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Hi Scott, I’m of the opinion that fluid has a finite lifetime to it and should be changed sooner rather than later. Often, you’ll hear of people who have problems after getting the transmission fluid changed, but that usually seems to happen when people get their fluid flushed. If you just do a drain, drop the pan, change the filter, and refill, you won’t end up replacing all the fluid, but you’re not as likely to dislodge something that damages the transmission that way. Just make sure you fill the transmission up to the correct level.
But that’s just me, I could be wrong!
It gets to be tricky when you go that long with out never changing the fluid.
Sometimes changing the fluid after that much mileage may cause issues.
“If your vehicle has high mileage (> 80,000 miles) and the transmission has not been maintained, I would not recommend replacing the fluid and filter. The fluid that has been in the transmission all this time has become dirty and gritty. This gritty fluid is actually providing needed friction for the worn internal parts of the transmission. Changing the fluid and replacing the filter would remove this friction that the internal transmission parts have become dependent on. If you have not been regularly maintaining the transmission throughout the life of the car, you might actually be doing more harm than good if you replace the transmission fluid at this point. For example, putting new clean slick transmission fluid in an older high mileage vehicle could cause the transmission to slip.”
“If you are not experiencing a problem, have over 80,000 miles on your car, and have not kept up regular maintenance on the transmission, my advice would be to leave the transmission fluid and filter alone.”
The final choice is up to you.[quote=”nightflyr” post=158340]It gets to be tricky when you go that long with out never changing the fluid.
Sometimes changing the fluid after that much mileage may cause issues.
“If your vehicle has high mileage (> 80,000 miles) and the transmission has not been maintained, I would not recommend replacing the fluid and filter. The fluid that has been in the transmission all this time has become dirty and gritty. This gritty fluid is actually providing needed friction for the worn internal parts of the transmission. Changing the fluid and replacing the filter would remove this friction that the internal transmission parts have become dependent on. If you have not been regularly maintaining the transmission throughout the life of the car, you might actually be doing more harm than good if you replace the transmission fluid at this point. For example, putting new clean slick transmission fluid in an older high mileage vehicle could cause the transmission to slip.”
“If you are not experiencing a problem, have over 80,000 miles on your car, and have not kept up regular maintenance on the transmission, my advice would be to leave the transmission fluid and filter alone.”
The final choice is up to you.[/quote]+1
If the fluid hasn’t been changed in 136,000 miles, you’re probably 100,000 past due for new oil.
You can perform an easy test to see what shape it’s in. Buy a quart of the cheapest fluid you can find according to your owner’s manual, locate the tranny dipstick on your car, pull it and compare your fluid to the new. Rub both yours and the one you bought on a white paper towel next to each other then compare. If they’re similar, I’d say you’re good to go. If they’re radically different in color then it’s time to change. Comparing smell is also a good indicator. Burnt = needs new.
Let us know your results.
Old, dirty, broken down trans fluid does not lubricate as well as new fluid will, and that is what gives you the double edge sword. On one side of the blade, if you don’t change the fluid, it’s going to accelerate wear in the transmission and lead to premature failure. ON the other side, if the transmission is slipping at all, it’s really going to slip with new slick fluid in there. What’s more is the new fluid is going to “clean” the sludge out of the rest of the system and potentially cause problems.
If you plan on keeping this vehicle for a long time, then go ahead and change it, but if not, I wouldn’t risk it. Change it and hope for the best but prepare for the worse!
I have no idea how to quote someone’s post.
Jasonw1178:
I’ve often contemplated whether or not changing the fluid after mine started to slip would have solved the problem. My original trans went 3 months of slightly slipping to one day extremely bad, then that day it was done. Second time my trans failed, it seized on me going 45mph and it felt like I locked my brakes to an almost skid. Looking back on both those scenarios led me to sludge. The first, catastrophic gear wear down, and the second, a dried up differential that seized from no fluid or sludge in the diff and trans.Considering the OP doesn’t have irregular vibrations under certain load or doesn’t have slippage… why would a non-invasive way of changing the fluid affect the system. Like a drain and fill at the least. Or even a complete fluid “flush” and fill with quality oil. — DIY’er here.
This is a constant debate about changing fluid or not.
Here is another thought –
If the fluid is kind of dark like dark reedish but not horrid looking, it can probably be safely changed.
If the fluid is black and nasty – leave it alone. At this point the trans is probably doomed to failing soon and trying to put in fresh fluid will likely just accelerate the failing process, as said cause the detergents will wash the friction material off the already burnt-to-a-crisp clutch packs.
Here is a photo of burnt VS new clutches in a auto trans –
http://transmissionrepairguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/burnt-clutch-plates.jpgWhat you could do also to get a real good idea of fluid condition – put a think rubber hose down the trans dipstick tube and suck out some fluid, maybe 2 ounces (1/4 of a cup) and put the fluid in a white cup and just look at it. Dark red – not bad. Black – barbecued.
I worked in a transmission shop years ago and we often heard, “We took it to a shop to have the fluid changed and afterwards it started slipping real bad”.
Whether you change it or not – either way is taking a chance at this point.
Summer, I’m curious because my differential is independent from my trans fluid. First drain was BLACK Gook, basically expired nutella just dripping down. The metal shavings on the magnetic bolt end was a half an inch tall. I had no idea what I was looking for. Since then I’ve drained and flushed my differential 3 times and the last it came out pink with just a tiny build up of shavings on that plug. Any recommendations on how to check out the integrity of my diff or do I need to find a stethoscope?
I changed the tranny fluid in my 2000 civic with 150k. This appeared to be the first change, the fill plug magnet was so packed with debris. The fluid was basicly brown. I bought the car with 136k. When you pull the drain plug on the civic you remove approx 3qts. In essence I changed the fluid after short drives 3 times total 9 qts. I’m now at 171k tranny operating flawlessly.
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