Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
If it were mine...flush and filter change ASAP. I like clean ATF.
There is some risk on a higher mileage, neglected unit, but IMO if it has problems afterwards, they were coming soon anyways.
I bought a $950 Explorer with the original trans, unknown maintenance, and did a flush at 150K miles, shortly after purchase. No issues. Shifted the same afterwards (no issues beforehand).
Pan drops aren't that bad, but not really fun to do with the vehicle on the ground. If you can do an oil change, you can do a pan drop/filter change, it just isn't much fun with the vehicle on the ground, and you might find out what old ATF tastes like.
if you do drop the pan correct you wont spill any.. you want to drop the rear bolts and let it leak slowing and you losen the others.
ERIC the Car guys shows how to do this perfect on his Subaru.... I did it on our famly trail blazer and put in new filter and cleaned out the pan and big WASHER looking magnet that was actually stuck to the top of the Trans and not on the bottom of the pan.
Put new gasket on.... took like 30 minutes.... not even.
If it were mine...flush and filter change ASAP. I like clean ATF.
There is some risk on a higher mileage, neglected unit, but IMO if it has problems afterwards, they were coming soon anyways.
I bought a $950 Explorer with the original trans, unknown maintenance, and did a flush at 150K miles, shortly after purchase. No issues. Shifted the same afterwards (no issues beforehand).
Pan drops aren't that bad, but not really fun to do with the vehicle on the ground. If you can do an oil change, you can do a pan drop/filter change, it just isn't much fun with the vehicle on the ground, and you might find out what old ATF tastes like.
if you do drop the pan correct you wont spill any.. you want to drop the rear bolts and let it leak slowing and you losen the others.
ERIC the Car guys shows how to do this perfect on his Subaru.... I did it on our famly trail blazer and put in new filter and cleaned out the pan and big WASHER looking magnet that was actually stuck to the top of the Trans and not on the bottom of the pan.
Put new gasket on.... took like 30 minutes.... not even.