Transmission Maintenance

[Duane]

Didn't find a thread on this, so...

How often are you changing your trans. fluid/filter for normal driving conditions?

Also, does changing out the standard Motorcraft fluid with something like Royal Purple provide any performance gains?

Thanks!

2007 Eddie Bauer w/110,000 miles

 

[montecarlo31]

I prefer to change (drop pan or drain pan), which is only a 50ish% change every 25,000 miles, I also take samples every 25K and more frequently if I get a bad sample back. I probably run my trucks harder than 99% of the general population so that's why I am a bit more proactive in PMing my gear.

A typical day for me can some days start at 4am with temps in the high 80s driving hours to a jobsite then slogging through soupy nasty mud in 4 low with temps in the high 90s and humidity also in the 90s then idle for hours while looking at machines to turn around and slog back out a muddy road, flip it into 2wd high and be cruising along at 80 mph within minutes of pulling off the jobsite.

 

[tonydiv]

It's more important to make sure that the existing fluid isn't dark and burnt before you think about changing it. You can ruin a trans by adding fresh fluid to a trans that has burnt fluid in it. The old fluid coats the inside of the trans and keeps everything from working.

 

[Mangina]

I usually do a 50k interval (30k miles) for most major fluids. Trans, front and rear diffs, coolant, transfer case. It's probably overkill, but I've never had an issue with these components so far in my lifetime.

 

[metaldrgn]

I would follow the mx schedule and when it comes time, have it flushed with a pan drop and filter change as well. Make sure to use synthetic as it doesn't gunk up like conventional tranny fluid and it works in a wider range of temperatures and run a few extra quarts than the system requires. If you just drop the pan and change the filter you will still have a lot of the old stuff left in it and even if you did that 5 times you could still have around 10% of the original fluid still in it! That's a lot more money on transmission fluid that just flushing it and for no reason. Just food for thought. you can take it to a shop or do it yourself if you are capable enough and seeing how many shady mechanics there are out there.