Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) To change or not to change my transmission fluid?

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I have always heard if you change it then your transmission will go out. Mine fluid has a brown tint and smells burnt. Whats you guys take, should i roll the dice and change it or let it go?



Gary

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

ooops, sorry posted in the wrong place. I reposted in the correct place.

 

[Tcolesanti]

I don't know who told you that if you change it your transmission will go out, that is not true. Change your transmission fluid, and do it regularly, its better for your transmission than not changing it at all thats for sure.

 

[scotmartin]

I'll move it for you.



Scot

 

[BTighe]

isnt it supposed to be changed every 12k-15k miles? definatly change it.

 

[rweis]

I think the best way to increase the longevity of your transmission is to change the fluid regularly. I had DTT rebuild mine at 20k and their suggestion is every 12k which I and quite a few others do regularly.



I even change the transmission fluid in my wife's van every 20k just to freshen up the fluid.



Bob Weis

 

[McCRam]

I has a guy at aamco tell me that if I changed my fluid that I wouldn't even make it down the street, and that it needed to be rebuilt. Of couse he told me this after he drained the fluid. So I told him to put the old stuff back in, and I went to the next quickie lube I saw and had it changed. That transmission went another 60k and several fluid changes. Change often, and get a transmission temp gauge. I change the fluid every 20k or if the fluid gets to 200* which ever is first.

 

[rweis]

Hot line fluid over 200*



or



Pan fluid over 200*



?



Bob Weis

 

[McCRam]

I put my trans temp gauge in the hot line coming out of the transmission. I once saw a report about transmission temps and the fluids useful life. The fluid life dropped rapidly above that temp from what I remember. I wish I had kept the article, I can't remember where I read it.

 

[rkressg]

Just change it. What is the worst that could happen, it dies.

 

[Dane]

Seriously now...

Mine fluid has a brown tint and smells burnt

You should have changed it long before it got like you describe. How in the world could changing the fluid cause the transmission to fail?

 

[OTRPU]

I change mine every 10 to 12k, it's specified in my ATS warranty. Had to go 15k once this past year, thought I was going to have another heart attack. My case, it's gonna die anyway. Sorta like dressing the corpse in a new suit. LOL, my wife's grandfather. . . wore his funeral suit out. . . three times. Finally died at 99.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[RAndrae]

dont do it

just let it go, best thing to do is get some of the finest sand /grit/ or even dirt and put some in the trans that will help the clutch pack grab better and will make the transmission last longer. the same with the transfer case, engine, and pumpkins. . just get old used oil or whatever fluid you can find the dirtier the better and use that in everything.