how often for fluid changes?

[red96camaro]

How often do you guys or will you guys change tranny, differential, and radiator fluids?

 

[aldive]

Radiator - I like a 2 year interval
tranny - 2 year is what I do, but I use synthetic with an external filter
rear end - 2 years

Nort recommendations, just what I do.

 

[oceanworker]

It is best to consult the owners manual for maintenance schedules for fluid changes. These are not arbitrary times, they are tested and advised by the engineers who designed the vehicle, engine, and systems.

 

[mosinman]

Tranny every 30k, radiator every 2 years, rear diff 60k. Some of these numbers are sooner than the manual suggests, but it's damn hot in Texas. More frequent than called for wont hurt a thing.

 

[OneShotBandit]

I have a '98 XLT 4WD that I bought from the original
owner (48000 mi +/-). I now have 56000 mi on it. This
guy just drove the truck, I don't believe he had regular
maintainence program (company vehicle). I want to
change or at least bring everything up to spec's: change
ALL fluids. Now my mechanic says not to change trans-
mission fluid 'cause I may have tranny problems after.
What's the deal there? And will this hold true w/the TC
also? I know some of these won't need changed, but I
don't want any problems in the winter (hunting season).
BTW way I will be using synthetic if my mechanic gets
them. I used to race DirtBikes & we have used synthetic
oils for years w/ excellent results (Belray)! Costs be
damned!

 

[Robert]

Replace your tranny fluid regardless of what your mechanic says. In '97 Ford listed the 5-speed auto's interval at 50K miles under severe duty, 100K miles under regular duty. I changed mine the first time at 50K. Mine did not develop any problems anc actuall smoothened it out a bit. My fluid was pretty clear for 50K miles and there wasn't much sludge in the pan. All I did then was the pan fluid (about 5 quarts) and filter. The second time I changed the filter at 80K and did a complete flush. It took 19 quarts before the fluid started coming out clear/red. There was also a lot of sludge in the transmission this time. In '98 Ford decreased the interval. Nothing good can come from listening to your mechanic and never doing a fluid change. If you don't change your fluid and suffer a transmission related problem at 80K you can blame it on the old fluid. If you do change the fluid now and still suffer a problem you can either attribute it to the high mileage before the initial change or try and attribute it to the recent fluid change. I think you stand a better chance of getting your transmission to last longer if you put all new fluid and filter in. From now on stick to a more reasonable change interval (every 30K) and you shouldn't have any fluid related problems.

 

[aldive]

[I changed the filter at 80K and did a complete flush. It took 19 quarts before the fluid started coming out clear/red. There was also a lot of sludge in the transmission this time. [/B]

Robert, was this with synthetic fluid?

Thanks......