# Do you have to change transmission filter when changing fluid?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mustang, ford\
**Created:** [September 14, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349 "2021-09-14T04:06:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349/1 "2021-09-14T04:06:50Z")

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Title. I read on the internet that “once you open the cover to the filter” (aka the transmission pan) “the filter must be replaced because the surrounding seal will no longer seal properly.”

Specifically on a 05-14 mustang…

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/5/d/5d5140476b22926b35ce0d20714bec7a8f9e6954.jpeg)

Is this true or just a bunch of nonsense

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349/2 "2021-09-14T12:03:14Z")

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No, You don’t have to replace the filter.

But if you dropped the pan, you should. Filters are cheap.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349/3 "2021-09-14T13:11:36Z")

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Some vehicles don’t even have filters. Don’t have to change filter…but it’s probably a good idea…At least every other fluid change.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-have-to-change-transmission-filter-when-changing-fluid/179349/4 "2021-09-14T14:33:09Z")

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I would never NOT change the filter with the pan off. If the bottom of the pan has some degree of sludge in it then that is even more reason to change the filter because odds are some of that gunk is clogging some of the pores in the filter which in turn restricts the fluid flow.

I think that info you posted is sheer bunk.