Hi, I got 2006 matrix with 122k miles. I have no idea if ATF was ever changed so I want to know if it's too risky changing it now. Thanks
There's always a risk. But is it a greater risk to not change the fluid and have the trans self destruct? I personally change it so I know what's going on instead of guessing.
A full flush is definitely risky but I have heard of people successfully doing a full change/flush on high mileage vehicles. You should be OK just changing out the fluid in the pan and replacing the filter. The fluid in the pan is approximately 1/3 of the total fluid in the transmission.
@dan works on auto trannies for a living. What do you think?
Do you do fluid changes on high mileage vehicles?
What do you think about fluid exchange machines?
Worked* a while ago…
2. If the transmission was serviced regularly and properly (30k-50k miles) then why not?
If it wasn’t and the transmission is stuttering then it’s worth a shot - might “fix” it.
3. Fluid extraction machines are a “necessary evil”, they allow you to exact the full amount (although I haven’t seen them in gearbox shops and pretty much no one but the dealer uses them - where I live). Lately manufacturers started requiring the use of extraction machines - Suzuki says to replace the ATF only with an extraction machine - but realistically you still can get away with just using the drain plug (4L instead full of 5.8 though)
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Extraction machines for engine oil are just a waste. I always drain it using the plug, even if it’s in a really awkward position like on most VW products nowadays (I’ve seen some hilariously bad drain plug placements on new cars)
@dan
- have you ever seen a high mileage fluid change cause a transmission to start slipping or fail?
- have you ever seen a transmission fail after having an extraction?
- I do not think so…
- nope, but that’s cause no one has them. I have seen mechatronics get friend from regular calibration procedures and I have seen Bosch tools crashing cashing TCMs to become unresponsive.
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong - I guess it’s easy to screw up. I mean I herd new Aisins have an oil drain bolt inside of their oil drain bolt… some mechanics don’t actually know what’s the purpose of that (the inner one is a fluid overflow used to not overfill the tranny. But for some reason it’s kind of unreliable and very confusing to use)
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It’s kind of easy to mess up even without some tool messing up your perception of what’s going on. like how on a Ford MPS6 (on such cars as the Mondeo and Evo X) you can fill up the fluid until it starts to flow out of the overfill bolt and not know you shouldn’t waited for it to enter the other chambers by overflowing the main chamber’s walls 🥴
You don’t have to guess as to what’s the state of your fluid is - Just check the condition of the fluid using the dipstick (I’m 99% sure your car has a transmission dipstick, the fluid should be red. Check your manual for instructions)
If it’s not smelly or has bits in it - you’re probably alright, there’s always a risk but I doubt it’s significant.
Thanks to @mountainmanjoe for letting me know of this question.
no problem. I was hoping for comment on my questions.
that laptop must have been very naughty