When to do first ATF drain/fill?

[Klutch9]

Our Carnival will be one year old tomorrow (in service). We’ll be taking a long road trip in a couple weeks, and when we get back it will have close to 15k miles probably. It has 8 speeds so it is constantly shifting, and I’m thinking that an early drain/fill isn’t a bad idea. Is 15k miles too soon? I’d be using the OEM spec fluid btw.

 

[BobsArmory]

Interesting question.. I will be interested to see what the thoughts are here. I did mine at about 15,000 miles just because I put an aftermarket pan on it.

 

[JeffKeryk]

There is thought the 1st service helps remove break-in materials. 15K is pretty tender. I'd probably wait.

 

[Slick3914]

I’d do a drain & fill at 30,000 miles.

 

[Glenda W.]

Every 30k for me.

 

[carviewsonic]

The trans fluid itself will still be fine, but how much break-material is it carrying in suspension? If it’s an easy to do simple drain and fill, I would. But it’s a pain because no dipstick, difficult to fill side port, trans fluid temp critical to an accurate level etc. then I would be inclined to wait until 30k miles.

 

[ka9mnx]

What does the service manual recommend?

 

[Klutch9]

What does the service manual recommend?

IIRC it’s 60k severe service.

 

[carviewsonic]

IIRC it’s 60k severe service.

A service interval which is not intended to achieve maximum service life from that transmission.

 

[ka9mnx]

A service interval which is not intended to achieve maximum service life from that transmission.

Really? I thought that was for filled for life?

 

[dubber09]

I did full ATF fluid replacement on Sportage at 20k km and Forte 30k km first time, then drain and fills every 50k km. Did it myself.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

somewhere in the 30-60k range

 

[Klutch9]

somewhere in the 30-60k range

I was thinking 30k seemed more reasonable. Just wanted to check. This van has no dipstick, but it does have a drain plug and a fill plug (thru the vent), and I know the procedure and temperature to set the level via the leveling plug.

 

[barkingspider]

I did the first drain and fill ATF at 30k miles on my Canyon.

 

[carviewsonic]

Really? I thought that was for filled for life?

True, 60k is better than never, and good enough if the vehicle will be sold at lower mileage. A 30k interval is worthwhile if the intention is to get as many miles as possible from the vehicle.

 

[John105]

I think 15k is too soon. I don't think it's scientific but don't a lot of owner's manuals say, if severe duty, 50k, if not, never? (never understood this logic)

Our Japanese car indie told me, to do 3X and this was at 80k. When I said is there any chance my trans could get damaged by new fluid? The answer was, "Not a chance." I'm now at 150k but I've actually done 2 more services.

They told me the conventional wisdom is to change it while the old fluid is ok. I do happen to know at 80k it was black, not pink. But whatever.

I think I might shoot for 50k on a brand new car, but not 15k.... jmoymmv

 

[4WD]

Something to consider on some newer units - you might need to remove exhaust spools etc - don’t wait until after 5 winters in Minnesota and expect that to be easy

 

[Kira]

If you're taking a vote.....
Do it after your return. Settle on a mileage (20k, 30k...whatever) after your return.
While "a couple of weeks" is long enough to ensure you did everything right, there's no need to complicate your long trip prep.

you might need to remove exhaust spools etc

Are you referring to a turbocharger?

 

[JustN89]

There is a SAE paper somewhere on here that found that most of the wear metals a transmission produces occurs within the first 12k miles of its life. Sorry, I don’t have it saved anywhere, or else I’d post it. The fluid is still good, I’m sure, but I’d still do a drain and fill. Just so get some of the wear metals out of circulation. Necessary? No. Will an early D/F harm anything? Of course not.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'm all about super early drain on transmissions / differentials. Then if you want to go factory interval, do it.

The fluid in our Sentra was awful when I changed it around 15K the first time, and it was much better the second time when I did it at 31K.