****** Fluid Interval

[brian40]

So the dealer says the service interval for my 2006 Liberty Sport is 30,000 miles. I do what my manual says and it shows servicing the automatic ****** at 60,000 miles. After searching on here a while, most people say 30,000 miles.

I am all for maintaining my vehicle but want to be smart money wise. Why would I need to go above and beyond? I know it can't hurt, but what do people on here do? I am planning on waiting until 50,000 or so.

By the way, been reading this forum for quite some time and found a lot help here!

 

[LibertyTC]

When it comes to the transmission 30,000 miles is = to 50,000km here, and I would say that oil is cheaper than a transmission. Over time the friction modifiers do break down and if you ever get a transmission temp light, that is a hint that your oil has just diminished in quality.
I only let dealer service the ****** for flush/ filter and re-program after new fluid etc.
However, Having a drain plug on the pan would be beneficial in the sense you could drain some of the older ATF+4 and replenish with some new in between dealer services, extending the service interval slightly.
By having a dealer flush completed it is good peace of mind knowing all the fluid including what is in the torque converter has been renewed.
A flush every 30,000 miles? Ya.. your transmission will probably last longer.
The front a rear diff also should be done every 12-15 k miles and I service the transfer case about the same time as the ****** 30k miles.

 

[tjkj2002]

Mine gets a flush every 15k and flush/filter change every 30k.Overkill but cheaper then a new trans.

 

[LibertyTC]

Ya Troy.. but I doubt you would do it that often if it was just street driven not wheeled.
Heavier duty service including trailer towing should dictate intervals and 15k miles is good if wheeled hard or pulling heavy trailers. Things will last longer with fresh fluids and gear lube for sure.
A larger transmission cooler should be considered as well as the mechanical fan/cooling package for severe service.
What kind of ****** cooler do you have TJKJ? (not stock I bet)

 

[tjkj2002]

Ya Troy.. but I doubt you would do it that often if it was just street driven not wheeled.
Heavier duty service including trailer towing should dictate intervals and 15k miles is good if wheeled hard or pulling heavy trailers. Things will last longer with fresh fluids and gear lube for sure.

Done that interval for 20 years with over 50 some vehicles,only 1 trans failure but that was more my fault then the trans.Kinda alot to ask a trans with 278,000 miles on it to last very long behind 575hp.

 

[LibertyTC]

Man you type fast...I edited last post. what kind of cooler you running? got any pics?

 

[tjkj2002]

Man you type fast...I edited last post. what kind of cooler you running? got any pics?

Can't remember the name,bought it at Napa 9 years ago..................

You must be registered for see images attach

And no those hangers do not go through the radiator,just the condensor as I really don't care about A/C anyways.

 

[LibertyTC]

Surprised-Thought you would have gone with one with electric fan on it.
Do you have the mechanical fan as well? Any temp lights while wheeling with external cooler?

 

[brian40]

When it comes to the transmission 30,000 miles is = to 50,000km here, and I would say that oil is cheaper than a transmission. Over time the friction modifiers do break down and if you ever get a transmission temp light, that is a hint that your oil has just diminished in quality.
I only let dealer service the ****** for flush/ filter and re-program after new fluid etc.
However, Having a drain plug on the pan would be beneficial in the sense you could drain some of the older ATF+4 and replenish with some new in between dealer services, extending the service interval slightly.
By having a dealer flush completed it is good peace of mind knowing all the fluid including what is in the torque converter has been renewed.
A flush every 30,000 miles? Ya.. your transmission will probably last longer.
The front a rear diff also should be done every 12-15 k miles and I service the transfer case about the same time as the ****** 30k miles.

Already did the front and rear differentials and topped off the transfer case, as it says in the manual, also the spark plugs. "Oil is cheaper than the transmission", yes but you can use the same arguement for doing it every 15,000 miles like the other poster. What does it really need? Why does the manual for Schedule B say 60,000 but everyone recommends 30,000?

 

[tjkj2002]

Already did the front and rear differentials and topped off the transfer case, as it says in the manual, also the spark plugs. "Oil is cheaper than the transmission", yes but you can use the same arguement for doing it every 15,000 miles like the other poster. What does it really need? Why does the manual for Schedule B say 60,000 but everyone recommends 30,000?

Heat.....................

Heat kills ATF and newer vehicles run hotter then older vehicles.Sure synthetic ATF helps but heat still kills it no matter what.If you ever had the trans temp light come on your ATF is toast and no longer protects your trans correctly.Same thing goes if you ever overheat your engine,you should have the trans serviced also since the high heat effected the trans fluid even though in KJ's with the 42RLE trans only has a stand alone trans cooler.


The real big issue is,even though mostly proven false,is servicing a higher mileage trans with a flush will kill the trans but that is really false due to the trans already having a underlying issue but doing a regular service interval of 30,000 miles will never hurt your trans as long as the correct ATF+4 fluid is used.

