" I received a great recommendation for a reputable, independent shop where I just moved. They recommended that if I have not serviced transmission fluid/filter up to this point (140K miles), then leave it alone."
I am going to take issue with whoever told you that this shop is reputable, as they are apparently neither reputable nor competent. As was already stated, you are already on very thin ice with a non-maintained 140k mile transmission, and if you defer servicing it much longer you are going to drive the final nail into its coffin.
That shop may be…okay…for more mundane things, but they are severely misinformed regarding transmissions. Take both cars to an independent transmission specialist’s shop, and have the fluid and filter changed a.s.a.p.
"mix the antifreeze with distilled water at 2:1 (67% antifreeze) instead of 50/50 (50%)."
The specific heat and thermal conductivity of an antifreeze mixture decreases with increasing percentage of antifreeze, so the engine will run hotter (which is bad) if the amount of antifreeze is increased. OTOH, the pressure in the cooling system will be lower (which is good) if the amount of antifreeze is increased. I’d stick with the 50-50 mixture; that’s what the engine was designed for.
I’m a bit confused by OP’s statement “Malibu - a friend is helping me change the 4 plugs (no wires on this one).” Since no one else seems to be confused I will assume they are choosing not to replace the spark plug wires at this time unless the 2005 Malibu had a diesel option. The only thing that causes me to ask that question is because my rental car in Spain was a brand new 2003 Opel Vectra 4cyl 2.2L turbo diesel 5sp MT. It used the same epsilon platform as the Malibu.
Ok, I am hearing from @VDCdriver, @db4690, @wesw, and @jtsanders that I certainly DO want the tranny serviced. Here’s my issue with car maintenance repair coming from the scientific world of official studies and refereeed journals. Are there official studies showing one way or another is superior? Or do I just have to come to terms with the facts that I will get lost of conflicting advice, some of it from people who are basing universal advice on particular anecdotes?
Maybe she did not want to touch the tranny knowing that if it was in her shop that it was last serviced, I would come back mad when another unrelated issue just happened to pop up shortly thereafter. ??
Shop reports that the center support bearing (AWD) needs replaced $209 part + $104 labor. Whatever that means. Back to research.
its really the same as saying, I haven t changed my oil in a few years, so no need to start now…
tranny fluid is oil too, and it and the filter are recommended to be changed by the manufacturer for a reason.
Athada, there has been considerable discussion over the years here, on this exact topic. That if the tranny fluid is old, don’t change it at all, or the transmission will fail due to things getting knocked loose. But, that is most likely when it is flushed, not changed.
That is why they are telling you DON’T FLUSH IT! Just drain what comes out with the pan when you remove it, and add the correct amount. Flushing it now does increase risk of knocking accumulated crud loose. Changing it does not.
So, I am guessing the mechanic thinks only in terms of a high priced; over priced flushing, not a cheaper changing by dropping the pan. Find another mechanic. See Mechanix Files on this board for recommendations.
But, any mechanic who tells you just drive it until it fails is only trying to protect himself or herself from being accused of damaging the tranny because it fails soon after the fluid change.
It WILL fail soon if you don’t change it. It may or may not fail soon if you do change it. May not is better than will fail.
Took the 2005 Equinox in to another shop get a simple trans filter change + fluid replacement. The filter is apparently inaccessible without taking the tranny apart [then why does it say do regular filter changes in the manual??] so they just drained the old fluid (~5 qts) and put in new. Cost maybe $30-40.
Took in the 2005 Malibu to the same shop and they changed the filter and replaced 5 qts fluid for about $73 with tax.
@athada, my transmission specialist told me that very few transmissions use a true filter. Many use a glorified bug screen just to catch any sizeable chunks. No need to change these for a simple fluid change. And a quick google search found that the filter on your '05 Equinox is not easily replaced. It does require transmission disassembly, and the owner’s manual is in error. Also, the 5-speed transmission does not use Dextron VI, it uses T-IV fluid, same as Toyota T-IV. It’s an Aisin transmission, not GM.
You did right Athaba. But don’t confuse preventive maintenance with repairs or “fixes”!. Preventive maintenance is called “failure prevention” in industrial settings! And it’s done because fixes are a whole lot more expensive than maintenance tasks.
The plus side to changing the fluid only regularly is that it keeps any debris down and the inaccessible filter a bit cleaner which aids in fluid flow and transmission longevity.
When the Lincoln Mark VIIIs first came out Ford inadvertently listed Dexron as the correct transmission fluid for those cars. This was corrected in the owners manuals the following year.
Errors or bad recommendations in owners manuals do happen.
Automakers love to have maintenance as infrequent as possible because it makes their cars appear cheaper to own. If some cars die prematurely, they’re happy to sell you a new one. Following the ‘severe’ duty scheduleoplees will cost you slightly more, but probably be worth it. The definition of ‘severe’ covers an awful lot of people, likely most. Unless you live in a climate with no extremes, drive only on paved roads, don’t tow or regularly carry heavy loads, and don’t take many short trips, you probably are exposing your car to severe duty.
Even though you are behind on a lot of maintenance, it's never to late to start..Change ALL the fluids, including the tranny, the spark plugs, all of it...
Plus One. Change EVERYTHING. You’re way overdue for most fluids anyways.
PM is so important. As stated it prevents you from having to do expensive REPAIRS later. Many of the maintenance steps you needed to preform 30+ years ago have either been eliminated or greatly extended. I never minded the maintenance…but some people did and didn’t do them…which led them to major repairs in a short time.
There’s no reason a vehicle can’t easily go 250k+ miles with minimal repairs if the owner keeps up with the PM.
If I owned a shop, I would be leery about changing fluid on a car with 140 k. that hasn’t ever had it changed. Not because it is a bad thing to do, but most people don’t think about a tranny fluid change until they feel something different in the transmission. The small profit isn’t worth the grief of having them tell everyone that you ruined their transmission.