My 98 Dodge Grand Caravan (3.0L V6) has just over 100K miles on it. I
>figure it's time to change the tranny fluid, since I never have. It
>has no leaks and I've had no trouble with it at all. This is just >preventative.
>
>I'm no mechanic, so I'm going to take it somewhere to have it done.
>Places I've called fall into two camps:
>
>1. Flush the whole thing with new fluid. Leave the old filter in.
>This supposedly removes all the old fluid, and basically cleans the
>filter as well. Not dropping the pan means no chance to introduce new >leaks.
>
>or
>
>2. Drop the pan, replace the filter and pan gasket, and drain the old
>fluid. This leaves about a gallon of old fluid in the torque
>converter. Put in new fluid. These people say that this is how Dodge
>has recommended trannies be done for years, before flush machines were >invented.
>
>So which would you do? 1? 2? 1, AND a new filter? We're planning on
>driving this thing for a few more years, so I'm willing to spend a few
>extra $$ to get more life out of this transmission down the road. >