 

[LibertyTC]

X2 as above. Heat, breaks down the friction modifiers.
Talking about heat...I also use Lubegard red to all my transmissions.
http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-112/LUBEGARD+Automatic+Transmission+Fluid+Protectant
Does reduce fluid temperatures.
Both Lubegard Red & Platinum can be used.

 

[brian40]

I know why you should change the fluid, but where are you coming up with 30,000 miles is what I am really asking. It wasn't from Jeep. I also get the "oil is cheaper than a ****** arguement", but then I can easily justify changing at 10,000 miles. Most would say that is excessive. What should the real number be? Most people say do what the owners manual says, but not in this case and I am not sure why. Other than the dealers wanting more of my money.

 

[tjkj2002]

I know why you should change the fluid, but where are you coming up with 30,000 miles is what I am really asking. It wasn't from Jeep. I also get the "oil is cheaper than a ****** arguement", but then I can easily justify changing at 10,000 miles. Most would say that is excessive. What should the real number be? Most people say do what the owners manual says, but not in this case and I am not sure why. Other than the dealers wanting more of my money.

My owners manual say's every 30k.

 

[brian40]

My owners manual say's every 30k.

What year? For an automatic?

Mine is an 06 auto and the manual says for manual trannies, check the fluid at 30 and add if necessary. It says drain & fill automatic ****** fluid (and filters) at 60.

Hopefully it doesn't come across that I am trying to argue, just really want to understand.

Thanks!

 

[brian40]

So I looked at Jeep website and looked at owners manual for an 04 and an 07, both are the same as mine. Schedule B says every 60k for automatic ******. What is everyone looking at?

 

[tjkj2002]

What year? For an automatic?

Mine is an 06 auto and the manual says for manual trannies, check the fluid at 30 and add if necessary. It says drain & fill automatic ****** fluid (and filters) at 60.

Hopefully it doesn't come across that I am trying to argue, just really want to understand.

Thanks!

'02 and yes for a auto.

 

[MadDog]

I have an 06 3.7L Auto as well and my manual has a schedule A and a schedule B. Schedule A is for the heavier usage and Schedule B is for the regular street driving and mostly highways (read: not mostly stop and go city driving). I believe that you are correct in Schedule B saying 60K for the ****** flush, but Schedule B also says the differentials never have to get serviced (at least it does in mine unless I am misreading), and that is a load of crap. Even though I don't off-road and do mostly a mix of city and highway driving, I follow closer to Schedule A and got the trans flushed at 33K. I don't think there really is a number of "when should it really be done", it's all matter of opinion and how often you think it should be done based on your usage. Personally, I'd rather do more frequent preventative maintenance than reactive maintenance. Already had to replace a ****** in my Camry this year, and with all of the heat issues already noted with the KJ, methinks 30K is not too often to change out fluid in something as important as a transmission.

Short of that, I don't know what else you are looking for. You won't find a definitive "it should be done at this mileage", it's going to vary anywhere you look, but 30K is the generally accepted mileage based on the heavier usage schedule.

 

[brian40]

I have an 06 3.7L Auto as well and my manual has a schedule A and a schedule B. Schedule A is for the heavier usage and Schedule B is for the regular street driving and mostly highways (read: not mostly stop and go city driving). I believe that you are correct in Schedule B saying 60K for the ****** flush, but Schedule B also says the differentials never have to get serviced (at least it does in mine unless I am misreading), and that is a load of crap. Even though I don't off-road and do mostly a mix of city and highway driving, I follow closer to Schedule A and got the trans flushed at 33K. I don't think there really is a number of "when should it really be done", it's all matter of opinion and how often you think it should be done based on your usage. Personally, I'd rather do more frequent preventative maintenance than reactive maintenance. Already had to replace a ****** in my Camry this year, and with all of the heat issues already noted with the KJ, methinks 30K is not too often to change out fluid in something as important as a transmission.

Short of that, I don't know what else you are looking for. You won't find a definitive "it should be done at this mileage", it's going to vary anywhere you look, but 30K is the generally accepted mileage based on the heavier usage schedule.

Not really sure what I am looking for either, just confused because for other maintenance items I always hear "follow the manual", but not in this case.

You must have a different owner's manual for your 06 than me. Schedule B is for towing, stop & go, etc and schedule A is if you have no bad conditions. So A is less stringent than B. A has oil changes every 6,000 rather than 3,000 for B. ****** fluid doesn't seem to need to be changed at all in Schedule A.

 

[Nooby]

my 02 manual also says every 30k

my 06 caravan, says not till 120k/lifetime fill, the local dealer recomended to do it at 60 following the *note in the owners manual for taxis and such service, I changed it at 50k, and it sure did need it, I will start doing the caravan every 30-40k to be on the safe side, spending 2hrs every 2 years seems ok too be, then I can also see if there is anything in the pan that shouldn't be then too