Automatic transmission oil change

Anonymous-0 · Nov 7, 2010

A local repair shop does not want to change the automatic transmission fluid in my wife's 2001 Mazada Tribute (same as Ford Escape with different badge) with 165,000 miles on it. The oil was changed at 60,000 and still looks good. He didn't give me the exact reason but I think it unlodges build up that can then clog up the transmission somehow. The car works great and I thought that changing the fluid would help get quite a few more miles out of it. Anyone have problems after changing the fluid? Thanks for your comments.

John T · Nov 7, 2010

Lots of opinions on this one butttttttt Ima believer in changing it. On my RV and Pickemup I have my buddy who has a Snap On (I believe) power flusher changer and somewhere under 100K miles I have him power flush (gets most of torque converter) my trannys and replace with Synthetic Fluid and I add a can of Lucas. They have performed perfect, cant prove it made any difference but I believe it is a wise thing FWIW......

John T

JDemaris · Nov 7, 2010

Did you really have a oil change before? If so, how the heck did they do it?

I assume they probably can't really change the oil since much stays trapped in the torque converter. The older Mazda Tributes use Ford CD4E transmissions with NO drain-plug in the converter. Ford recommends no changes ever unless contaminants are found in the oil.

There is a method using some expensive flushing equipment that runs a lot of oil through the transmission in a attempt to change it. I suspect most shops don't have that equipment, and I doubt it's worth the bother.

I don't know how all cars benefit from such changes, but I've got many Japanese cars with over 200K miles that have never been changed and never had a trans-problem. The frames rot out before any trans problems have ever showed up.
The old "warning sign" is usually sluggish shifting in real cold weather. We start our cars at 25 F below and still work fine, even with those high miles.

plow hand · Nov 7, 2010

I have heard several times from reputable businesses not to flush your system unless you have done it consistently from 50,000 miles to present..If you do it at 100,000 or more you loosen up all the gunk that may have built up.So if uncertain if it has had a flush just,change fluid and filter..

Allan in NE · Nov 7, 2010

"Older" oils could possibly 'varnish' clutch plates due to extreme heavy use and the resultant heat buildup. Newer oils do not.

Unless you feel any kind of a "shudder" during shifts leave well enough alone on that make and model.

And fer Gawd's sake, don't add any aftermarket snake oils to the mix as they tend to wear mechanical spragues.

Allan

kyhayman · Nov 7, 2010

Every transmission problem I have had since 1998 has been after transmission fluid change. The operators manual of two of the vehicles I have even state not to change the fluid if normal service for the life of the vehicle.

One problem was fluid related, my dad took his/my farm car in and they replaced the mopar clear fluid with dextron III. Within 15000 miles, at 210,000 third gear spun out. I ended up with a used transmission and put mopar back in. Other bad problem was a line failure. Most shops I've learned take the cooler lines loose to pump out the fluid. Metal fitting failed, once again my dad who was convinced it needed changing in spite of what the manual said. Ended up losing the fluid on the way back from the shop. Burned out the first gear clutches.

MarkB_MI · Nov 7, 2010

My personal opinion is that oil change shops avoid fluid changes in high mileage vehicles because people bring their cars in when they already have transmission problems, then come back to the shop to complain when the transmission shells out a few weeks later.

Whether or not changing the fluid at 165K will extend the life of the transmission is a bit hard to say. As stated earlier, a regular fluid and filter change will only replace half the fluid anyway. If this is not a tow vehicle and it has mostly highway miles, it will probably be fine with no further fluid changes.

M-MAN · Nov 7, 2010

Don't know about Mazda's but Ford reccomended changes at 60,000 mile intervalls back in the mid nineties. Found this out after loosing a torque converter in my Marquies. I would change it. JMO

MSM · Nov 7, 2010

I drop the pan and change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands on my Dodges at 25,000.(factory recomended with severe duty use) Have done the same with the 400 turbos(no band adjustment needed) in my work trucks. Never had a trans failure, some of the trucks have 250,000 miles.Granted you leave some old oil in the converter,but I have never had a problem.
Not a fan of flushing a trans, cause they don't drop the pan and change the filter, and clean out the residue in the bottom.About the equivalent of flushing the engine oil in your vehicle and leaving the dirty filter on it.

730d se · Nov 7, 2010

I will not force an arguement with any of the replies, but I have never been a fan of "flushing". Yes, if done properly, it is about the only way to replace most of the fluid when the T/C does not have a drain plug. But if the filter is not changed and the magnet not cleaned, you are taking a good shower but putting back on dirty underwear.
I am sure there may be trannies without filters.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 7, 2010

It was probably flushed at 60,000 not changed. The Mazda dealer serviced it. The car has always shifted good and still does. I think I will leave well enough alone.

RusselAZ · Nov 7, 2010

change it. Just use the correct fluid. At that mileage having a shop use their flush machine would insure a complete change.

Automatic transmission oil change

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

John T

Well-known Member

JDemaris

Well-known Member

plow hand

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

kyhayman

Well-known Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

M-MAN

Well-known Member

MSM

Well-known Member

730d se

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

RusselAZ

Member

Similar threads