Changing Transmission Fluid too often????

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HACCOFFICER

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I have a 2007 Aveo with 90K on it. I have changed the transmission fluid every 10K since new by drain/refill. Is there any such thing as changing it too often? The reason I ask is my father claims I will kill my trans cause the fluid contains inportant clutch material that I am getting rid of when I change the fluid. I have also changed the silverados fluid quite often as apposed to doing a flush. Is there any truth to if I change the fluid too much I will kill my trans. Or am I safe to change away. BTW the AVEO shift as good as it did the day I drove it off the lot with 4 miles on it.


Thanks
Dan
 
I say you are fine. Keep doing what you are doing. By doing a drain and fill, you are not even getting all the old fluid out so that's not a concern.
 
Other than wasting money your 10,000 mile transmission services shouldn't ruin anything. In all honesty 25,000 mile services will probably accomplish the same thing and save you some nice money. What is Toyota's recommenedation for transmission services?
 
Sounds like a good plan on the little Suzuki tranny,it will probably never need a flush and out live the rest of the car.
Good maintenance IMO.
 
Originally Posted By: hate2work

Tranny rebuilds are expensive compared to what you are doing, keep doing what you're doing and all will be well.


Yea, but where is the point of diminishing returns? Why not change it every 5k with Amsoil if that's the case? I don't know this transmission, but I can't see extending out to at least double what you're doing now causing any harm, though I agree that changing out too frequently won't either.
 
Not at all you are keeping the levels of contamination low and the add package fresh. Usually failures are from the parts breaking . Clean oil is good.
 
Changing it every 10k is excessive, but will not hurt the trans in any way. What your father said, with all due respect, is nonsense. You do not want clutch material in your fluid. Period. The only place clutch material should be is on the clutches. Over time, that material WILL wear off and it will eventually get to the point where there's not enough material left on the clutches, and the trans will start slipping. This is INEVITABLE and is simply the nature of the beast. Automatic transmissions, by design, simply cannot last forever.

So, the best thing you can do is keep the fluid fresh and clean. But 10k really is excessive. I would extend that out to at least 30k.
 
Now that you've mentioned the clutches, is there any way to at least slow down the clutch wear if not by changing the fluid then by another method?
 
Hacco - Install a drain plug in your pan. A welded in one is best. You will make good use of it.
How much are you actually changing? 4 qts or so? Big deal - go ahead and perform your partial changes!

Auto transmission clutch material is of no use in the fluid. That component works only when it is still on the clutch faces.
Consider it debris.
 
Up it to 15k is what I would do. No harm done though with what you're doing. I am changing the Accord's fluid by drain/refill of 3 quarts every 12k.
 
I've changed mine every 10k miles too on my '97 Isuzu Rodeo with 200k miles; just opened up the bottom of the overdrive pan to replace the pan gasket - internals visible from that angle are extremely clean.

Truck shifts flawlessly, this is with a life of heavy off-roading, trailer towing, extreme mountain passes, etc.

Have done the same on our '01 Dodge diesel cummins that hauls a 10,000lb dry weight, 30' 5th wheel, it has 120k; no issues either.

Think changing it too much is a whole lot better then not changing it enough.
 
You can change your fluid every 10 miles.
That would be great, wouldn't it?

Or you can buy better fluid.

Remember the testing that has been shown here at BITOG, where it is shown that oil will have a peak performance, after some time of use, and new oil will actually perform worse than oil with some miles on it?
If you want to do something good to your transmission, you should upgrade your transmission fluid in some way.

It is proven that wine is good for your health, but is doesn't mean that too much of it, is
11.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: jonny-b
You can change your fluid every 10 miles.
That would be great, wouldn't it?

Or you can buy better fluid.

Remember the testing that has been shown here at BITOG, where it is shown that oil will have a peak performance, after some time of use, and new oil will actually perform worse than oil with some miles on it?
If you want to do something good to your transmission, you should upgrade your transmission fluid in some way.

It is proven that wine is good for your health, but is doesn't mean that too much of it, is
11.gif




thats true of engine oil

but this is a transmission and he's changing at most 50% of the fluid

its not directly comparable.

I think the maintenance while often is not obsessive or excessive..
ie 1000mile oil changes.



I'm planning on yearly drains on mine as it has a drain plug.

spring oil change.. fall oil change with trans drain and refill(40% of fluid)

keep it fresh it wont get all skanky and need a flush or anything.

The real question for me is do I want to use ATF+4 or SP III
 
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In the transmission, you will never get any debris from a combustion chamber, so I think motor oil will have a "tougher life" than transmission fluid.

And, why shouldn't it be comparable?

I guess the gear oil have been designed to go for much longer intervals than motor oil, so I believe that this "Peak Performance" effect would be stronger, in gear oil.
Remember, the gear oil is in a "closed" environment.

I have never seen any testing about this matter, but it would have been interesting to learn a bit more, about it.
 
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