When to drop pan & replace oil strainer/filter?ATF

[Stewie]

My transmission is "sealed for life" and the pan is a PITA to remove around 10 or 15 bolts around it.

So I am wondering when is it recommended to change the filter?

Drain/fill is not too hard.

 

[bdcardinal]

What type of transmission in what make and model of horseless carriage?

 

[jhellwig]

Omg 10 to 15 bolts?????? That is bad.

Every transmission has that many bolts if it even has a pan.

 

[Stewie]

Mazda 3 2014, 2.0L AT

There is also a gasket in it.

 

[Olas]

Do it every 2 years or 30k miles, whichever comes first.

 

[AKhan87]

Originally Posted By: Olas
Do it every 2 years or 30k miles, whichever comes first.
a pan drop every 2 years? a filter change every 2 years? how much metal do the automatic transmissions you have experience with shed? sounds problematic, you would introduce more dirt by doing it so often, just like an air filter system, constantly checking introduces more dirt then leaving it alone.

OP, as far as Toyotas(Corolla/Celica/Camry) are concerned I have seen original ATF with 100-250k miles on them, those work perfectly fine before and after a pan drop.

I think a pan drop w/ filter change every 100-120k is good, now a drain & refill every 30k(I'm personally doing 60k), or you could do as often as you like but it would be a waste of money unless you have a problematic transmission.

 

[demarpaint]

I usually do the pan drop and filter replacement every 30-35K miles. Then a fluid extraction the same week. If you commute on Long Island during rush hour you'll understand why.

 

[toneydoc]

I think that 01 celica gt gave you some good guidance there

 

[SteveSRT8]

Per our trans experts here the gearbox makes most of its debris when new. This makes the first one most important.

Here we have transmissions that routinely go 200-300k miles on this regimen: First service at 30k miles, MUST change the filter. 2nd service at 60-80k miles, preferably a complete fluid exchange via passive methods. Then alternate services every 60k miles.

These are 9000 pound service vans in an inner city environment, arduous duty cycle...

 

[doitmyself]

Respected member Jim Allen is one of our members that presented information regarding the generation of wear debris early and practical methods to prolong transmission life.

Jim hasn't been here in awhile. My question is: like engine manufacturing, have techniques improved in transmission manufacturing so that early fluid replacement is no longer needed?

Here's an article by Jim: http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-how-to/trailer-tech/tranny-filter-tech/

 

[bigt61]

Just did the first drain & fill with a new filter on my sons 2003 Cavalier at 140k miles. Everything looked good, filter looked fine - I could have left it in & minimal debris on the magnet. I wouldn't even start thinking about servicing your trans until 100k miles.

 

[CT8]

Clean oil is happy oil. the components shed the most metal and crud during break in. Unless something is failing later on.

From years of fleet type work an early first service prolongs the life of the components. Especially on high mile or hour vehicles. Care shows up towards the end of the vehicles life.

 

[Leo99]

pan drop? I've never even thought about dropping the pan on my Toyotas. I'd just leave it alone and not worry about it.

 

[barkingspider]

On my Camry, I did 2 drain and fills at 105k miles. Did not have to drop the pan because the trans pan has a drain plug. Runs normal.

Dropped the pan on my Silverado (no drain plug), replaced filter w a wix, and filled with dex 3 comp fluid. Runs normal.

If you drain and fill, should be good for 30-50k. If you pan drop, filter replace and all new fluid, you are good til you sell the car

 

[Doog]

I am doing a pan drop on our Rav4 at 110k. I bought the new "filter" which is a waste because it's a rock catcher screen and I could have cleaned the old one.

But it's an easy drop nothing in the way. I'll extract all of the ATF out the dipstick tube and then drop the pan. Change everything and then refill. Easy.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
pan drop? I've never even thought about dropping the pan on my Toyotas. I'd just leave it alone and not worry about it.


I usually do cooler line flushes at 50k. But I am doing a pan drop on the Rav4.

 

[JMJNet]

Originally Posted By: Stewie
Mazda 3 2014, 2.0L AT

There is also a gasket in it.


I know Mazda is produced by Ford.
I am not familiar with Mazda.
The question is the Mazda transmission made by Ford?
If so, then replacing the ATF every 30K is probably help.
Use synthetic will help also.

If it is not a Ford Transmission, then you can probably treat it like a Toyota transmission as a lot of the other answer.
Unfortunately, what works for a Toyota may not be working for a Mazda.
You may also want to post in this specific car forum available in the Cyberspace.

JMHO.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself

Jim hasn't been here in awhile. My question is: like engine manufacturing, have techniques improved in transmission manufacturing so that early fluid replacement is no longer needed?



The vast majority of "debris" in a transmission isn't from machined gears, bearings, etc. like in an engine, its from the clutch material. Nothing has changed to significantly reduce the initial surge of clutch dust as the clutches break in and establish their seating patterns against the plates.

 

[gabriel9766]

under sever sevice, the manuel in my malibu says to servive the transmission every 45k. otherwise wait till 150K. ill prob servive it every 50k.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: JMJNet
Originally Posted By: Stewie
Mazda 3 2014, 2.0L AT

There is also a gasket in it.


I know Mazda is produced by Ford.
I am not familiar with Mazda.
The question is the Mazda transmission made by Ford?
If so, then replacing the ATF every 30K is probably help.
Use synthetic will help also.

If it is not a Ford Transmission, then you can probably treat it like a Toyota transmission as a lot of the other answer.
Unfortunately, what works for a Toyota may not be working for a Mazda.
You may also want to post in this specific car forum available in the Cyberspace.

JMHO.


This should be a SkyActiv which is a Mazda unique setup. Make sure you use the Mazda FZ fluid. It is blue, 0000-FZ-113E-01 is the part number. If you have any sort of warranty issue and the dealer sees a fluid that is not blue, we have been told to take pictures and send to Mazda corporate for guidance. We have had a couple fast lubes service the transmissions in these with universal fluid and the cars barely make it to us. All warranty coverage on the trans was denied when red tinted fluid was discovered.