I just picked up a case of atf +4 and a tranny filter from napa Should i change when the tranny is warmed up a little or when its cold?

Also, my truck has 39,500 miles, is it a good idea to change it or leave it alone

In my old truck, 96 Dodge 46re tranny, shortly after i changed the fluid is slowly began to crap itself, I just dont want this to happen to my new truck

I have heard that after 60,000 miles, its not beneficial to the transmission to change the fluid, if it was never changed before that

 

When I did mine I did it when it was cold. Don't know if it makes a difference but I figured if I did it after it sat for a while more fluid would have drained into the pan so I could get more of the old fluid out.

 

Doesn't really make much of a diff. You'll get fluid dripping down either way. Just make sure it's not any warmer than to the touch or you'd risk burning yourself while being under there.
40kmi is a good time to change both. Your other tranny prob slowly started to crap itself because you were either just paying attention or the new fluid was doing it's job and cleaning out any crap that was in there built up from before. I can only say that if you change prematurely from whenever the manufacturer tells you...It cannot hurt. I think 40kmi for a truck is higher than I will go. Prob 30kmi, but I tow often. Changing the filter, draining out the fluid and then pouring more in only changes half the fluid.
I would actually bring your truck down to a quick service place. Have them flush the entire trans and then change the filter. Re-use the new fluid that comes out of the pan when you change the filter. That's the best way to clean out your tranny. Flushing your tranny will get al the fluid in the torque converter. That holds half the trans fluid if not more.

Rumors of not changing trans fluid are false. You should never neglect a transmission of a fresh bath and screen. If any problem arises it's only because it was already going to happen!

 

Thanx guys, appreciate the help. I dont really trust the guys at the 1 second oil change place to service my tranny, i'll leave it at that

The truck was supposedly completely serviced right before i bought it from a dealer, It had 37,000 on the clock. I changed the diff fluids last week and i noticed the rearend fluid was a dark grey, which makes me think they just changed the engine oil and nothing else, thats why im servicing the tranny in the next couple days, as soon as a bay opens up in our shop. Its too cold to be pissing around outside.

The RP gear oil seems to be a worthy investment, already noticed some better gas mileage, too bad they dont make ATF+4

 

M1 makes it and Valvoline makes a SynBlend that runs cool as well. Lowered my 98 Monte trans temps 20deg. It's worthy.

Yeah, a dealer says serviced prior..haha
They change what they have to...that's that!
Not a car that I bought from a dealer was ever fully serviced! Ever. Always a dry balljoint, low pressure tire, dirty diff fluid, low diff fluid, dirty trans fluid, did I mention dirty diff fluid!!! Bad spark plugs, but hey, they set no codes off, so they must still be good eh? Yeah right. They take a vehicle in on trade and put as little as possible in it to get a dollar in their pocket! I could go on and on about the things.
No matter what? When I buy a vehicle I automatically assume every drop of oil will need to be changed! Consider it an extra flush if you will for added asurance. Most times people don't change their trans fluid because they trade it in before they have to and the dealer does as I described above...lol
37kmi...It's most likely never been done.


Sorry to go on and on, but I got bored.

 

the dealer i worked at when we took a car in on trade, we changed oil and did an inspection of everything that was wrong with the car....if part cost was under $100 we would fix it....but we also gave a copy of that inspection sheet to the customer when they bought it so at least they knew what was wrong with it......

as far as the trans service...i've always changed mine at 30K...same with diffs too

 

Isn't the recomended change for tranny 60K miles.

 

we did it every 30 at the dealer....every 15K for diffs (synthetic or not)

 

I was pretty sure the dealer was full of sh*t, but i still bought the truck because it was in really good shape, I could tell the hitch had very little use, cause is still had paint on inside of the tube, just a little scratched up

So I should change my Diff fluid every 15k even if i use RP gear lube? sounds a little ridiculous

 

most people never touch any other fluid in their vehicles then the engine oil, modtly because they just simply dont know about other oils that have to be flushed. now, everyone on here will tell you to change your fluids constantly because everyone on here is a fanatic...which is fine. from what ive read on here the ram diffs are gauranteed to blow at some point...but it doesnt mean yours will. so changing the diff fluids at 15k might be a good way of keeping your diffs in tact. in the same breath, you might never change the fluids and never have a problem. better safe then sorry though...seeing that new gears are a heavy chunk of change.