Originally Posted By: babyivan
Originally Posted By: milkboy
If I'm reading this correctly, the stuff is TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD.
I don't think it's unreasonable or extravagant to change it out once every TWENTY-SIX YEARS.
If it were that simple, I would not have made a thread about this.
When a mechanic tells me NOT to change the fluid because the fluid has been in the trans. for TWENTY-SIX YEARS, this is what perplexes me. From all of the research Ive read, there are 2 schools of thought on this.
One is to leave high mileage trans fluid alone, changing it will likely cause problems. I will not go into specifics, seeing as it has been discussed time and again!
The other thinking is, that new fluid is better than old fluid... PERIOD, END OF STORY!
My specific query refers to age rather than mileage.
My trans. happens to shift perfect with TWENTY-SIX YEAR OLD fluid and perhaps might not react well to new fluid for whatever reason.
I'm in the process of slowly exchanging said fluid and will end up doing the filter and top off (6.5 quarts out of 11) next month in spite of two different auto mechanics strongly recommending that I leave well enough alone.... the whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" line of thought.
The caps weren't directed at you, they were directed at your mechanics. Let me over-simplify further - go somewhere else.
Transmission shops have a tradition of recommending against fluid changes on old and / or high mileage units based on two ideas :
1. It is ready to break, and if we are the last people who touched it, we will get blamed.
2. Automatic transmissions run on unfathomable witchcraft, and must never be disturbed lest ye anger the gods.
Seriously, it is rare to find someone who understands how automatic transmissions work, even (or especially) in trans shops.
If they seriously believe that the only thing holding your trans together is dirt and varnish, how can they even let you leave ?
This idea that engine oil must be changed religiously every fifteen minutes - the more the better - while trans and differential products are good until the zombie apocalype, is hilarious.
You are on the right track IMO.
Originally Posted By: milkboy
If I'm reading this correctly, the stuff is TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD.
I don't think it's unreasonable or extravagant to change it out once every TWENTY-SIX YEARS.
If it were that simple, I would not have made a thread about this.
When a mechanic tells me NOT to change the fluid because the fluid has been in the trans. for TWENTY-SIX YEARS, this is what perplexes me. From all of the research Ive read, there are 2 schools of thought on this.
One is to leave high mileage trans fluid alone, changing it will likely cause problems. I will not go into specifics, seeing as it has been discussed time and again!
The other thinking is, that new fluid is better than old fluid... PERIOD, END OF STORY!
My specific query refers to age rather than mileage.
My trans. happens to shift perfect with TWENTY-SIX YEAR OLD fluid and perhaps might not react well to new fluid for whatever reason.
I'm in the process of slowly exchanging said fluid and will end up doing the filter and top off (6.5 quarts out of 11) next month in spite of two different auto mechanics strongly recommending that I leave well enough alone.... the whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" line of thought.
The caps weren't directed at you, they were directed at your mechanics. Let me over-simplify further - go somewhere else.
Transmission shops have a tradition of recommending against fluid changes on old and / or high mileage units based on two ideas :
1. It is ready to break, and if we are the last people who touched it, we will get blamed.
2. Automatic transmissions run on unfathomable witchcraft, and must never be disturbed lest ye anger the gods.
Seriously, it is rare to find someone who understands how automatic transmissions work, even (or especially) in trans shops.
If they seriously believe that the only thing holding your trans together is dirt and varnish, how can they even let you leave ?
This idea that engine oil must be changed religiously every fifteen minutes - the more the better - while trans and differential products are good until the zombie apocalype, is hilarious.
You are on the right track IMO.