I have a 1998 Durango with 198,000 miles on it. I have changed the engine oil pretty religiously, but as its aged, less religious on the tranny based on advice from the shop. I have been putting Lucas Transmission treatment into the vehicle for a while and only have an odd intermittant sound when shifting into 3rd - it comes and goes and has been there for about 30,000 miles (the last two years).

I did a Lucas oil tranny treatment and I sucked out a litre and put it into a clear bottle and the oil is burned and I am concerned its losing its functionality and breaking down. I've obviously been warned against a flush, which I don't intend to do, but I am worried the oil that is in there is slowly gumming the tranny up and the oil filter is way past its date.

I was thinking about changing out 3 litres of tranny oil at a time, slowly introducing the new oil, OR, dropping the pan and replacing the filter and replacing the 3 or so litres of oil I'd lose from dropping the pan and then doing the slow change.

What do you guys think? Anyone out there dealt with maintaining a high mileage tranny on a '98?

 

I would say since it is burnt try changing the fluid, wait for 1k miles and change it again then repeat thatfor a 3rd time after another 1k miles. I would not use Lucas in your tranny since DC transmissions are very particular on what they like. ATF + 4 only is the way I would go. It sounds like you did way better than me, my first rebuild was after 35K miles then 2 more times at 45K miles. The 2nd and 3rd time were because the first shop didn't do the rebuild properly at all.

 

I got her off lease at 60K and I suspect she may already be a rebuild since I've heard that its almost unheard of to get that kind of mileage without a tranny rebuild. I do credit the longevity of the tranny to the Lucas treatments. I've used that in virtually every vehicle I've ever owned and my vehicles have outlasted most manufacturing expectations.

So do you think I should drop the pan and change the filter and should I just suck it out the refill tube?

 

Drop the pan, change the filter, clean out the pan.

 

I would get your tranny flushed and bands tightened. I did that to mine last year and Ihave 215,000kms on the origional tranny.

 

perspective - Mine is 320,000km.

This morning I sucked out 2 litres from the filler tube and put in 2 fresh. I will use the dilution approach first, do three of those treatments spaced at 1000kms. I'll gauge the reaction then if everything is okay, drop the pan and change the filter. If that turns out okay, I may do a no-chemical flush and as you say, tighten the bands. Do everything in stages.

Hell at 320k kms, she doesn't owe me anything...

 

wholy crap! 320k I thought mine was high

 

My back door was rusting out and I met a guy who buys 98 and 99 wreaks and rebuilds his, and he has 450k on his. He's on his 3rd tranny. Not sure why. I bought a door off him for $300 and he put it on in 15 minutes.

The only difference is I do use the Lucas tranny oil treatment and I change my oil regularly, otherwise I am pretty hard on the old girl - I tow and I offroad in the summer, so she's no wallflower.