grubbs120dg t1_jcg17g0 wrote on March 16, 2023 at 3:55 PM

Reply to comment by Walkop in Plow truck my grandpa bought brand new back in ‘79, been working every winter by Haha1867hoser420

Would you say the transmission fluid changing advice applies to a car you're driving just to and from work?

Walkop t1_jcg3ze6 wrote on March 16, 2023 at 4:13 PM

Not necessarily. Before manufacturers started calling the fluid "for life" (one of the only OEM recommendations I've seen that's actually plain stupid, the fluids haven't turned magic in the last 20 years), usually there's a standard service and severe service interval for fluid changes. Usually standard is around 60,000mi (100,000km), and severe service is half this.

The misconception that arises is that severe service isn't just for towing. It includes towing, heavy loads, but also driving often in hills and in heavy traffic. Stop and go is severe service. So many commuters should be changing their fluids on a severe service interval, which is likely around 30,000, mi or 50,000 km. That's the interval I would go with if the car stated lifetime changes and didn't actually have a fluid interval.

grubbs120dg t1_jch6onk wrote on March 16, 2023 at 8:16 PM

Gotcha, thanks for the advice. My last vehicle had the transmission go out at 160k miles. I'm going to try to stick to every 30k.

Walkop t1_jchflqf wrote on March 16, 2023 at 9:14 PM

It's cheap insurance. It protects the torque converter and...everything...in the transmission. Definitely recommend it.

There are a lot of different opinions on oil brands , some people say pretty much all synthetic is the same; personally, I've seen some tests with Amsoil's Signature Series ATF that won me over. They claim twice the resistance to heat breakdown vs other leading synthetics, "reserve protection" vs heat. And have ASTM testing to back it up. Basically you can run severe service at regular intervals. Third party testing and my own experience seem to line up, it's very very good fluid.

Regardless of fluid you use, make sure it's the right spec for your vehicle make, and change it at the appropriate interval, and you'll enjoy a VERY long transmission life (unless there are design flaws, like Dodge Grand Caravan for a few years, or the Ford Focus with the disaster of an automatic clutch).