Redline C+ ATF...

If I only do pan drops with filter changes and Redline fill-up, how often should I do it?

I'm not sure about the total capacity of ATF my car has, but I'd like to get it transitioned to a good % of Redline, but every time I do a pan drop and refill, I know I'm losing some of my previous Redline fluid as well as used Mopar fluid.

I just want my transmission to last a long time!! Please help!

---

Me too I want longetivity for transmission and rear end differential.
My dealership told me they do a powerflush to remove ALL transmission fluid in auto trans.

Have you noticed any difference your automatic shifts since switching over to the Redline synthetic? If so what are the differences

?

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewjp:
The only real difference I've noticed is improved shifting during the winter.

Other than that, not really. This could, of course, be due to the fact that 2/3 of the fluid is still factory fill.
With more partial drain/fills, I'm sure there would be more of a difference.

Thanks for the info about ATF+4! I'm glad it's so robust! I was thinking probably at around 50k doing another pan drop, and then I'll probably be good until 100k, no?

---

Yep, it should be fine. It may turn brown, but that's normal.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stingray427:

So this discredits the belief like the engine motor oil after break in you should change all fluids to remove the metal shavings in rear diff. and automatic transmission?
Per my manual it's 50,000 miles for the first automatic trans. service

---

There aren't that many metal shavings inside a transmission during break-in. This isn't 1960, it's 2006. Any metal shavings will be caught by the pan magnet and filter. I'd do an initial change at 30,000 miles.

 

[Kestas]

It's only semantics, but I hope stingray427 meant to say metal break-in debris. You're right, large shavings are mostly a thing of the past. But the fine metallic flakes produced during break-in on a gear set are unavoidable. And this debris should be removed after break-in to prevent accelerated wear. If you're anal about maintenance, I think 30K is too long to wait for the first fluid change..

 

[ARB1977]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewjp:
I have an '02 PT Cruiser 2.4L with 31000 miles.

At 24k, I did a pan drop, filter change, and filled with 4.5 qts. Redline C+ ATF...

If I only do pan drops with filter changes and Redline fill-up, how often should I do it?

I'm not sure about the total capacity of ATF my car has, but I'd like to get it transitioned to a good % of Redline, but every time I do a pan drop and refill, I know I'm losing some of my previous Redline fluid as well as used Mopar fluid.

I just want my transmission to last a long time!! Please help!

---

Ive used Redline ATF D4 in my 02 Tacoma since 30K and it has worked wonders. I moved to Texas about a month and a half ago pulling a Uhual 6x12' trailer up and down hills in 100 degree heat and the atf didnt even change color.

 

[stingray427]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kestas:
It's only semantics, but I hope stingray427 meant to say metal break-in debris. You're right, large shavings are mostly a thing of the past. But the fine metallic flakes produced during break-in on a gear set are unavoidable. And this debris should be removed after break-in to prevent accelerated wear. If you're anal about maintenance, I think 30K is too long to wait for the first fluid change..

---

Yes that is what I meant but per manual it says 50,000 miles

 

[stingray427]

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Critic:

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewjp:
The only real difference I've noticed is improved shifting during the winter.

Other than that, not really. This could, of course, be due to the fact that 2/3 of the fluid is still factory fill.
With more partial drain/fills, I'm sure there would be more of a difference.

Thanks for the info about ATF+4! I'm glad it's so robust! I was thinking probably at around 50k doing another pan drop, and then I'll probably be good until 100k, no?

---

Yep, it should be fine. It may turn brown, but that's normal.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stingray427:

So this discredits the belief like the engine motor oil after break in you should change all fluids to remove the metal shavings in rear diff. and automatic transmission?
Per my manual it's 50,000 miles for the first automatic trans. service

---

There aren't that many metal shavings inside a transmission during break-in. This isn't 1960, it's 2006. Any metal shavings will be caught by the pan magnet and filter. I'd do an initial change at 30,000 miles.

---

I wish we got 1960 prices

 

[drewjp]

The only real difference I've noticed is improved shifting during the winter.

Other than that, not really. This could, of course, be due to the fact that 2/3 of the fluid is still factory fill.
With more partial drain/fills, I'm sure there would be more of a difference.

Thanks for the info about ATF+4! I'm glad it's so robust! I was thinking probably at around 50k doing another pan drop, and then I'll probably be good until 100k, no?

 

[stingray427]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewjp:
The only real difference I've noticed is improved shifting during the winter.

Other than that, not really. This could, of course, be due to the fact that 2/3 of the fluid is still factory fill.
With more partial drain/fills, I'm sure there would be more of a difference.

Thanks for the info about ATF+4! I'm glad it's so robust! I was thinking probably at around 50k doing another pan drop, and then I'll probably be good until 100k, no?

---

Improved shifting on the automatic that is good. On one of my other cars when I switched to a synthetic fluid (Redline MTL) on a 5 spd. manual transmission the difference was day and night.

 

[unDummy]

Sure the fluid is tested for 100k miles, but will the transmission last that long?

I don't believe in that normal/severe ATF change intervals. Only a used oil analysis on the ATF can determine an ATF interval.
Since ATF is still cheap, its simple maintenance to exchange the fluid to refresh the vicosity and additives, and to remove any wear suspended in the fluid.
Unit life would definitely be improved if the fluid is toast and full of wear.

 

[LubeMan]

Use ATf +4..don't give any excuses for transmission failure..you know those transmissions from DC..oops Chrysler

are not reliable...and then on top of that you want to add a non approved fluid..thats just inviting trouble.

 

[MonumentOiler]

Per the OEM dealer's manual I should buy or lease a new car every three years and want the next larger/better/more expensive model each time I return!

Not sure I can afford to follow the dealers recommendationas all the time.

 

[mechtech2]

Two years of normal driving.
It's not absolutely necessary, but prudent if you can swing it.

 

[Steelers]

New filter and top off with Redline? If you drive hard in the city or tow--every 30K. If you drive long distances on the highway and rack up miles quickly--every 50K.