Topic: How often to change tranny fluid?
in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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dwright
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Victor, NY - USA
Joined: 7/12/2004
Posts: 6841
Vette(s): 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015.
Sold 1982 Red Coupe
How often should I change the transmission fluid and filter or whatever is in there?
Normally I drive 3 to 5 K miles per season, store it in the winter.
Every third year I might do 6 to 7 K miles.
Mostly easy driving. No racing (except 3 laps at Watkins Glen
) Expressway, back roads (no dirt or gravel), highway. Some stop and go in the city occasionally.
) Expressway, back roads (no dirt or gravel), highway. Some stop and go in the city occasionally.Is time the factor or miles or both?
What breaks down in tranny fluid?
Can I tell anything be looking at it on the dip stick?
Or feeling the fluid?
Should I let my neighbor's dog taste it or does that only work with coolant?
Finally, how big of a job is it for the DIYourselfer?
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ebo
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Holland Patent, NY - USA
Joined: 6/3/2008
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Vette(s): #1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile
#2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker
Grizzley Adams (Now tell me that does not fit his profile picture) 
Will be the expert on this as is his Thanggg
|UPDATED|10/22/2011 4:29:34 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Will be the expert on this as is his Thanggg
I change it around 60 K
It can be done on your own the pan is droped and there is a filter inside that you also change. new seal for the filter and new gasket for pan bolt back up and add new fluid. The pan has to be dropped with fluid in it so be carefull or you'll wear it.
They sell a drain plug kit that you can install if you plan to do it often. Not sure if it will cure your dog problem.....
If the fluid is burnt it will smell that way when you sniff the dip stick.....that did not sound good did it...
Pull the stick put some on your finger and see if it smells, most likley not.
|UPDATED|10/22/2011 4:29:34 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
ebo
Adams' Apple
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Onced a year/12,000 miles is the normal service interval we usually recommend. A lot depends on driving style, and where you live. Here in Traffic Jam City, and 100+ temps in the summer, it's best to maybe cut that in half.
The actual OIL in the fluid is not what breaks down...it's the additive package in the fluid that actually wears out.
My personal recommendation is, if the fluid has NEVER been changed(that you know of), I wouldn't fool wid it. I would say drop the pan, catch the fluid, change the filter, and put the same old fluid back in, and top it off with fresh fluid.
Here's the problem with changing fluid on one that hasn't been serviced before, and has a lot of miles on it. Any new fluid is gonna be a high detergent oil, which is good for keepin stuff clean. However, putting fresh fluid in an old trans will clean crap out of places that it has been hiding in for years....and lodging that crap in places that were never designed for it....like the valve body, bearings/bushings, and the torque converter. New fluid in an "iffy" trans has also caused them to no longer function at all.
If your trans is operating properly now, is full of fluid(no leaks), and doesn't smell bad, yer prolly good for a fluid/filter change. If you drop the pan, and see 1/4"(or more) of doo-doo in the bottom of the pan, I'd not do anything but put a new filter on, and put the old fluid back in, and top it off with new fluid as needed. Ya might strain the fluid thru a paint filter first, to get the big chunks out....
|UPDATED|10/22/2011 5:34:05 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
The actual OIL in the fluid is not what breaks down...it's the additive package in the fluid that actually wears out.
My personal recommendation is, if the fluid has NEVER been changed(that you know of), I wouldn't fool wid it. I would say drop the pan, catch the fluid, change the filter, and put the same old fluid back in, and top it off with fresh fluid.
Here's the problem with changing fluid on one that hasn't been serviced before, and has a lot of miles on it. Any new fluid is gonna be a high detergent oil, which is good for keepin stuff clean. However, putting fresh fluid in an old trans will clean crap out of places that it has been hiding in for years....and lodging that crap in places that were never designed for it....like the valve body, bearings/bushings, and the torque converter. New fluid in an "iffy" trans has also caused them to no longer function at all.
If your trans is operating properly now, is full of fluid(no leaks), and doesn't smell bad, yer prolly good for a fluid/filter change. If you drop the pan, and see 1/4"(or more) of doo-doo in the bottom of the pan, I'd not do anything but put a new filter on, and put the old fluid back in, and top it off with new fluid as needed. Ya might strain the fluid thru a paint filter first, to get the big chunks out....
|UPDATED|10/22/2011 5:34:05 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Joel Adams
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Adams' Apple said: Onced a year/12,000 miles is the normal service interval we usually recommend. A lot depends on driving style, and where you live. Here in Traffic Jam City, and 100+ temps in the summer, it's best to maybe cut that in half.
The actual OIL in the fluid is not what breaks down...it's the additive package in the fluid that actually wears out.
My personal recommendation is, if the fluid has NEVER been changed(that you know of), I wouldn't fool wid it. I would say drop the pan, catch the fluid, change the filter, and put the same old fluid back in, and top it off with fresh fluid.
Here's the problem with changing fluid on one that hasn't been serviced before, and has a lot of miles on it. Any new fluid is gonna be a high detergent oil, which is good for keepin stuff clean. However, putting fresh fluid in an old trans will clean crap out of places that it has been hiding in for years....and lodging that crap in places that were never designed for it....like the valve body, bearings/bushings, and the torque converter. New fluid in an "iffy" trans has also caused them to no longer function at all.
If your trans is operating properly now, is full of fluid(no leaks), and doesn't smell bad, yer prolly good for a fluid/filter change. If you drop the pan, and see 1/4"(or more) of doo-doo in the bottom of the pan, I'd not do anything but put a new filter on, and put the old fluid back in, and top it off with new fluid as needed. Ya might strain the fluid thru a paint filter first, to get the big chunks out....
The actual OIL in the fluid is not what breaks down...it's the additive package in the fluid that actually wears out.
My personal recommendation is, if the fluid has NEVER been changed(that you know of), I wouldn't fool wid it. I would say drop the pan, catch the fluid, change the filter, and put the same old fluid back in, and top it off with fresh fluid.
Here's the problem with changing fluid on one that hasn't been serviced before, and has a lot of miles on it. Any new fluid is gonna be a high detergent oil, which is good for keepin stuff clean. However, putting fresh fluid in an old trans will clean crap out of places that it has been hiding in for years....and lodging that crap in places that were never designed for it....like the valve body, bearings/bushings, and the torque converter. New fluid in an "iffy" trans has also caused them to no longer function at all.
If your trans is operating properly now, is full of fluid(no leaks), and doesn't smell bad, yer prolly good for a fluid/filter change. If you drop the pan, and see 1/4"(or more) of doo-doo in the bottom of the pan, I'd not do anything but put a new filter on, and put the old fluid back in, and top it off with new fluid as needed. Ya might strain the fluid thru a paint filter first, to get the big chunks out....
I usually use momma's good pantihose to strain it...........man I sure do get in trouble..........I really don't understand women............may be I got it backwards...........THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND MEN.............
corvette440hp
tb2k82ce
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
Now this is exactly the type of information that new corvette owner or any car owner is most likely not aware of and I'm thinking not knowing may have cost me a R700 rebuild in the near future. A " reliable" C3 shop told me I needed to change the fluid in the transmission a couple of months ago. Why not it was not a lot of money and they had the car on the lift anyway and I know it is a messy job.
Anyway this would be one of the links I think would fit in under the tab what every C3 owner should know.
Anyway this would be one of the links I think would fit in under the tab what every C3 owner should know.
in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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