- Joined
- June 17, 2004
- Messages
- 24,492
- Reaction score
- 5,096
- City, State
- Knoxville, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98 Limited AWD 302
Transmission care for long life
Transmissions have a vent on the top of the case.
Bottom line: If ALL conditions were perfect and constant, then trans fluid changes would be unneccesary. The root of ALL problems come from changing conditions, parts failures, and inherrent inadequacies.
Most transmissions have factory design flaws, not catastrophic usually, but they create symptoms, and/or cause premature wear.
Every vehicle is driven with a different usage; time, distance, weather, loads.
All of those factors contribute to the accumulation of debris in all transmissions. Not changing the fluid will achieve some varying lifespan, based on those factors. If the transmission lives a little longer from that coating of friction material, then that's luck. I call it borrowed time.
Changing the fluid at the proper interval can lessen the damage that excessive debris can cause. It's not magic, but it can help. I do it, because it lets me get a good look at the appearance of the inside of the trans, and the filter, and fluid.
The best thing you can do is to install the biggest cooler you can, and a system correction kit if there is one. TransGo concentrates on improving the factory functioning of a trans. They attempt to fix the inherent problems, and make the shifting mnore efficient. That will have a greater improvement on the lifespan than changing the fluid constantly.
Use a high quality trans fluid, and LOL!
Don W
Transmissions have a vent on the top of the case.
Bottom line: If ALL conditions were perfect and constant, then trans fluid changes would be unneccesary. The root of ALL problems come from changing conditions, parts failures, and inherrent inadequacies.
Most transmissions have factory design flaws, not catastrophic usually, but they create symptoms, and/or cause premature wear.
Every vehicle is driven with a different usage; time, distance, weather, loads.
All of those factors contribute to the accumulation of debris in all transmissions. Not changing the fluid will achieve some varying lifespan, based on those factors. If the transmission lives a little longer from that coating of friction material, then that's luck. I call it borrowed time.
Changing the fluid at the proper interval can lessen the damage that excessive debris can cause. It's not magic, but it can help. I do it, because it lets me get a good look at the appearance of the inside of the trans, and the filter, and fluid.
The best thing you can do is to install the biggest cooler you can, and a system correction kit if there is one. TransGo concentrates on improving the factory functioning of a trans. They attempt to fix the inherent problems, and make the shifting mnore efficient. That will have a greater improvement on the lifespan than changing the fluid constantly.
Use a high quality trans fluid, and LOL!
Don W
A tranny will wear at a pre-determined rate (by the manufacturer) changing your fluid will not extend the life exponentially (manufacturers would not make money...perish the thought!!!) not changing your fluid again will not extend your tranny life either. parts break/weaken that's life clean fluid will not prevent breakage or weaking of springs....I did more research and found that weak springs are very close to being the #1 cause of chain reaction failure (nothing to do with fluid). A manufacturer flaw or is it??? no it's not a flaw they were designed to last x-amount of time so you have to (hopefully in their mind) by another tranny from them. No preventetive for weakening springs in your solonoids..certainly not fluid change...IMO they are a waist of time and money unless absolutely necessary such as leaking gaskets and you have to take the pan off then by all means...go nuts. I have enjoyed this thread so far as I hope to have educated many people and hopefully not pursuay them one way or the other...in closing do what makes you feel good about yourself after all it's your TOY. Good luck from the heart to everyone..... 
