Both of my vehicles are due for tranny service, 00 Explorer V8 and 01 Pont. Grand Prix GT. Dropping the pan and changing the fluid, should I go to an all synth w/ 30,000 mile service interval or is non-synth fluid just fine?
Switch to synthetic tranny fluid?
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If you are going to just drop the pan and change out what fluid readily comes out without any type of flushing, I would just use a quality non-synthetic fluid for this frequent of service. There are some fluids that meet both the Dex III and MerconV specs, if that simplifies things for you. I personally think that the transmission "filters" can go a lot longer than this, like 60k or 90k miles, but go with what the manufacturer says and you feel comfortable with.
I have practiced 100k mile or longer complete drain/flush with all my automatics, and have been able to do this easily by using a large aux. cooler and full synthetic fluid. Usually the fluid looks and smells nearly new still at this mileage, even with towing and mountains and hot weather here. It's just another way to do things and works for me as I service many vehicles and it saves time and money. I have never had a transmission repaired or rebuilt, or retired a vehicle due to a transmission problem.
I have practiced 100k mile or longer complete drain/flush with all my automatics, and have been able to do this easily by using a large aux. cooler and full synthetic fluid. Usually the fluid looks and smells nearly new still at this mileage, even with towing and mountains and hot weather here. It's just another way to do things and works for me as I service many vehicles and it saves time and money. I have never had a transmission repaired or rebuilt, or retired a vehicle due to a transmission problem.
FWIW, I did a pan drop on my 2000 Impala a couple of years ago at 52K. I was amazed at how clean the fluid looked and how little 'crud' was in the pan / on the magnets.
It had even been a rental car...go figure.
On the GMs at least I'd be comfortable going the 100K recommendation with the factory fill, but due to BITOG paranoia I put in M1 ATF
It had even been a rental car...go figure.
On the GMs at least I'd be comfortable going the 100K recommendation with the factory fill, but due to BITOG paranoia I put in M1 ATF
Kestas
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I believe synthetic should be mandatory if you tow.
I wouldn't use anything but synthetic, but then I'm biased.
But I wouldn't stop with just a pan drop and partial replacement. After that step, I'd run it enought to mix the fluid, then either pull the pan plug (which I had just put in while the pan was off) or siphon out what I could and replace with synthetic.
Then I'd repeat that process, and figure I had mostly synthetic.
After that, replacing what is in the pan every 30,000 miles would be fine.
But I wouldn't stop with just a pan drop and partial replacement. After that step, I'd run it enought to mix the fluid, then either pull the pan plug (which I had just put in while the pan was off) or siphon out what I could and replace with synthetic.
Then I'd repeat that process, and figure I had mostly synthetic.
After that, replacing what is in the pan every 30,000 miles would be fine.
****;
I find it ironic that from your other posts and from Amsoil's website there is a lot of confidence in Amsoil engine oil's ability to go much longer than the manufacturer's intervals, yet you are suggesing here to change ATF more often than the manufacturer's interval (ie my Chevy calls for a pan drop at 100K, at 50K only if you tow, drive in mountains, or use for police/taxi/delivery).
Likewise, the Amsoil website's recommendations for the ATF are also kind of short (60K or 100K, which are what a lot of manufacturers are recommending for dino). And that's for a complete changeout/flush.
Is ATF just not as good a candidate for extended drain intervals?
I find it ironic that from your other posts and from Amsoil's website there is a lot of confidence in Amsoil engine oil's ability to go much longer than the manufacturer's intervals, yet you are suggesing here to change ATF more often than the manufacturer's interval (ie my Chevy calls for a pan drop at 100K, at 50K only if you tow, drive in mountains, or use for police/taxi/delivery).
Likewise, the Amsoil website's recommendations for the ATF are also kind of short (60K or 100K, which are what a lot of manufacturers are recommending for dino). And that's for a complete changeout/flush.
Is ATF just not as good a candidate for extended drain intervals?
Actually, the AMSOIL ATF will last at least twice as long without oxidizing than will the non-synthetics.
In fact, even though the manufacturer's talk about 60K and 100K drains, the ones who benefit from this are the transmission shops.
As a practical matter, most good technicians recommend fluid change about ever 15K for front-wheel drive and 25K for rear wheel drive.
I've been using the AMSOIL ATF since it first came on the market. In my Dodge van, I ran it about 150,000 miles. Before the rusting hulk got towed away, I pulled an oil sample. It showed all was well, except they flagged my copper, which was 1 ppm over the recommended level for a 25,000 mile drain interval.
As a practical matter, AMSOIL ATF is, for most personal vehicles, a lifetime fill. For commercial operation and/or towing, it is better to err on the side of changing more often. If one uses oil analysis, then the interval can be extended indefinitely. As I recall, some NC school busses were getting about 80,000 miles on a load before requiring replacement. I think they changed to the Torque-Drive fluid and were getting over 100,000. Their previous drain interval was 20-25,000 miles, best I recall.
In fact, even though the manufacturer's talk about 60K and 100K drains, the ones who benefit from this are the transmission shops.
As a practical matter, most good technicians recommend fluid change about ever 15K for front-wheel drive and 25K for rear wheel drive.
I've been using the AMSOIL ATF since it first came on the market. In my Dodge van, I ran it about 150,000 miles. Before the rusting hulk got towed away, I pulled an oil sample. It showed all was well, except they flagged my copper, which was 1 ppm over the recommended level for a 25,000 mile drain interval.
As a practical matter, AMSOIL ATF is, for most personal vehicles, a lifetime fill. For commercial operation and/or towing, it is better to err on the side of changing more often. If one uses oil analysis, then the interval can be extended indefinitely. As I recall, some NC school busses were getting about 80,000 miles on a load before requiring replacement. I think they changed to the Torque-Drive fluid and were getting over 100,000. Their previous drain interval was 20-25,000 miles, best I recall.
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