my car has 189,000 miles on it should i change the transmission fluid?

Question

ive heard its not a good idea to change the trans mission fluid on a high mileage engine? or did they mean trans flush is bad? my trans fluid in there now is full but is dirty so i dunno what should i do? its a 1994 inifiniti j30t

Answer 1

its not bad if you have your trans in a flush..
it just just a little dollar to do it so do it dint wait fir a major problem ti arise just because you did not change the transmission fluid

Answer 2

I thought I already answered this question yesterday! Oh, well, maybe the computer shut down before I sent the message. Japanese transmissions are very well designed and I wouldn't worry about damaging the trans by changing the fluid. The problem here is this: The torque converter holds about 2 quarts of old fluid inside it that is hard to remove. If this were a German car, there would be (usually) a drain plug on the torque converter. Since you have already exceeded the recommended change schedule, you will probably have to change the fluid at least 3 times to remove the heavily oxidized old fluid. If you don't ,what you are really doing is just thinning down fluid that has reached the end of it's useful service life. Find an oil change center that you can trust and bring your own genuine Infiniti trans filter and genuine Infiniti trans fluid (read your manual to figure out how much is needed) and bring along a can of brake clean, regular, chlorinated. When they drop your trans pan, the bottom of your valve body will probably be covered with metal flakes and debris. This is normal. Use the brake clean to wash away all signs of this stuff, then continue with the fluid change. Drive the car for a few blocks, then have the fluid changed a second time. You may even have to have it changed a third time. Each time, the amount of clean fluid will have reduced the amount of old fluid by more percentage. You will never really have entirely new fluid throughout the system. The more times it is changed, the stronger the concentration of good to bad fluid will be. Next year, change it again and stick with the mainenance intervals in your manual !! Good Luck!!

Answer 3

My brother is a mechanic and where he worked they really tried to get people to change their transmission fluid. later i found out that the reason why was because after your car has gone so long on old fluid when you put new in something always tended to go out or break within a short period of time from the changing. He also told me what your someone told you which was if its not having a problem then leave it alone. My motors have gone out before the transmission does. also on a side note, he also said that you should go by your owners manual for oil changes because for most cars you do not need to change it every 3,000 miles. if your car says that it is 5,000 then you can really rack up a savings just by following the instructions for your brand of car. hope this helps

Answer 4

Infiniti does not have a factory recommended maintenance interval for your transmission. Does this mean the transmission is lubed for life? Not likely, but at the same time it is good to change fluids BEFORE they get this much age in them. Most shops will not flush a transmission that has high mileage if you cannot provide documentation of the last time it was changed. If a shop will change it, I guarantee you they won't admit the zinc salts in the flush chemicals washed away debris and ate seals on the way. Alot of people shreik at high mileage as if the car is a total piece of crap. I have a 1995 Silverado 2500 in my driveway with 197,968 on it and I would get in it right now and drive across the country without a second thought. Mileage is not the issue. The issue is who put the miles there. Now to answer your question. If you are not having transmission problems, and the fluid does not smell burnt, you could get away with a pan drop, which doesn't change all of the fluid, and doesn't add chemicals that will create clearances the vehicle has long given up on. If you want to change it due to issues with slipping or other suspected transmission problems, it is a bit late for fluid to make a difference. If it were me, I would leave well enough alone. If you just can't help yourself and are a bit ambitious, change it, but don't get it flushed.

Answer 5

Well....I believe a tranny servicing can help in any case, I've heard people say that changing the fluid in a high mileage car might finish it off, and my answer to that is this....If the varnish of old tranny fluid is holding your tranny together, then it's time to look for another car anyway...
I highly doubt that a perfectly working transmission would then become inoperable or start slipping because of a fluid, filter change provided it was done properly and the proper fluid and the correct amount was replaced...
Another issue with an Infinity is that if my previous experience is correct in this case, the Infinity has what is referred to as an "Interference Motor" what this means is that when the timing belt breaks that the pistons and valves crash into each other causing extensive damage requiring an engine replacement or complete rebuild which I've seen cost over 3000.00 to a friend....
My advice would be to sell the vehicle for whatever you can get while it's still running fine and move onto something else before your the one that doesn't have a chair to sit down in when the music stops.....

Answer 6

Well sense everyone thinks that your wallet is loaded... just jokin It is not a good idea to change it this late in the game! I have spent the last 5 yrs pulling transmissions out because so many people say "change the fluid" Granted not all trans go as soon as its changed. But did they have as many miles, driven as hard,etc??? Anyway the reason i say dont is to save your money untill you are ready to spend it! and so you and your wife and kids arent stranded on the side of the road.

Answer 7

If you have not changed the fluid by now, the transmission is damaged badly. Yes, it is true, oil does not wear out, but the additives DO, Water can build up and you would be amazed at the JUNK now in the bottom of your pan. Yes, it may still be running, and changing it is much better, with the filter, than continuing to ignore it. Yes, there is a camp that says the putting new oil in a damaged transmission will cause a failure and to a degree that is true due to clogged seals that are working due to thick sludge oil, but you are on borrowed time.
This Japanese car transmission will be obscenely expensive verses a good AMERICAN car that supports the US economy.

Answer 8

it should have been done about 6 times by now if not more you spend that kind of money on a vechicle you should take care of it better i have a $500.00 beater that i use for work that has 528,000 + miles on it i have had it for 8 years now and still works great with no major problems just regular maintenance

Answer 9

You should be on at least you're 3rd fluid change. I'd take it to a dealer so some quick lube boy doesn't cause you a problem.

Answer 10

and should be flushed besides, since the oil
in the torque converter needs to be changed
also..