My wife's Garage Queen, 1999 Trans Am had the Dexron transmission fluid and filter changed in 2000, 8 years ago. However it has a little less than 8K miles on this fluid and it will not be driven much in the foreseeable future. Question is, should the fluid and filter be changed or let it ride another couple of years.
Low Miles but High on Years Transmission Fluid
- Thread starter lzhome
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I'd vote it's the miles that are important and not the years, especially since you have so few miles on it.
By the way, 2000 is 18 years ago, not 8. I'll bet you meant you last changed it in 2010.
If it bothers you go ahead and change it and sleep well.
By the way, 2000 is 18 years ago, not 8. I'll bet you meant you last changed it in 2010.
If it bothers you go ahead and change it and sleep well.
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I am in the same situation with some vehicles.
The general consensus that I have heard through Master Techs and engineers is around 10 years for transmission fluid with low miles.
I also apply this to gear oil, transfer case fluid and power steering fluid as well.
There are seal conditioners that age, improvements in fluids and possible moisture and breakdown due to age.
The general consensus that I have heard through Master Techs and engineers is around 10 years for transmission fluid with low miles.
I also apply this to gear oil, transfer case fluid and power steering fluid as well.
There are seal conditioners that age, improvements in fluids and possible moisture and breakdown due to age.
I would change it after you take it for a nice easy long drive. There is likely moisture and other goodies the fluid picked up over the years.
I have only changed the ATF in my '80 FORMULA in my signature 3 X in 38 yrs. The next time will either be in the summer of '19 or '20. The engine/tranny only have 45K original miles. Neither have been rebuilt. About once every 8-10 yrs is enough.
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I have only changed the ATF in my '80 FORMULA in my signature 3 X in 38 yrs. The next time will either be in the summer of '19 or '20. The engine/tranny only have 45K original miles. Neither have been rebuilt. About once every 8-10 yrs is enough.
I've been changing engine oil/filter every 18-24 months. Just wondering your OCI for the Formula?
I have only changed the ATF in my '80 FORMULA in my signature 3 X in 38 yrs. The next time will either be in the summer of '19 or '20. The engine/tranny only have 45K original miles. Neither have been rebuilt. About once every 8-10 yrs is enough.
I've been changing engine oil/filter every 18-24 months. Just wondering your OCI for the Formula?
Since transmissions do not burn fuel they generate little contaminates except for debris. I doubt they age much at all with no usage.
Originally Posted by lzhome
My wife's Garage Queen, 1999 Trans Am had the Dexron transmission fluid and filter changed in 2000, 8 years ago. However it has a little less than 8K miles on this fluid and it will not be driven much in the foreseeable future. Question is, should the fluid and filter be changed or let it ride another couple of years.
Leave it for another few years. Plus you are in Florida so there is not a dramatic temp swing between seasons.
My wife's Garage Queen, 1999 Trans Am had the Dexron transmission fluid and filter changed in 2000, 8 years ago. However it has a little less than 8K miles on this fluid and it will not be driven much in the foreseeable future. Question is, should the fluid and filter be changed or let it ride another couple of years.
Leave it for another few years. Plus you are in Florida so there is not a dramatic temp swing between seasons.
If its appearance is good, I would leave it. I change fluid based on miles, not years. BTW, last year I changed the fluid which was in my classic car. Last done in 1993 and had 40k miles on it. Fluid, filter and pan were still good and clean but I did it because it had accrued 40k miles.
Originally Posted by lzhome
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I have only changed the ATF in my '80 FORMULA in my signature 3 X in 38 yrs. The next time will either be in the summer of '19 or '20. The engine/tranny only have 45K original miles. Neither have been rebuilt. About once every 8-10 yrs is enough.
I've been changing engine oil/filter every 18-24 months. Just wondering your OCI for the Formula?
About the same for the OCIs. About every 2 yrs with HM oils. Sometimes a bit sooner. I'm not throwing away completely good oil every 600-700 miles.
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I have only changed the ATF in my '80 FORMULA in my signature 3 X in 38 yrs. The next time will either be in the summer of '19 or '20. The engine/tranny only have 45K original miles. Neither have been rebuilt. About once every 8-10 yrs is enough.
I've been changing engine oil/filter every 18-24 months. Just wondering your OCI for the Formula?
