Transmission fluid change interval

[30-30]

Everyone seems to have a strong opinion on this one. When to change, and flush or pan drop?

My wife’s ‘19 Dodge Grand Caravan rolled 65,000 miles. Mostly around town, not highway. Manual says change at 60k for heavy service and 120k for normal use.

Would you treat a truck differently?

[IowaHunter]

I would follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If chit hits the fan, you can demonstrate you followed their recommendations.

[Mayhem]

I’ve owed several cars and trucks and never once changed the transmission fluid.


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[Hoggslayer]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

I’ve owed several cars and trucks and never once changed the transmission fluid.


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350K on My 7.3L, never changed it. I'm knocking on wood as I type this.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by Hoggslayer

350K on My 7.3L, never changed it. I'm knocking on wood as I type this.

Hmmm…. What does knocking on wood do?

[Hoggslayer]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Hmmm…. What does knocking on wood do?

Just a old superstition. Knock on wood for good luck.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by Hoggslayer

Just a old superstition. Knock on wood for good luck.

What is Luck?

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Hmmm…. What does knocking on wood do?

Knocking on wood is a Pagan ritual, something about forest spirits.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Knocking on wood is a Pagan ritual, something about forest spirits.

Nailed It! Superstition

[denimdeerslayer]

Id keep driving to the 120k mark unless the oil starts to turn off color or smells funny.

[Backwoods101]

Never ever change the transmission fluid…unless it’s empty or your wanting to get it rebuilt


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[WItoTX]

I change fluid and filter per the manual. I never flush it. That is asking for trouble, especially past 150k.

[cva34]

Originally Posted by WItoTX

I change fluid and filter per the manual. I never flush it. That is asking for trouble, especially past 150k.

Agree and then if ya got a gripe/problem..Might have a chance that will fix...

[Duckologist]

Originally Posted by WItoTX

I change fluid and filter per the manual. I never flush it. That is asking for trouble, especially past 150k.

How do you get the old fluid out of the torque converter? I had over 150k when I began to get "the shudder". Had dealer flush tranny and no shudder sense. Now at 190k. Ford 6 speed transmission

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[Kong]

Change it per the manual, I can’t understand why some people don’t believe it maintaining their transmission yet they change their oil every 3,000 miles. Engines would run for 100,000 miles on the same oil as well but they do seem to do it.

[coker737]

Ball Park....100K

[Mike Fangman]

Drove my last chevy truck to 304, 000 miles and never changed the tranny fluid. Never had an issue.

[Bucknaked]

With these newer trannys it definitely needs to be changed per manufacturers guidelines , if not 5k before! Especially GM products!

[Johnny Dangerr]

New vehicles say never change it and only stealerships can get it out and back in. No drain plug.
I would go for the 100K change...

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by Johnny Dangerr

New vehicles say never change it and only stealerships can get it out and back in. No drain plug.
I would go for the 100K change...

I don’t know which New vehicle you own but mine definitely say to change it! 2016 & 2021 General Motors trucks!

[muzzlebrake]

200K on my last chevy truck and never touched it.
One thing you NEVER want to do is have one of these oil change places talk you into back flushing and changing the fluid. That will result in almost instant failure. There is only one way to change tranny fluid and that requires some disassembly. IF YOU MUST, have a dealer or transmission repair shop do it.
It might also be a good time to replace the tail shaft bearing and seal.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by muzzlebrake

200K on my last chevy truck and never touched it.
One thing you NEVER want to do is have one of these oil change places talk you into back flushing and changing the fluid. That will result in almost instant failure. There is only one way to change tranny fluid and that requires some disassembly. IF YOU MUST, have a dealer or transmission repair shop do it.
It might also be a good time to replace the tail shaft bearing and seal.

What year model was that truck and which tranny did it have in it?

[muzzlebrake]

Originally Posted by bucknaked

what year model was that truck and which tranny did it have in it?

