Change the ATF?

[Nutball]

For you car experts... Should I change the transmission fluid in a 2010 Dodge Charger for the first time ever at 160k when it's acting up? I can't remember what my friend said, I think it was revving more or slipping some, or a delayed or hard shift. They noticed something different when shifting into drive, if I remember correctly.

My research turned up very mixed opinions and experiences regarding changing the fluid, and how much to change it. I was planning on replacing the filter and swapping the fluid 2-3 times to get most of the old stuff out, and resetting the TCM. I have warned my friend of the potential needing a new trans regardless.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Is it one of those you're told never needs changing?

 

[Jusgunn3]

I think I would give you a similar answer unfortunately, I have read the same opinions. I would think you could change the filter in the trans and change the fluid without doing a complete flush. And then maybe again after a few hundred miles. Trans could be toasted like you mentioned. I changed mine in my ram at 100k and it has been fine for another 50k so far.

 

[jacob j.]

I think your plan is sound. I've been doing my Tacoma transmission about every 50k and that's worked well. The truck now has 330K and still runs and drives good. When I got my Volkswagen, I did the same since I didn't know the recent service history on the car - I changed the fluid and filter initially and then did two more fluid changes after 5k each.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I do a "refresh" on ours every 30k or so. There's no dipstick. Fill plug is a pita to get a wrench on and a fill line in. Basically drain the pan and put what came out back in but 10 times harder and more time consuming than what it sounds.

 

[Nutball]

Is it one of those you're told never needs changing?

Yes. And there's no dipstick or drain plug. It's grounds for them to receive an F minus on their environmental score for making people neglect their car so they buy a new one more often. Where are the Big Oil subsidies for pushing frequent ATF changes on people?

 

[Sloughfoot]

Iirc first change I did on ours was 140k and it was a complete change. Still worked normally but was black as heck. Done a bunch of "refreshes" since and if I had it to do over again would have never bothered with the complete change.

 

[Nutball]

10 times harder and more time consuming than what it sounds.

This one's funny, same trans as the charger

 

[Sloughfoot]

That's ridiculous. May have but don't believe I've ever changed the filter on ours and it's pushing 300k, shifts like new.

 

[EFSM]

I bought a Camry at 250k with a terrible torque converter shudder that disappeared after flushing the original fluid with BG 312 ATF. I had it done after another 70k and it is currently at over 340k working great.

 

[IffykidMn]

I do a "refresh" on ours every 30k or so. There's no dipstick. Fill plug is a pita to get a wrench on and a fill line in. Basically drain the pan and put what came out back in but 10 times harder and more time consuming than what it sounds.

My Ram has no dip stick or oil drain plug in the pan just a fill tube, I use a vacuum pump to suck a quart or two out through the fill tube every year and add back whatever I pump out.

 

[Sloughfoot]

My Ram has no dip stick or oil drain plug in the pan just a fill tube, I use a vacuum pump to suck a quart or two out through the fill tube every year and add back whatever I pump out.

I'm convinced that's probably all that's necessary. I had a good transmission guy tell me he's seen them start slipping after getting a complete flush.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

That's something you want to do about a quart every 200 miles or so, do too much at once and you can kill the transmission. I don't know why but I do know your chances are much better not doing a full flush. Your plan sounds good. Just don't drain/pull all the fluid at once.