I change the trans fluid in my 93 Dakota 4x4 V6 every
other year. Typically, I just drop the pan, replace
the filter, and top off the trans fluid.
I have had the 100% trans flush one time, a long, long
time ago........
The truck has 185,000 miles on the original trans,
with NO trans work ever performed on the truck.
Kyle
--- ctandc <ctandc@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Had to chime in here...
>
> I've been messing with cars and trucks (mainly GM's
> and select Mopar's)
> since I was 13....so more than 20 years. I'm sure
> I've got alot left to
> learn...but I have learned a few things...
>
> No matter what engine, tranny, make , model, someone
> on the internet is
> going to post all about all the trouble they've had
> with it.
>
> I also know that I've personally driven / serviced
> vehicles that lasted way
> longer than they were 'supposed' to.
>
> Now.that being said, I do PREFER manual tranny's.
> Mainly because I like to
> drive, and I like to choose when the tranny shifts,
> but that's just me.
>
> As for Auto Tranny's I have seen more than a few
> automatics get crazy when
> they had not had been maintenanced at all, and then
> they were with
> considerable miles. Mainly I've seen fresh sluid and
> fluid flushes knock
> some trash loose somewhere , and that trash usually
> decides to clog a
> passage or mess with a checkball which then effects
> the tranny shifting and
> that in turn can cause damage.
>
> the main enemy of an automatic tranny is heat. Add a
> tranny cooler. Don't
> care if it came with one, there's a better one to be
> had and they are NOT
> expensive and not hard at all to install.
>
> I like the flush idea...in fact I've been using it
> for many years. By doing
> it myself. Drop the pan, install a drain plug. Let
> the fluid drain. Install
> the pan (Don't use the new gasket yet)
>
> Disconnect the tranny cooler return line, attach a
> clear hose to the tranny
> cooler outlet you just exposed. Run it to a bucket
> you can see, (milk jug
> works well, since you know it's 4 quarts).
>
> Chock the wheels (or get a helper). Fill the tranny
> to it's capacity. Start
> the truck, put the tranny in drive. Watch the fluid
> come out the clear line,
> it'll be dark. Wait until it starts to become the
> same color as the fresh
> stuff you put in OR it reaches the 4 quart mark. If
> it reaches the 4 qt
> mark, turn the truck off. Add 4 quarts, keep going
> until it's running nice
> and clean.
>
> Cut it off, fill to to the correct capacity, drop
> the pan again. Clean it
> out, check the magnet (if you don't have one get
> one). Seal it up with a
> fresh filter.
>
> I personally do this once a year on every automatic
> equipped car I own.
>
> Just off the top of my head..
>
> 95 Suburban - (towed boat, trailers, etc etc). 40k
> when I got ahold of it. I
> flushed then. Kept up with it about once a year.
> When I sold the truck it
> had 250k miles on it....tranny worked without any
> issues (remember I
> mentioned adding a tranny cooler?)
>
> 94 Z71 - Same as above. I got it needing a tranny
> rebuild. Imagine that.
> Rebuilt it, added cooler, flushed once a year. Truck
> has 310k on it...the
> friend I sold it to still drives and tows with it.
>
> Both those listed above supposedly are 'prone to
> transmission problems'
>
> Another thing, which I consider PM, but most might
> say it's over the top.
> It's MUCH cheaper to 'freshen' or check a tranny
> with some miles on it,
> BEFORE it starts acting funny. (read $$$ to replace
> hard parts).
>
> I use the same schedule for rear and front diffs.
> Engines I use full
> synthetic and change every 7500 miles.
>
> The last 'hard part' engine / tranny failure I had
> was induced during a sub
> 12 second 1/4 mile run. The short block had over
> 200k on it...I don't blame
> that ring for giving up the ghost one bit, it was
> tired.
>
> Auto's are driven and effected by line pressure. If
> interested in DIY, get
> some gauges, buy a tranny SERVICE manual (not
> expensive) and check. Many
> need adjustments as well.
>
> HTH
>
> Chris
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Preston" <steveophonic@yahoo.com>
> To: <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 6:47 PM
> Subject: Re: DML: When to change tranny fluid,or
> forget it.
>
>
> >
> > Tom,I have never heard anyone say "Just leave the
> > fluid in there". But I have heard literally tens
> of
> > people say "Don't change the fluid." Two totally
> > different things! One has absolutely nothing to do
> > with the other! :)
> >
> > No,what I have heard is "Unless you're having
> > trouble,don't mess with it." I have also heard
> "Don't
> > mess with it unless you're having trouble". The
> third,
> > somewhat less common variant I've heard from
> people is
> > "Mess with it? Don't! (Unless you're having
> trouble)".
> > I had an English teacher tell me that once.
> >
> > Steve P.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Terrible Tom <SilverEightynine@aol.com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Steve Preston wrote:
> >> > I've heard this from several people over the
> years
> >> and
> >> > Bernd also mentioned it recently,about it not
> >> > necessarily being a good idea to change
> >> fluid/filter
> >> > on high-mileage transmissions. My only question
> >> is,at
> >> > one point should you just leave it (at what
> >> mileage)?
> >>
> >> I've never heard anyone say "just leave the fluid
> in
> >> there". I wouldn't
> >> recommend that to anyone with any car or truck
> with
> >> any transmission.
> >> Thats like saying, "Eh I won't change my engine
> oil
> >> anymore because the
> >> car is 10 years old has over 100K miles on it and
> I
> >> don't care."
> >>
> >> Clean fluid is healthy for a transmission. Dirty
> >> fluid is bad. Its just
> >> that simple.
> >>
> >> >
> >> > My inclination is to change the filter,and fill
> it
> >> > with ATF+4,
> >> >
> >>
> >> I would say you have the right idea.
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------
> >> The Zen philosopher Smasho once wrote:
>
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