I am wondering what benefits you may notice after changing your transmission fluid and filter for the first time? I'm in the process of making my way through Disco Mike's list and this service is coming up soon. Here's why i ask. My truck shifts somewhat hard sometimes under hard acceleration, and same for downshifting when I brake hard. On the down shifts i can definitely feel it. Also, if I have it in sport mode, my 3rd or 4th gear hits very hard, so i don't even use that. I am curious if my new fluid and filter would fix those issues? Any thoughts out there? Thank you

 

First, you need to check the fluid level. You may just need to top off. You'll hear many say that if the fluid/filter hasn't been changed at recommended intervals, to leave as is. That may be true, but it won't fix the issue. At this point, if fluid levels are good, you don't have much to lise from a filter and flush.

 

Well, the filter was supposed to have been changed at 60k but that's just a one-time deal. Not sure of the fluid intervals thereafter. I've got 84k on it and I'm inclined to do it anyway, especially since I don't know how it has been treated the other 83k mi before I got it.

 

I changed the filter today on a rover with 148k mile and questionable maintenance history. Fluid was not bad, filter had a blackish residue on it and the magnet was filthy.

Based on the POs lack if maintenance, I'm guessing it had never been done.

All went well, it took about 6 quarts and worked fine right after the change.

I was nervous because of all the horror stories, but it went as smooth as could be.

 

Well good... Helps me feel better about it. I'm doing axles and t case next weekend and may go ahead and do my tranny at the same time. I'm starting to get excited about how good my truck is running!

 

Remember you need a crush washer for the drain and fill plug. And a pump to get the fluid in.

 

I was having a shift problem some time ago where it was holding gears (in normal mode) and when it shifted it was very clunky.

After a fluid flush and new filters it cleared up the issue.

Torque converters need plenty of fluid to operate.

 

OK, I'm looking forward to doing this service. I just changed my differentials today and they were extremely low with some black sludge on my drain plug. The oil was nasty. Replaced with full synthetic. I bet the transmission is the same. I should go check the level and top it off until i can do the fluid change. Thanks for the tip.

 

It's NOT about "fixing" issues. You change the fluid at 30k intervals and the fluid and filter at 60k intervals. Enough said.


Mine had 84k on it (purchased at 82.5k) when I did the service and it shifted fine. As far as I could tell, it had NEVER been serviced. The fluid smelled bad, was a little dark and the pan had the black sludge and the iron debris on the magnet. Let drain for 3+ hours, changed out the filter and pumped in 8 liters of Mobil 1 ATF. Now it operates just like the ZF transmission in my S Class...beyond smooth, even when manually shifting through the gears.

 

Ridiculous there is no top-side filler tube (and to a lesser degree, a level check) for this transmission. Easy for tranny shop to squirt Dex III back into the side of the pan but a real PITA for the weekend mechanic, even when you have the good bottle pump.

I put a threaded plastic barb fitting in the filler hole with a clear plastic hose up to the engine bay to refill the sump with new fluid after measuring what came out. After removing the fitting and hose it only took two pumps to bring the level up to the filler hole.

For me, much easier.