Opinions on certain time intervals....

[cutchemist42]

On my mom's Buick Park Avenue, it says based on our driving conditions to never change ATF according to a certain time. On my Mazda Protege5, it says never change MTF or brake fluid according to a certain time.

Just wondering if anyone agrees with this? I hate to second guess engineers but it's just something you assume no matter what, goes bad over time.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Interesting. I'm used to seeing a recommendation to change brake fluid every 2 years, but my experience is mainly with German cars.

Certainly brake fluid is not a lifetime fluid. MTF is debatable. I change mine every 40K miles or so.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Brake fluid is a must for me every 2-3 years. I drive so much that I'm changing ATF/diff fluids once a year as well. If it took 10 years to get to 60k, I'd probably change ATF once every 5 years.

 

[Hokiefyd]

The two Hondas I have now are the first cars I've ever owned that recommend a brake fluid change (at 3 years). None of the domestic vehicles I've owned have recommended it, and I don't think either of my Toyotas have recommended it either.

The Park Avenue should have the 4T65-E transmission, is that correct? I think they're generally stout, but I can't vouch for the transmission longevity on those. I can vouch for the durability of the 4T80-E in the FWD Cadillacs, and they're not sensitive to fluid AT ALL. You almost ~never~ hear of transmission failures from the 4T80s. True, they've heavy as sin, but durable nonetheless.

I'd probably change both fluids on the Buick, then keep doing both every few years. Don't forget the coolant, either, whichever type it uses (conventional green or Dexcool).

 

[mechtech2]

"according to a certain time" infers a schedule, not lifetime.

 

[tom slick]

Does it actually say "never" or does it just not give an interval.

 

[Kestas]

Transmission fluid maintenance is very important. Neglect can be costly. I don't know what they mean by "according to a certain time", but I don't like that terminology.

I think the first change is most important to get rid of break-in debris. Have it done at 30K. Include a pan drop, where you change the filter and clean the pan/magnet.

After that, change every
- 30K with regular fluid
- 50-80K with synthetic

Use a full fluid exchange each time. You may skip the filter after the first change.

You are likely to use DexIV for this car, so you should be able to go up to 60K with this fluid. But this is the max.

That is my opinion.

 

[cutchemist42]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Does it actually say "never" or does it just not give an interval.


It said for the Buick, it's a lifetime fluid based on our driving. Other types of driving ask for it to be changed.

For my Mazda, it said to never change it, it's lifetime.

 

[wkcars]

To the car makers, lifetime fluid = for the life of the system until it fails because you didn't change the fluid...j/k