I have just changed my transmission fluid today, but this mechanic I know told me that I shouldn’t have since?
I have just changed my transmission fluid today, but this mechanic I know told me that I shouldn’t have since changing it will mess it up. I am the second owner of the car and never changed the fluid since I bought it. It has been driven 80k since then. I am wondering if what he said is true. If it is true, do I am going to see some changes or it will just stop? Please, if anyone has the same experience, let me know. Thank you.
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What does he say it will do? I am not aware of anything bad that can happen if you do it right. Unless he has a specific concern, perhaps it is just another urban legend.
How many miles were on it when you changed it and what was the condition of the oil that came out? If it was dark red or lighter than you are ok. I would drive it like it was new to break in the new fluid for a couple hundred miles as that is what I always do. If it smells burned or is brown or black with a burned smell or bad stench with pieces in the pan, you may have to have it either overhauled at some point in the future, or worse, buy another transmission.
P.S. Compare the fluid to the pictures on the site listed in source below this sentence.
Dropping the pan, draining the fluid, and refilling won't usually cause a problem. However, on some vehicles with high mileage, if it's never been changed, some damage can occur if the system is FLUSHED. There is a big difference. 80k is not enough to worry about. I've been working on cars for 15 years, and I've had a couple of cases where the vehicle drove fin into the shop, but after the trans flush, it would slip or not move at all. It's very rare, but it can happen. If you're not experiencing any problems driving it away from the shop, then I'm sure you won't.
Here is the theory behind what he is saying: The owner's manual recommends changing the fluid at set intervals. If it is not changed for many many miles then the old fluid loses it's ability to keep the pumps and other parts clean. Then, you put in new fluid with it's fresh ability to clean and keep gunk in solution and all the old gunk is now put into solution by the fresh fluid. This overwhelms the filter and clogs up the transmission. It may be an old wive's tale but I have heard of many cases where someone's transmission failed soon after a fluid change if it had many miles with the old fluid in it. I have read on mechanic forums "if the old fluid is red and looks like atf, change it. If it is brown and nasty, don't change it.
That old wives tale has been around forever. Does the mechanic think that leaving broken down sludgy fluid in there forever is good for the transmission?
that mechanic is dumb. i changed fluid and filter in cars and trucks that had more miles then that and it did,nt hurt them. matter of fact the 88 oldsmobile i had i changed it when it had over 100,000 miles and it,s still going.
never had a problem however i do not change trans fluid