These noises could foreshadow a more serious problem.Try to keep towing heavy loads, like trailers, to a minimum. I know there is a school of thought out there that transmission fluid should never be changed or changed very infrequently. Heavy pulling can shorten the life … Both of these services replace your transmission fluid with fresh fluid, but in very different ways. Typical instructions will require you to check it while in Park, hot engine, and on level ground. If the transmission fluid is low and not registering on the dipstick, then top it off until it reads full. However, your local auto technician or mechanic might tell you that 100,000 miles are still too long to wait. My mom's boyfriend used to be a mechanic, he looked at the car and said that the transmission fluid is leaking and i should get it flushed. But i read it's not good to get a full flush on a high mileage car. jamesg. How Do You Know When Your Transmission Fluid Needs to Be Changed? My car has 160K+ miles on it. This transmission fluid should allow your manual transmission system to make quicker shifts and more efficient movements. If you want your high mileage car to keep performing for you, here is a high mileage car maintenance checklist that will help you make sure you are doing everything you can to extend the useful life of your car. So can you now drive “on empty”? Yes—if the trans, cooler, and converter are completely flushed. The story goes like this: A guy has an ancient car, and decides to change the transmission fluid. First to understand this you have to realize what transmission fluid is for. In most cars, you can check the transmission fluid by finding the transmission dipstick under the hood of your car while the engine is running. Back in the Pleistocene Epoch — back when I had hair — gas tanks were vented directly into the atmosphere. They won't recommend it because it can do more harm than good and it a waste of money. It’s not uncommon for an unscrupulous seller to put heavy-duty oil in a transmission to disguise problems. That is a question that I have struggled with for a long time. You likely would see advertisements, price options, a few dozen brands to choose from and thousands of forum posts. © Oil Change. Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing. But here’s what really happened: The guy with the 1966 Rambler with 180,000 miles on it noticed that his transmission was misbehaving. That's why at that mileage it's generally recommended that you change the filter too. And when, shortly after the fluid change, the transmission dies, the guy blames it on the fluid change — instead of the 180,000 miles he had on the car, and the drag racing and donuts his 16-year-old kid does with it every Friday night. Be cautious. Heavy pulling can shorten the life … He said if it wasn't changed on a regular basis to just leave it be because the transmission is so used to the old fluid. I learnt from this that it’s crucial to change the transmission fluid periodically. Good maintenance includes changing the fluids at the mileage intervals that the manufacturer recommends — no matter how old the car is. Most people are aware that their engine oil needs changing on a regular basis. My owner's manual says I should change the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles, but my father swears it should be changed as often as engine oilevery 4000 to 5000 miles. But, if your car is a high mileage vehicle (think 150,000 km), and is still running on factory filled transmission oil, you are better off just leaving it alone. According to some sources, an ATF change at this stage will cause slippage and ultimately cause faster clutch failure. Low 42F. What do you suggest — continuing to change the oil and flush the entire system? When you replace the bolts for the pan, check the service manual for bolt-tightening sequence and torque specs. My truck is an 05 and has 85k and was thinking about doing the 100k service, which includes the transmission fluid change. Manual: Most manufacturers recommend that manual transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Often times aftermarket parts can be very high... Hey there. The only way changing the fluid can damage a transmission is if the detergents in the new fluid clean gunk out of the transmission that clogs the filter. It’s a safe product that comes highly recommended by various automobile manufacturers. So if you don’t, and you go 198,000 miles and never change it, then a fresh change can sometimes make it slip.