Quote:
Originally Posted by yads
For tranny flush, check your transmission fluid. Don't just blindly do it at a certain interval. How to check automatic fluid:
1. Start your car and bring it up to operating temperature
2. Run through your gears up and down
3. Pop the hood and pull out the tranny fluid dipstick
4. Wipe it down, reinsert and pull it out again. The fluid should be between the min and max markings
5. Check the colour. It should be pink. If it's dark or smells burnt, you need a fluid change.
As for oil, don't just go by distance, as dirt accumulates regardless of whether you drive or not. Just check it regularly and if it's dark or burnt then it needs a change.
Don't bother with an engine flush unless your oil changes have had substantial metal particles in them.
Coolant flush should be done every 5 years as that's the life of the antifreeze.
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This is a very good guideline. The manufacturers give a one size fits all mileage estimate but everyone uses their vehicles differently. I have never done a tranny flush on any vehicle I have owned. The exception will be my truck this spring, which I use to tow my racecar. I do change the transmission filters, and top up the fluid however a full flush is rarely necessary.
You can't flush a trannsmision on your own, you need a machine to do it properly, and on my last car, a Pontiac G6, you can't even top up the fluid without a factory adapter. The manufacturers are making it harder to do your maintenance so that a 40$ filter/top-up now becomes a $300 flush.
Don't believe the hype, monitor your fluid, and your usage, and schedule accordingly. Most tranny's don't fail because of the fluid, but the usage. People max out or exceed the vehicle tow ratings and cook the fluid, leading to failure. If you are towing a trailer, you should really pay attention to your trans fluid, and you should never tow without a cooler.
Other causes of trans failures - Electronic modules fail, cooking the tranns. Not warming up the trans prior to driving is a huge issue, this blows seals and wears parts out really fast. Rarely is it the fault of the fluid on it's own. If you use your vehicle for day to day driving you can easily get over 100k out of the fluid.
Don't believe the hype, monitor your fluid, and your usage, and schedule accordingly. If you are towing a trailer, you should really pay attention to your trans fluid.
I change my oil in spring and fall, rarely in between unless it starts to look dirty. I check it all the time. I don't use synthetics in my street vehicles, mostly cause I''m cheap, but for day to day use conventional oil works fine. Mileage and again, how you use the vehicle will determine when you should.
One thing about all these recommended intervals. They are designed to make the dealers money. Plain and simple. The manufacturer wants you to service at their dealers, thats why they publish all these intervals and make their vehicles unique so you almost always have to go to one of ther dealers. As I said the G6 has to go to the dealer for tranny top-ups.
