Lifetime fill on Transmission fluid

[Pitbull]

My 02 Dodge CTD 6 speed owners manual indicates that the Dodge 6 speed transmission is filled at the factory with a life time fill and never requires changing. I don't tow or haul that often, what do you guys think? It has a 70K mile warranty on the transmission. I will trade this truck around 90-100K miles, just because after 5 years of driving I will want new wheels.

 

[sbc350gearhead]

5yrs or 90000 miles.............don't even worry about it.

 

[unDummy]

Lifetime fluid? so wheres the lifetime warranty?

If it has a fluid, it should be serviced. I'm also guessing that the factory fill is a quality fluid or even a synth.

Since you don't tow/haul and plan on dumping it, don't worry about it. If you planned on keeping it forever, then change it every so often(or at least check its level every year).

More than likely, if there is any transmission or component failure(clutch/bearing/seal), you'll end up changing the fluid anyway.

 

[Pitbull]

Thanks guys that is what I figured. If I get down the road to say 50-60K miles and decide I will keep this truck forever than I will change it. Based on my use of the truck, they don't recommend I change the front or rear differential, they are also covered under the 7/70K mile drive train warranty. I will change them anyway because it is not the hard to do.

 

[mrchecker]

Don't forget the old Getrags were filled for life, too. And it was usually a short one. I think if it was mine I'd change it by 50k.

 

[DEWFPO]

I bought a used Volvo with 109,000 miles on the clock (just broken in for a Volvo). Volvo says the fluid is lifetime and does not require changing. The previous owner never changed it for that reason. I checked the fluid and it looked like chocolate syrup. I flushed it immediately and will keep it on a flush/refill maintenance schedule from now on.

IMHO, NO TRANSMISSION FLUID IS FOREVER. That is just advertising hype. ALL auto fluids should be checked, changed on a regular maintennce schedule. That is, if you want your vehicles to operate faithfully for a long time without problems.

DEWFPO

 

[Bror Jace]

I'm with DEWFPO. No fluid will last forever. Even if you don't plan on keeping it forever, you should change the fluid at around 50,000-60,000 miles. Who knows, you might even feel an improvement in the way the transmission shifts.

--- Bror Jace

 

[JTK]

It seems to be the going rate that "lifetime" or "sealed" transmissions & transaxles will last to right around 100Kmi w/out ATF changeouts, but that's about it. With any severe service, you will be lucky to get to 100Kmi without issues. Yet another way for dealers & manufacturers to make money by changing out transmissions & selling new vehicles

.
Joel

 

[Mike_dup1]

If you are planning on replacing the vehicle, changing the trans and axle fluids is throwing money down the drain. Why spend your money saving the vehicle for someone else? In 30+ yrs of driving company vehicles we have never changed the axle lubes or the trans lubes in any of our vehicles. In all this time we only lost 1 trans on a 1993 F150 but that was in less than 50,000 miles. No axles ever failed on and GM, Ford or Dudge. All our units went a minimum of 100,000 miles before replacing. So, save your $$$, roll the dice, the luck is in your favor of nothing happening.

[ October 12, 2003, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: Mike ]