How often do you change your tranny fluid

[longhauler]

Just wanted to get a general consensus to see how often you guys are changing your tranny fluid. I had our local trans shop tell me if you tow something you should change out your fluid every year. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance for you responses

[Beamer5]

I think every 30K miles if towing is good and switching to synthetic.

[fhenn]

Chrysler says if you have the six speed auto every 60K

[Dayle1]

Every year? How can the shop make such a statement w/o knowing number of miles solo vs towing and how heavy you are towing? I'd go with what the owners manual states. That is what I did with my last truck, GM stated every 45k miles. Sold the truck at 11 yrs and 89k miles and the Allison never missed a beat during that time. But I did tell the buyer to change the fluid at 90k.

[hondavalk]

My Tundra's owners manual says never.

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by hondavalk

My Tundra's owners manual says never.

Really???

[Coopers_dad]

I've been doing it every year on my Avalanche. The 4L60 isn't known to be super strong so I'm trying to keep the fluid in tip top condition. I've added a larger trans cooler than the one it came with as well. I only do the filter every other year as it's such a pain to get out. It cost me about $120 in fluid.

[Stan]

I do mine at 5K (just to get any factory junk out) and then every 25K I will drain and fill and change the filter (on the Allison this is easy). I also do all the other oil fluids at 50K intervals. I have never had the actual flush performed (where they suck out and filter the trans fluid).

[hondavalk]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

Really???

Ya I know it seems weird but that's what it says

[Tim D]

I wouldn't do it any more frequent than the owners manual states.

[BODERRVING]

Tundras have synthetic from the factory. Our tech told us that makes an extreme difference. When he got a used Ford, first thing he did was change all the fluids to synthetic.

[longhauler]

Thanks for the info everyone, I was thinking every year was a little much, but the guy also owns a transmission shop so of coarse he would tell people that.

[Darrell]

NEVER flush an Allison - it is bad jou jou to push gunk back through the system. Best thing is a drain and fill. Every year is an absolute waste, unless you spend a lot of time over the rails in salt water!!! I plan on doing a flush and fill every two years. But I also use synthetic....

[Coopers_dad]

Originally Posted by longhauler

Thanks for the info everyone, I was thinking every year was a little much, but the guy also owns a transmission shop so of coarse he would tell people that.

I've said the same thing to my Dr and dentist.

I guess in the end if it helps you sleep at night that's all that matters.

[MEHoffman]

I only ever changed transmission fluid once. That was on a 1990 Ford w a 302 and I was traveling 700 miles to pick up a U Haul full of tools to return home with. I had the fluid changed about week before the trip. Just over 500 miles into the trip a seal blew out and the repair of the transmission took a week and cost me $1600.00 plus a rental car. I vowed I would never change fluid again and too this point I have not. Of course now I own a Tundra and will start serious towing. Toyota states that if you tow, transmission services are recommended every 60,000 miles. If you don’t pull, Toyota only recommends that the fluid is inspected every 30k miles (not replaced, just inspected). BTW I have read: There can be such a thing as changing your vehicle’s ATF too frequently. In an effort to maximize profits, some dealers and repair shops recommend replacing ATF more often than needed. Not only is this a waste of your money, it also increases the risks of contamination and under-filling.

[ewbldavis]

I always go 60K for tranny and 100K for transfer/diffs. Yours may differ (I generally have owned GM). My dad also followed 60K rule and got 230K out of a van that towed regularly with no tranny rebuild (motor finally gave up!). Following owners manual is best.

You shouldn't need to do it more often with a 2500 just because you tow - truck is built for the heavy usage. Inspect regularly and you will know if you need to do it sooner.