# Transmission fluid changing **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 24, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157 "2008-10-24T15:20:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ding152](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@ding152](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ding152)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/1 "2008-10-24T15:20:23Z")
i just had oil changed at dealer and they told me my transmission fluid needed changing because i got 91,000 miles on a o5 focus is that right or are they trying to get into my ss check ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/2 "2008-10-24T15:31:58Z")
You can check with your owners manual, but I would have changed the fluid before 91k. I would have changed it at 30-60k miles, depending on whether it’s mostly city driving or mostly highway. What you don’t want to waste your money on is a transmission flush. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/3 "2008-10-24T15:42:32Z")
There should be a maintenance schedule with your owner’s manual. The schedule will tell you how often to change the transmission fluid. If it’s never been changed before I think this would be a good time. ---
**Author:** ![admitted\_amateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@admitted\_amateur](https://community.cartalk.com/u/admitted_amateur)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/4 "2008-10-24T15:44:09Z")
I’ll second exactly that including that I’d probably do the trans fluid every 30K even if the manual says you can go longer. You also don’t need to use a dealer for that - but don’t use corporate chain either. Find a good local independent shop - one that specialized in transmission work would be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/5 "2008-10-24T19:13:25Z")
The Ford-prescribed method for replacement of some, and maybe all, current transmissions is to pump in new transmission fluid with a machine while draining out the old at the same time. Sometimes this is referred to as a “flush”. I would prefer to call it a “fluid exchange”. Since most of the fluid is in the torque converters and can not be drained by dropping the pan, this is a very efficient method. I believe it is the way to go i that is the prescribed procedure. It can’t hurt to have a seasoned transmission expert drop the pan and “read the tea leaves” before the fluid is exchanged. ---
**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/6 "2008-10-24T21:27:44Z")
Drop the pan, change the filter and refill every 25-30k I would avoid flushes unless the fluid is contaminated. It sounds as though you are 3 changes overdue. Change it. transman ---
**Author:** ![rrhoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@rrhoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rrhoff)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-changing/21157/7 "2008-10-24T21:42:18Z")
i was planning on changing the tranny fluid in a 03 impala with 46.000 miles even though the owner manual recomendes 100.00 miles is their anything that i should be careful about doing .since i have never droped a trann/change thanks rob