I want to do a transmission tune up, (Fluid change and filter)

My friends are recommending i do a full Fluid and Filter swap, I also think this is best, Has anyone done it?

My car currently has 225 000 KM and Runs Smooth, Transmission is Smooth but i want it to last so i figure a change is due, I looked at the fluid and it is pretty clean but i know its gonna need a change this spring,

 

Just drop the pan, replace the filter, put the pan back on and fill her back up.

It's messy.

 

How often or how many miles between tranz fluid chanes do u guy do

 

It is good to drop the pan and change the fluid and filter that way. Yes, it will leave some old trans fluid in the torque converter, but no big deal.

BUT, it's important to observe your driving conditions (do you travel in dusty areas or high outside temps or up a lot of hills which cause stress on the trans and require more frequent trans fluid changes). I typically change my trans fluid every 100,000 miles (which is about 161000 KM). But I drive mostly flat land with a summer and winter that are not too extreme one way or the other. Other conditions would recommend a more frequent fluid and filter change.

BUT, if you neglect your trans fluid and filter changes, you get to another problem. People that neglected them and changed them WAY late then develop problems with the transmission (and would have been safer NOT doing anything).

At 225,000 KM, you are about 139,000 miles. This enters what I would feel is "debatable" if it's wise to change or not. Do your research before doing anything. BUT if you are going to do it, drop the pan, change the fluid and filter that way (doing a "transmission flush" won't change the filter and can be a LOT to put an aged transmission through that has NOT gotten proper maintenance).

 

so if the transmission oil is pitch black and the owner (me) isn't sure when was the last time it was changed then you're better off not changing the oil at all or if i change the torque conv too will that be too much risk or less risky?

 

I wouldn't consider it risky unless you hook it up to the machine that actually flushes and exchanges all your transmission fluid. At least I've never had one fail from a simple "drop the pan and change the filter" swap. I have, however, tried this in a last effort attempt to prevent failure when the transmission was already on it's way out. It doesn't work.

 

That's not a good sign. You could take a gamble on a pan drop and filter change. But I would NOT have it flushed (the method of hooking a machine to it and pumping the fluid through). Pan drop, filter change. Because it's black, if you go down this road, don't think "1 and Done".... I would plan to drive it a week, pan drop and filter change AGAIN. You might even want to repeat for a 3rd time. The reason for this is to that the filter will probably collect debris moving through the trans (part of the reason the fluid is black) and this helps safely remove ALL the crudy fluid (a flush will force this stuff through in a way that can be harmful).

Keep in mind, it's a gamble at this point of which is going to be more harmful. But if it's black it should probably go! If the trans fails shortly after, it was due to happen sooner or later. But do at least TWO pan drops and filter changes 1 week apart and then check the appearance of the fluid on the dip stick and decide if a 3rd time should be done.