Just hit 37k, flush or drain/fill auto transmission

Transmission is covered under powertrain warranty 5/60

 

My 2012 does not even have a transmission dip stick. I am at 78k now, drives fine, no leaks. Will continue to drive as long as no leaks or problems.

 

You change the transmission fluid every 10,000 miles? Wow

 

4 quarts of it, yeah. Just talking about a pan dump.

 

Drop the pan clean it and flush the fluid

Can’t just leave that shit in there forever..

 

None of them hAve dipsticks

You should do a drain and fill before 100k

 

This
If dosent feel right have them check

 

Bingo! Right around 100k is where it should happen, it’s sealed for a reason, should last that long. Dealers don’t replace the filter when they pull the pan, all they do is “clean” the filter. But you can buy the filter with seal kit on Amazon OP. If you have access to a flush machine for cheap, do it, won’t hurt to do it, just expensive if you don’t have friends. Replace the drain bolt gasket as well, should come with the kit. OP is trying to do it to early, technically you haven’t even broken in the truck so, I would skip for now.

 

I did a full change on my 2012 at 90k miles and was glad I did. Fluid wasn't horrible, but definitely deterioriating. I also dropped the pan, cleaned it and replaced the filter.

Pan drain and fill at 37k is still probably overkill, but since you bought it used, it should give you a feeling for the condition of the fluid and peace of mind that it is filled properly. Worth the trouble in my book, but full flush is definitely overkill.

 

I flushed mine and did a filter. Flushed at 194k lol


Don’t need a flush machine to do it.

 

This ^^ the transmission has a handy little pump built right in to it.

It also has some handy in and out hoses that make flushing it yourself super easy. Hardest part is checking the level but that's not actually difficult either.

 

I have a uktragauage so that was simple.


I actually had a problem after doing the flush. I didn’t clean the pan at first and after the flush the truck pretty much wouldn’t run. Idle extremely low and the truck would roll backwards and die on any hill. Something got clogged in the tranny But luckily it came out. Cleaned the pan and new filter after that.


Added a external filter too. Did my buddies a few days later and his went smooth

 

Edit: delete. replied to wrong thread

 

I flat tow a Jeep from CA to Moab and have never had any problems. Only use 4th when towing and OD when going down hills. I will get around to servicing it one year. Probably will sell the truck before the trans ever starts to have any problems. Just drive it and don't worry about it.

 

A bit of clarification for future readers; I think I have this correct...........

None of the v6 units have dipsticks since 2005. The I4 units do, at least through 2015.

None of the 3rd gens have trans dipsticks.

#savethedipsticks #dipsticks matter

 

Question - the units that don’t have a dip stick, how do you know if it has sufficient fluid in it and how do you determine if the fluid is burned or needs replacement?

 

There's a "sticky" about how to change the trans fluid yourself. To the OP, if it gives you peace of mind,change it. It's your money and your truck,do what YOU feel is necessary. It sure wont hurt anything.

 

On majority of my trucks that I have owned, I drop the pan, drain, change the filter, and fill every 50-55k miles. I tow time to time (maybe 4-6 times a year) for long duration on up and down hills sometimes on dirt roads since they do a lot of construction on highway. Never had a problem with the tranny on any of my trucks and I like to comfort of knowing the fluid isn't deteriorating. I'm in the USAF so I think its drilled into me about fluid changes and preventive maintenance lol, especially since I work with ejection seats that have numerous explosives on em to rocket the aircrew members out; it's an extreme example, but habits are hard to break and it would benefit the truck.

I heard flushing it out can do damage if it doesn't need it however, but if you drain and fill as often as I do, I don't think you would need a flush until 150k or even 200k for same measures.

 

When I did a flush at 120k the magnets were pretty full, and the fluid was definitely not something I would even consider running for another 80k.

The flush, along with cleaning magnets, and new filter literally took me like 3 hours my first time doing it, and it feels good knowing there is nice fresh synthetic fluid in there along with clean magnets. I will continue to do it every 75k or so.

The transmission isn't built to last forever, but you WILL wear it out faster by not changing the fluid. Look at some pictures of what people's fluid looks like after ~100k miles. I doubt you would feel comfortable knowing thats whats in your trans.

 

As I read the posts in this thread, it’s got me thinking a drain/fill every 100k might be something I’ll do. I’m at 70k so I’ll do some research. I have just read a lot about the overall life not being extended by too much, since it will fail at some point anyways.