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While I have always changed the other fluids (brake, coolant, power steering, etc.) regularly on the cars I've bought used with higher miles, I have been advised by more than one reliable, trustworthy mechanic that unless I know for certain that the PO changed the transmission fluid every 20K miles or so, it is actually worse for the transmission to change the fluid than to just leave it alone. However, if I DO know for certain that the car has had regular flushes, then I can go ahead and flush it myself. While I don't fully understand their entire reasoning process, the explanation I hear from mechanics again and again is that the transmission box gets "accustomed" to a certain level and consistency of transmission oil, and when the old stuff is suddenly flushed out after say 80K miles without a change, the transmission has trouble adjusting to the new fluid and fluid levels, which leads to premature wear and tear on the innards of the transmission. Leave the old stuff in, they say, and you can still go 50K miles (after which you'll likely need a new tranny anway) with the filthy fluid in there. This is why so many of your 10 minute lube places have waivers that say they will not be held responsible if the transmission blows after their $99.95 flush. (I change my own oil, by the way.) I have not read any posts on this board that echo the sentiment that a new owner of a high mileage Saab shouldn't change the trans. fluid if he doesn't know the vehicle's mechanical history. In fact, I've read just the opposite...change the fluid as soon as you buy the car. Since buying my Saab, I've changed the fuel filter, water pump, air filter, done a coolant flush and a brake flush, replaced the thermostat, and replaced some coolant hoses. I don't plan on doing a tranny flush because I don't know what the PO did. Have any of you ever heard of this kind of caution regarding a transmission flush?
Rick
posted by 216.43.14...
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