Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) trans fluid change interval

[Tractorat]

Im getting ready to have the fluid changed in my trans. Most of the miles are towing and I usually change it at aroudn 15-20k miles. Just for the heck of it, I looked in the manual to see what it says. For towing, it says every 30k miles. For non towing, it says every 100k. Can that be right ?



You guys who mostly tow, what interval do you use ?

 

[JR]

I personally change mine out between 25k- 30k. I tow frequently but not heavy,10k and under for the most part. It is still a nice clean looking color at that point,but I don't push it any further. I'm also using plain ol Dexron atf per my trans builder, no synthetics.

 

[JLandry]

Just for the heck of it, I looked in the manual to see what it says. For towing, it says every 30k miles. For non towing, it says every 100k. Can that be right ?

I think you're looking at the wrong maintenance schedule... probably the one for light-duty gasoline engines.

With the Diesel engine, the transmission fluid and band adjustment intervals are 30,000 miles for normal operation and 15,000 miles for heavy operation (towing, high temperatures, high speed, etc. ).

I do a combination of towing and regular operation and change the transmission fluid and adjust the bands every 15,000-20,000 miles whenever it's convenient to do so.

Don't forget the differential gear lubricant is supposed to be changed every 15,000 miles under heavy operation too.

Best regards,

John L.

 

[Tractorat]

I think you're looking at the wrong maintenance schedule... probably the one for light-duty gasoline engines.

Well, Ill look again to see if there is a separate schedule for diesel. But the owners manual that came with the truck has everything else for diesel, not gas.

But I was pretty sure myself that the schedule for severe duty (towing) was 15k for trans fluid.

 

[JLandry]

But the owners manual that came with the truck has everything else for diesel, not gas.

Take a look at the factory service manual too for detailed maintenace schedules.



Drive safely,



John L.

 

[JLandry]

Conflicting Information

I happened to be perusing in the owner's manual today (looking for something else) and noticed in the trailer towing section it says the recommended transmission fluid change interval is only 12,000 miles for frequent towing. However, in the maintenance schedule (toward the end of the owner's manual) it shows a 30,000 mile transmission fluid change interval for severe operation just as Tractor rat said in this thread.



The factory service manual shows a 15,000 mile transmission fluid change interval for severe operation.



Best regards,



John L.

 

[VolsFan]

I cant say enough for running synthetic fluid in the auto trans. When I had mine checked out at 50k since rebuild only because I needed a new trans cooler after busting the original up, the fluid looked like new and the internals of the trans looked like new. The builder was not surprised, said I could have safely kept running had it not been for running nearly all the fluid out of it after splitting the cooler nearly in half. Also, that wasnt towing heavy by any means, that truck never saw a trailer over 16' mildly loaded, mostly just hauled a dual axle 12' full of firewood

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks,
Ill take a look at that. I know I saw the 15k mile interval somewhere, and Im sure it was in the owners manual. I was quite surprised when I couldn't find it.

 

[Tractorat]

I found it. Yep, 12k miles. I wish they would put that in the regular maint schedule. Luckily for me, I have been getting it changed that often just because. I wonder how many stock transmissions were junked because the owners believed the reg maint schedule.

 

[JLandry]

I cant say enough for running synthetic fluid in the auto trans.

Agreed, and you may already know this, but ALL Chrysler officially licensed ATF+4 is synthetic... even the lower cost stuff available at chain auto parts stores.



Happy wrenching,



John L.