Does Changing Lifetime Fluid Kill Transmissions?

[dext]

My car has ~160k mi and it's starting to shift a little rough, it hesitates and then does and abrupt change. I don't really know what to look at and I'm a little weary of taking it to a shop and dropping mucho dinero. I think I will start changing the tranny fluid (it's never been replaced before as far as I know), maybe a couple of quarts at a time. After a few changes, I will drop the pan and change the filter. That's my plan, hope it does something. Well...something good.

I doubt it mate, i have just had mine changed and it is still slipping in 3rd. not sure what is causing it though

[tdgard]

Bought my car at 90K. The dealer had replaced every fluid in the car before it was put on the lot--including the trans fluid. It now has over 200K with no problems.


Hmm--should think of updating my profile--will do when I return home from DC and check the 330.

[Cambridge]

Could I ask just a couple more questions?

1. What made you go for the Penzoil MVATF rather than the Shell LA2634 or RedLine D4 or another concoction?

2. What where the symptoms that let you know your valve body had given up?

[Cambridge]

My car has ~160k mi and it's starting to shift a little rough, it hesitates and then does and abrupt change. I don't really know what to look at and I'm a little weary of taking it to a shop and dropping mucho dinero. I think I will start changing the tranny fluid (it's never been replaced before as far as I know), maybe a couple of quarts at a time. After a few changes, I will drop the pan and change the filter. That's my plan, hope it does something. Well...something good.

but you may have valve body issues.

[Tiger]

1. Easily obtainable... specifited that it is compatible with LA2634... I know Shell owns Pennzoil... both semi-synthetic... so it had to be the same stuff.

2. That's easy! My car can't go forward... feel like parking brake is on... Kirt said a check ball popped through so reverse and drive is on at the same time. My tranny acted funky once in a while before this finally happened... like once stucked in third gear... feels like slipping a bit... tiny bit... All fixed after valve body rebuild... only the valve body.

After refill and rebuilt valve body... gear is positively engaged... no slipping... all the power is felt. Smooth.

[MBXB]

You can order online:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...ductId=1394263

[Cambridge]

Good price! Easy to obtain!

[High Compression II]

I doubt it mate, i have just had mine changed and it is still slipping in 3rd. not sure what is causing it though

The slipping in third/fifth is a known issue with some ZF trans. the '18 and '30 suffer with this. Its the shift-valves in the valve-block--Some are plastic pistons which wear and stick/leak. especially when warm/hot A valve-block re-build will sort this out with new pistons and check-balls

In my opinion, while doing this, a good re-fill of fresh quality fluid cant hurt it.

[Cambridge]

Here's a link to the rebuild procedure: valve body rebuild

[grave77]

mine died 3 monthes after the change, BUT ... that was cuz I was too late changing it. I changed the fluid and filter once I bought my car with 94K on the dash. drove it until 200K then replaced the fluid after 20K it died ... All in " Km " most of the guys does't recommend the change ... if u really wanna do it ... u need to run the fluid few times and flush it to make sure u drained all the fiber and Aluminum dust in the tranny.

ur car will run ok with the fluid it has at least until u get to 200K ... keep the fluid in ...