When to replace Transmission fluid and other fluids?

[Joe Marconi]

I have been in many heated debates, with shop owners and techs, about when to change fluids. First, I think that the owner's manual and the car companies do an injustice to us and the consumer with the extended services and lifetime fluid. Nothing is lifetime.

 

If a car gets stuck in a snow storm and spins the wheels out of control, burning up the trans fluid, that fluid is done. No engineer will or can dispute that.

 

My real issue is how many shop owners, consumers and techs have bought into this extended service notion or lifetime fluid. While technology has come a long way, I rather take a proactive approach, rather than wait for my coolant or transmission fluid to decay to a point where it may have done damage.

 

We inspect fluids every day, but many do not suggest changing fluids unless it's in the "Book" or if the fluid is visibly bad.

 

When a fluid is visibly bad, it's too late. It's like tire rotations, you don't wait for the front tires to wear out on the edges before you rotate, do you? No, you rotate tires to insure they wear evenly.

 

I don't know how you feel about this subject, but I am a proponent of changing fluids, such as transmission and coolant, BEFORE they go bad, not after we KNOW they are bad.

 

Your thoughts?

[Mario]

I don't change transmission fluid on higher mileage vehicles or ones with dark fluid. I have been burned before.

 

Transmission Fluid 30-40k drain & fill.

 

Brake Fluid 40k

 

Coolant 60k.

 

I say modern engine oils and filters at 5k, but so many cars still consume/leak oil that by 5k it can become very low. 3k for that reason alone.

 

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Everything anymore seems like it is advertised as "lifetime" or 100k. Technically it is lifetime. They pour it in at the factory, and you don't change your transmission fluid for the life of the transmission until it dies ealry :-)

[ATSAutomotive]

Diff/X-fer Case? Power Steering Fluid?

 

I think 40k for brake fluid is a bit too long. Even most manufacturers suggest it be replaced every 2 years/24,000 miles now.

 

Complaints about wallet flushing are a bunch of crap. Maintenance has been proved to prolong the life of not only the vehicle but its parts as well. There is most certainly a major difference between cars that have not been maintained and those that have. Whether you dislike Valvoline, BG, etc. There is a reason they provide their services and a warranty as well, it works.

 

The only problem I find is when customers want to perform the work but their major repairs are of MORE concern than the maintenance. Always gets pushed back.....

[5 Star Auto Spa]

I totally agree with the preventative maintenance approach to servicing all fluids in the vehicle. Unfortunately like Joe has mentioned, a great deal the public as well as technicians believe that many fluids do not have to be changed regularly or at all in regards to life time fluids. We usually recommend our fluid services as follows:

 

ATF - 50K

Coolant - 30K

Brake - 30K

Differential/Transfer Case - 30K

Power Steering - 30K