Is it advisable to change tranny fluid with 38K miles? If so,

- what type of fluid?
- change filter as well? or just flush?
- Is this an easy DIY project or best left for dealer?

Thanks in advance

 

Too early. Check your Owner Manual for change intervals.

60,000 miles for severe service and 100,000 miles for routine service (Haynes Manual).

Pan drop and filter change per your Owner Manual. Owner Manual doesn't mention flushes so I wouldn't go there for a couple of reasons (more expensive and a dirty filter after the flush)

Fluid per the Owner Manual - ATF+4.

Not a job for the novice but many do the work themselves. Get yourself a Haynes Manual, there's a trick to getting the pan to ldrop.

 

The trans fluid and filter should have change at 15k and a flush at 30k. and another filter change at 45k.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Is this per owners manual or dealers recommendations?

Thanks again.

 

From the 2008 Caravan Owner Manual:

Change the automatic transmission fluid & filter if using your vehicle for any of the following: police, taxi, fleet or frequent trailer towing. 60,000 miles, 60 months.

Change the automatic transmission fluid & filter. 120,000 miles, 120 months.

You can access and search your Owner Manual here: http://www.dodge.com/en/owners/manuals/index.html

As to flushes, not mentioned in Owner manual, and I wouldn't bother "borrowing trouble". Local transmission shop here and lots of Dealers won't do them even though they are $ makers. Shops that don't replace the filter after they do a flush, are not your friends. Flushes should also be carried out with ATF+4 transmission fluid which seldom, if ever, happens.

 

Called my local Dodge dealer and they quoted my $210 for a flush and $230 for flush and filter.

Is this reasonable?
ATF and filter can't cost that much.

Planning on doing my self, any tips from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

 

TJeepMan:Thanks for the link to the owner’s manuals. I didn’t know about that. (Chrysler has late model owner’s manuals online too)

I will be changing my transmission fluid at 40K, even though that’s earlier than the manual recommends.

If you follow any of the auto forums, you’ll find lots of discussion about flushing the transmission. I won’t have it done either because of the problems reported. If you change your fluid regularly, I doubt you’d have a need to “flush” the system anyway.

What’s the trick to dropping the pan?

 

From Haynes Manual:
Place a container under the transaxle pan and loosen the pan bolts. Completely remove the bolts along the rear of the pan. Tap the corner of the pan to break the seal and allow the fluid to drain into the container (the remaining bolts will prevent the pan from separating from the transaxle). Remove the remaining bolts and detach the pan.

Note: I would use a rubber or wood mallet to "tap".

 

That may be on the 08+ models, but the 2002 manual says 48K on schedule B. Regardless, it is cheap insurance. My Grandfather did 50K between and he had to replace his at 101K. We do 30K and it's been fine thus far.

 

I know. The fluid change intervals are all over the place depending on the year. One year 200?, the Owner Manual indicates no change required for normal service. The Haynes Manual has cut to the chase and come up with 60,000 miles (severe) and 100,000 miles (normal) for the Generation 4. I think this is realistic since the ATF+4 fluid was designed to have a 100,000 mile plus life.