How often should I change my trans. fluid?

Question

in a '98 chevy 2500 4x4. i drive it pretty hard, it's a standard transmission. i also do burnouts occasionally. how often should i change my transmission fluid? what about rear end fluid? (12 bolt posi)

Answer 1

I like to check it out at the oil change to make sure it doesn't need to be topped off. There might not even be a drain plug in it. Most automatics don't have one because your supposed to drop the pan and put a filter in there when you do it. Stick shifts don't have the pan or internal filter tho. 15K is probably a good rough figure. It's probably never been changed in the last 8 years.

Answer 2

Yes, is relatively easy. Picture the letter u. U will unbolt the bottom of the u and losen up the other two sides, so that the trany fluid will be coming out on just one side. Have a big pan to cach the fluid. Once all the fliud is out unbolt the whole pan. CHANGE the filter whyle u at it. Is also very easy. It snapps out and the new one snaps in. Also on the bottom of you're trany pan(on the inside part) you're going to c this square magnet strip. That catches all the bad crap in ure fluid, so clean it. If u haven't changed ure fliud in a long time be carfull with doing so because it will ruin ure tranny. Is better to just ad fluid when ure low, or just leave it alone.

Answer 3

I think the automatic trans were supposed to be serviced every 15k, so I'd say you should at least check it every 12,000 miles or every fourth oil change, as well as your rear diff. just pull the check plug and use something t pull a sample from the inside. if you haven't changed it for a while it will more than likely be brown, just drain it and replace it with new fluid, it also wouldn't hurt to add some Lucas additive to help prolong the life of your transs, thats what I use in all my vehicles.

Answer 4

if you abuse it, i would say every 20-30,000 miles. same as the rear end. chek your owners manual, and get the right fluids. also.... gm requires the additive to the posi rear end. it's for the clutches inside the rear end that make the posi work. changing the fluids slightly too often won't hurt a thing.... may save $$$ in the long run.

Answer 5

First I highly recommend getting a Haynes repair manual best 20 bucks you'll spend. On my 2000 dodge 4x4 the recommendation is every 24000 or 24 months. And its not trans fluid it's differential lubricant.

Answer 6

With your treatment of the machine, youshoould change the trans oil every 10 to 12 thousand miles. Check your owners manual and do things twice as often as required.

Answer 7

Every 10,000 miles is usually what's recomended for automatic transmissions but people really hardly ever change it.
If you haven't changed it it in a very long time some mechanics urge you to leave it alone.
Standard transmisions I never change.

I can't believe some of the answers your getting.

Answer 8

A Chilton's manual or your local GM dealer can provide specified service intervals. Usually, trans fluid should be flushed every 24,000 miles or so, and the diff oil should be swapped at about every 35,000.

Answer 9

I have never changed the oil in either manual transmissions or rear ends.
I laughed at the guy at jiffylube when he suggested it.

I see no reason why it ever would require to be changed.

Answer 10

Check it at every oil change and determine from there if you need to change it... also pretty good to do that to make sure no metal in the fluid...then your in trouble!

I bring my car to a place that does all the checking for you. So I dont have to mess with it!