2005 4l60e

[twistedmidnite]

Pan drop and filter change around 100k. My last truck has 240k and still going. The one before it had 265k when I sold it. I pull a loaded down dual tandem gooseneck 2-3 days a week with all of them. The 265k was a hotshot truck with a 40ft gooseneck from day 1.

[Chase4556]

FordPass app gives me an interval. All the way until 100k it’s just a check the transmission fluid.

[Chase4556]

Need to look into it on my 2019 f150. I’m at 64k. Don’t know what the manual suggests.

My wife’s 2015 Grand Cherokee is a sealed transmission. No idea what the service interval is on it either, if there is one. But dealer will have to do it.

I’m not one to mess with transmissions, so both would be a dealer job. Gah I don’t want to pay for that if it’s something the manual suggests.

[PYBUCK]

Never, unless the tranny goes out. My 2013 Ram had 325,000 miles on it when I sold it to a friend. She is still driving it with no trouble.

[68rustbucket]

2017 Expedition manual says 100k. Can’t even check the level, no dipstick. Flushing is bad, last Expedition I had flushed, tranny went out 2 weeks later.

[jjaimes]

Never change it! We’ve changed if on 2 trucks and within 3 months both Transmissions went out. I spoke to a good friend who’s used to work in a used car dealership and he warned against this. He said it never failed every time they changed it within months they brought them back with transmission problems. I wouldn’t do it.

[SC-001]

Originally Posted by jjaimes

Never change it! We’ve changed if on 2 trucks and within 3 months both Transmissions went out. I spoke to a good friend who’s used to work in a used car dealership and he warned against this. He said it never failed every time they changed it within months they brought them back with transmission problems. I wouldn’t do it.

Then they didn't do it right, there are some special procedures you need to take to get it to pick all the new fluid up, especially with these new 8 speed and up transmissions. The ones that fail shortly after change are almost always short filled. Have always changed fluid 5K before recommened interval and any of these new transmission that say they will last lifetime of the vehicle I change those at 100K.

[brokeno]

Never touch it

[Tx.Fisher]

My 06 Silverado, I dropped the pan and changed the filter and and filled it back up at 200k. I’m knocking on the door of 400k and thinking oh doing it again.

[68rustbucket]

I’ve always changed at 30k on my Superduty trucks, but the current 2019 has no drain plug. I’m up to 65k now. I like to drain, drop pan, change filter, and refill with 9 qts.

[Lost10mm]

Never flush it. If you want to let it go without changing it, at least put Amsoil in it. Same with your diff.

[TeamAmerica]

I would never flush. Maybe fresh fluid and filter. My ford f150 simply says to check level even up to 200k mile service.

My sequioa made well past 200k and never changed.

[100%TtId]

What causes trans to fail after a flush?

[Chase4556]

Originally Posted by 100%TtId

What causes trans to fail after a flush?

From what I’ve been told, there is buildup on the clutches and other internal workings of the transmission when it has high mileage. When you do a flush it breaks up some of that crud, plus the detergents in the new fluid further break it all down. Next thing you know you have slipping clutches and a bad transmission.


Something along those lines.

[DEREKG22]

My truck just rolled over 90k and I changed it. I will do it again in another 100k miles. I believe in fluid change and filter change. NOT flush. The older fluid in the torque converter with the newer percentage of fluid maintains a healthy balance in my opinion. Those that do nothing till its black and the unit is failing, go right ahead. I have had several vehicles make it till 300k miles on the original trans with never a problem.

[BIGTERRY75]

Change it when its scheduled by Manufacturer.

[friscopaint]

I have 165,000 on my 15 F250 and asked my mechanic and he said at this point definitely don't touch it, he was local Ford service manager at one time. As far as earlier mileage no idea....

[DedDuk]

Once every torque converter.

[glen]

I’m about to turn 150 on my F250 and called to drop it off next week. Figure I’ll try what they recommend