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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:39 pm Post subject: automatic transmission fluid change interval for low mileage |
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I see 30,000 miles specified, but what if the ATF is say 5 years old with only a few thousand miles on it?
Should the ATF be changed on a time interval as well? _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Changing ATF more often won't be a problem. When you change it, you never get all the fluid out anyway. There is always some in the torque convertor. So more frequent changes will mix with the remaining fluid and eventually be even cleaner.The only downside is fresh fluid may loosen some years of crud and cause problems. That is rare though. You don't have to drop the pan each time, removing the fill tube should get the fluid out. I had a Chevy Suburban I towed a trailer with. While I had the pan off, I welded in a drain plug fitting. Everytime I changed my oil, I'd dump my ATF. The trans was working like new at near 200K when I sold it to the junk yard. Unfortunately, the body was just rusting away. _________________ ☮️ |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Right - my question is whether changing ATF less often will be a problem...
i.e. do I need to change it every 2, 3, 5 years? every 10 years? even if the mileage interval has not been reached _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Ok, every 30,000 miles or 2 years, which ever comes first. I just pulled that out of the air. I think as long as the fluid has a nice look on the dip stick and a pleasant smell, you can continue to use it. _________________ ☮️ |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50261
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:54 am Post subject: |
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How wet and humid is it in Nimrod Oregon? If you feel you may be getting moisture building up in the tranny then change it. If not I wouldn't worry too much about it. |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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I live in the middle of the world's largest rain forest (in a big valley with oak and grassland and some forst around the city). The van sits out in the winter, tho I am not clear if this is what is termed a "condensing atmosphere" re the inside of the trans.
Maybe I should get a sample of ATF tested when I do change it... _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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