Should I change my Transmission Fluid?

By all means change the trans oil & filter.

Harryface

05 Park Avenue, 34,114 91 Bonneville LE 305,610

Yes because new fluid helps keep seals fresher and tranny cleaner.

Yes, change filter/fluid. It's been 70K+ miles since the last servicing, so it's the right time. Had the trans never had any servicing, the advice might be different.

Dave S(Texas)

Old wives tale. When I worked in the business, people would bring in their cars with tranny problems and want the fluid changed in a last ditch effort to save the trans. Most often this failed and the customers often blamed the change rather than the lack of maintenance for the problem. Rule #1 The best fluid is new fluid Rule #2 See Rule #1

These people, are they armchair quarterbacks or reliability researchers at hydramatic division?

25k or 30k more miles? You're fine either way. GM made very tough front-wheel-drive transmissions. I drove my '90 grand prix WELL over 150k miles on the same fluid. When I finally did change it the fluid was murky and there was what looked like a rather large piece of clutch material in the pan! The ol' girl shifted perfectly fine for the 200k+ miles I had 'er.

The problem you describe with difficulties after changing old fluid arise from power-flushes. If you have your transmission power flushed it would be wise to change your fluid regularly. Old fluid leaves deposits in harmless places, and the power flush may dislodge particles and let them deposit in harmful places.

If you want to have your fluid changed, that's cool; it won't hurt. Just don't opt for the power flush.

I have a 98 olds silhouette (sames as pontiac montana and chevy venture), and I too need to change my tranny fluid and filter. My question is, is there a gasket that should have came with the tranny filter? I have the filter, but I didn't get the gasket.

T,

Some newer GM vehicles were using a reusable trans pan gasket. You should be able to buy just a gasket as a back up if case the original gets ruined.

Harryface

05 Park Avenue, 34,114 91 Bonneville LE 305,610

I would change it with the traditional drop fan, replace filter, refill method. I would not put it on a fluid flush machine and I would not run solvent through it. Most shops will now use the solvent & machine to "service" your transmission fluid.

I don't buy they leave it in there arguments at all.

John

Generally these transmissions have a reusable neoprene style gasket on the pan. As long as yours is in good shape simply reuse it.

John

After posting the original question regarding the change of tranny fluid on my car with 127k miles it is time to do an update. As mentioned the car ran just fine with the old fluid but was getting dirty. Yesterday I took the chance and had it flushed....I didnt get the old style flush which used pressure, but I used the Snap On recirculation non pressure flush machine. The machine recirculates the old fluid with new fluid using the transmission filler tube, its like getting a blood transfusion or like bieng on a dialysys machine. At the end of the treatment your fluid is new and clean and air never gets in your system allowing sediment to settle in places it shouldnt. The trans pan also did not need to be dropped. The question was will I have a problem afterwards...the answer is no. I drove it all day with no issues what so ever. I would recommend this type of flush over the old to anyone about to get a fluid change.

Message from Worthington J. Wilmington written on 2/4/2006 12:49 PM:

But you didn't change the filter. And the sediment still remains in the pan.

It's likely the filter is almost completely clogged up and there is 1/4" of nasty sediment in the pan. That is not good for the trans.

What about the filter?

What about cleaning sediment from the pan?

John

transmission

It's a revelation........We now know exactly who P.T. Barnum was talking about.

Dave

All right Dave - that's enough. I has successfully let this post go by yesterday, thinking that I didn't need to point out the OP's gullibility. Was feeling pretty good about myself for that. And then... along comes Dave. Says what I was thinking and completely blows my efforts at being a nice guy. Thanks Mister. Just want you to know - you have succeeded in reviving my cynical side. Oh well - if anybody comments on it at least I have someone to blame.

Yea well, that is probably gonna end up being a very wrong answer. I and others answered your question by saying 'yes' its time for a fluid AND filter change. Apparently you didn't want good advice and believed the man with the machine. Good luck with that.........! Oh well, transmissions are probably cheap where you live. Don't worry about it..........

Dave S(Texas)

.

I admire your restraint.

And then... along comes

Oh.......don't feel bad. I doubt the OP understood my comment, anyway. ;-)

Dave