About the same for the OCIs. About every 2 yrs with HM oils. Sometimes a bit sooner. I'm not throwing away completely good oil every 600-700 miles.
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I drove a car with 1 service to the tranny (about 2003), and the rest of the fluid was original since 89. It was also 3 qt low, until I got a hold of it. That's around 70k (103k or so total), and not a single issue, except when the fluid would slosh away from the pickup on hard turns.
Time on oil is a stupid thing to discuss, there has not yet been any proof that time does anything to the oil at all.
Time on oil is a stupid thing to discuss, there has not yet been any proof that time does anything to the oil at all.
I've got a 1998 Trans Am in the same situation. I dropped the pan and filter in 2010, which for me was about 16,000 miles ago. I used Maxlife Dexron. I drive it in summers only and put about 2000 miles a year on it. I'm leaving mine alone until I get about 25,000-30,000 on the fluid.
in my 28,xxx mile 2011 frontier I changed ALL the drivetrain lubes!!! they looked very bad, + i upgraded to Redline lubes + picked up 4 mpg average which will quickly pay for the better but costlier redline lubes!! warranties + such always note miles or time whichever comes FIRST!!!
Originally Posted by benjy
in my 28,xxx mile 2011 frontier I changed ALL the drivetrain lubes!!! they looked very bad, + i upgraded to Redline lubes + picked up 4 mpg average which will quickly pay for the better but costlier redline lubes!! warranties + such always note miles or time whichever comes FIRST!!!
Sure Tiger!
in my 28,xxx mile 2011 frontier I changed ALL the drivetrain lubes!!! they looked very bad, + i upgraded to Redline lubes + picked up 4 mpg average which will quickly pay for the better but costlier redline lubes!! warranties + such always note miles or time whichever comes FIRST!!!
Sure Tiger!
My parents drive a 2010 Altima V6 that sees about 5K/yr. When they do drive it, the trips are short.
I replace all of the fluids (except coolant) every three years. Coolant gets replaced every five years. Fluids accumulate moisture and should be replaced periodically.
I replace all of the fluids (except coolant) every three years. Coolant gets replaced every five years. Fluids accumulate moisture and should be replaced periodically.
I'd change it. Oil goes bad over time. Ever see the pan pulled from a vehicle that's been sitting for a number of years? It's all sludgy. We're not talking about a few month here, we're talking over a decade.
Pull a sample and send it in if you're concerned. But at the end of the day, it's your vehicle. You will be the one to reap the outcomes of maintenance decisions, not myself or anyone else here giving advice
Pull a sample and send it in if you're concerned. But at the end of the day, it's your vehicle. You will be the one to reap the outcomes of maintenance decisions, not myself or anyone else here giving advice
Originally Posted by SnowDrifter
I'd change it. Oil goes bad over time. Ever see the pan pulled from a vehicle that's been sitting for a number of years? It's all sludgy. We're not talking about a few month here, we're talking over a decade.
Pull a sample and send it in if you're concerned. But at the end of the day, it's your vehicle. You will be the one to reap the outcomes of maintenance decisions, not myself or anyone else here giving advice
Not to argue with your point about engine oil, but this is a tranny. The chemistry that happens there is at much lower temperatures, and the contamination is due to forces happening inside the mechanism, not from smoke, gasoline etc. Oil can go "bad" over time vs miles in a taxi service situation, or some other where an engine will idle non stop...again, that only applies to an engine.
I'd change it. Oil goes bad over time. Ever see the pan pulled from a vehicle that's been sitting for a number of years? It's all sludgy. We're not talking about a few month here, we're talking over a decade.
Pull a sample and send it in if you're concerned. But at the end of the day, it's your vehicle. You will be the one to reap the outcomes of maintenance decisions, not myself or anyone else here giving advice
Not to argue with your point about engine oil, but this is a tranny. The chemistry that happens there is at much lower temperatures, and the contamination is due to forces happening inside the mechanism, not from smoke, gasoline etc. Oil can go "bad" over time vs miles in a taxi service situation, or some other where an engine will idle non stop...again, that only applies to an engine.
MolaKule
Staff member
Originally Posted by dave1251
I would change it after you take it for a nice easy long drive. There is likely moisture and other goodies the fluid picked up over the years.
And that is the reason I would change it as well.
I would change it after you take it for a nice easy long drive. There is likely moisture and other goodies the fluid picked up over the years.
And that is the reason I would change it as well.
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