Automatic Trans Life?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
i agree changing the fluid is a great thing to do. but is it true that if you have over 100,000 miles and fluid has never been changed you can do more harm than good by changing the fluid. i can swear i seen that theory somewhere before and a lot of people said the same thing. 
Many vehicles, INCLUDING THE C5 CORVETTE, call for the FIRST tranny service at 100K miles under normal driving conditions...50K miles under severe conditions..(Read your owners manual!!)....Thing is, the car is out of warranty by then, so youre fecked if you do have an issue by waiting too long.....Like I said earlier, I personally do mine every 30K...I do them myself, so it's no biggie for me..
Last edited by The NNIAL8R; Apr 4, 2009 at 02:32 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
I got my fluid changed today in my A4. I currently have about 75k on the car and in summer driving the temps can get over 200F. I switched to RP synthetic ATF and hoping that will bring the temps down to where I am comfortable as they claim. I've read and heard that ATF begins to oxidize at 260F. Of course you don't want it to get even near that. I would suggest getting the fluid and filter changed once a year. As stated heat is the cause of failure. Keeping fresh fluid and a good filter will be the best bet. The filter from Chevrolet was just over $50 local and the fluid I got was about $100 for 11qts of RP plus installation. Not too bad if you ask me for an integral part.
-Alex
-Alex
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 723
Likes: 3
From: pittsburgh pa
is it possible to do the fluid change on your own?? my guess is it is alot easier if the vehicle is on a lift. and i read somewhere that it is best to flush the system. can anybody tell me if they have changed the fluid and filter on their own and how long it took. my car is currently in body shop waiting to hear if insurance company is going to total her or not. but if i get her back going to change the tranny fluid and filter since just went over the 100,000 mile mark. mostly all highway miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
is it possible to do the fluid change on your own?? my guess is it is alot easier if the vehicle is on a lift. and i read somewhere that it is best to flush the system. can anybody tell me if they have changed the fluid and filter on their own and how long it took. my car is currently in body shop waiting to hear if insurance company is going to total her or not. but if i get her back going to change the tranny fluid and filter since just went over the 100,000 mile mark. mostly all highway miles.
But with your car having 100K miles Id definitely have the entire system flushed, then drop the pan and replace the filter...Just dropping the pan doesnt remove the old fluid in the torque converter and cooler lines....that;s not a big deal if youre changing the fluid every 30K miles, but at 100K, Id want ALL that old fluid out!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
With the work that's involved in just checking it (NO dipstick on a C5....gotta put the car in the air) I'd at least spend another 20 minutes and $50 and drop the pan and replace the filter and the 5 quarts in the pan...
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 732
Likes: 2
From: Baxter MN
I have to go along with most everyone else here - the A4s are pretty good trannies. Beat em up and they'll break - it's a no brainer. Care for them and they will last a very long time.
I'm from the old school that says change trans fluid every 30,000 miles or so. I'm coming up on that with my 04. I will almost certainly put in a Magnafine trans oil filter at the same time. I am strongly considering the addition of a small aux trans oil cooler as well.
Best wishes.
Glen
I'm from the old school that says change trans fluid every 30,000 miles or so. I'm coming up on that with my 04. I will almost certainly put in a Magnafine trans oil filter at the same time. I am strongly considering the addition of a small aux trans oil cooler as well.
Best wishes.
Glen
