Tranny fluid time vs mileage?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 7, 2009
Messages
2,430
Location
Oconomowoc Wi
I have an 2004 Impala SS with 8K miles that was built for the Indy Racing League as an Officials car for the 04 Indy 500. The car looks and runs like new and I have zero issues with it. The tranny fluid looks new.

Should I change out the tranny fluid now because of age(6 years old) or can it go further mileage wise? The fluid still looks as new. I did pour in a bottle of LG red when I purchased the car with 3K miles on it from GM...

Thank guys.
 
Last edited:
The simple answer is to leave it in for now. I think a standard GM transmission is suppose to go 100,000 miles of normal non-abusive driving before it needs service. Mechanics and Transmissions shops recommend fluid and filter change every 30,000 miles. Their recommendation may be based on the fact they the make money of the filter and fluid change. The first time you drop the pan, and change the fluid and filter, you will notice a lot of sediment in the pan. The sediment is from everything breaking/wearing in. I changed my 4L60E filter at 30,000 miles because my friend has an auto shop with a rack, and that made it easy. If I didn't have the rack, I probably would not have changed it until 100,000 miles. I dropped the pan again at around 60,000 miles to install a Trans-go shift kit. The inside of the pan was very clean. I changed the filter just because the pan was off, not because I thought it needed to be changed.

My suggestion, and I am not a professional mechanic, is that you change your filter at 20,000 or 30,000 miles. The fluid could last 10-20 years, but I would change it after 10 just to be safe. Heat is the fluid's #1 enemy.
 
Last edited:
I think heat matters more than mileage or time in regards to ATF. Since you say the fluid still looks ok then it probably has very little oxidation from heat.
 
Originally Posted By: Loobed

I changed my 4L60E filter at 30,000 miles because my friend has an auto shop with a rack, and that made it easy. I dropped the pan again at around 60,000 miles to install a Trans-go shift kit. The inside of the pan was very clean. I changed the filter just because the pan was off, not because I thought it needed to be changed



So under normal duty it somewhat safe to say much of the crud in the pan is generated early on in the transmissions life?
 
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I would change the coolant before the transmission fluid at this point.


I did a full coolant flush a few months ago. Thanks.
 
Originally Posted By: Boss302fan
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I would change the coolant before the transmission fluid at this point.


I did a full coolant flush a few months ago. Thanks.


Then I would say your in good shape!
 
Originally Posted By: willix
Originally Posted By: Loobed

I changed my 4L60E filter at 30,000 miles because my friend has an auto shop with a rack, and that made it easy. I dropped the pan again at around 60,000 miles to install a Trans-go shift kit. The inside of the pan was very clean. I changed the filter just because the pan was off, not because I thought it needed to be changed



So under normal duty it somewhat safe to say much of the crud in the pan is generated early on in the transmissions life?



My limited experience with my own transmission says yes. My 2 mechanic friends say the same thing, but they are not transmission specialists.
 
Originally Posted By: Boss302fan
I think my Impala ss has a 4T65E-HD tranny. Does that make a difference with any maintenance?


No, it's only differences are minor from normal 4t65. My GS has the HD. The largest difference is the differential and right front halfshaft. Also the final drive on all HD version is 2.93 unless it's a Comp G Grand Prix GTP. The Comp G gets 3.29s from the factory.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top