Change of fluids for manual

[steve zamcheck]

2004 with 16,000 miles. Should a change of differential and transmission fluid be done at this time? Car never driven under load or poor conditions. Have been advised to change these fluids?
Please advise.

Steve

 

[timfitz63]

I'm in the same situation with my '04, so I'd be curious to know the answer as well...

 

[Hib Halverson]

My Wife and I, also, own a 2004. I change trans and axle lubes ever 3 years.

Since the lube in both of your cars has never been changed, after 8 years, I'd change it now.

 

[steve zamcheck]

Changing certain fluids. Trans & Axle

My Wife and I, also, own a 2004. I change trans and axle lubes ever 3 years.

Since the lube in both of your cars has never been changed, after 8 years, I'd change it now.

My original post, Steve Zamcheck, asked the above question. Hib, thanks for the help. Some mechanics feel the manual trans fluid should not be changed but I agree with your advise.

Thank you
Steve

 

[DrNavyRet]

Fluid Changing

Change your fluids if you feel it's necessary. I'm sure that you have know folks as I do who have never changed fluids - not the oil, or the tranny fluid, the rear end, the antifreeze, etc etc. And their cars keep going and going. I have a buddy who leases and changes cars every 3 years from the same dealership. He never has the car serviced. The dealer sells his lease with a CPO sticker. This has been going on for the last 20 years. and everyone is happy. My Harley dealer wants me to change the synthetic oil that costs 3X as much as dinosaur oil at the same rate of every 3000 miles. Really??? BMW says they change you oil every 12-15000 miles with their oil (which is Castrol). So what's the real story? Do we need to have the fluids lab tested? Why not be proactively green? Just wondering out loud.

 

[timfitz63]

My Wife and I, also, own a 2004. I change trans and axle lubes ever 3 years.

Since the lube in both of your cars has never been changed, after 8 years, I'd change it now.

Thanks, Hib! I'll look into it!

... BMW says they change you oil every 12-15000 miles with their oil (which is Castrol). So what's the real story...?

Even though your question might be rhetorical, I'll toss this information out:

I follow some of the discussions about this very topic on a BMW forum and a MINI forum, and most owners are convinced that the 15,000-mile oil change interval recommended by BMW/MINI is far too long, particularly for the turbocharged engines. The MINI's in particular seem to suffer engine problems that can be (at least circumstantially) related to these long oil change intervals, if followed. Most on these forums recommend performing oil changes at a 5,000-7,500 mile interval, even using synthetic oil. And in fact, it's being reported that BMW has recently revised it's recommended oil change interval to 10,000 miles. It's a step in the right direction, but potential BMW owners would still be wise to question exactly why this revision was made...? ;squint:

I'm of the considered opinion that:

• While clean synthetic oil may be able to lubricate for up to 15,000 miles, one filter can't continue to remove all the 'crud' that finds it way into the oil as a result of the combustion process over that service interval. Premature engine wear then results.
• The 15,000-mile oil change interval recommended by BMW came more from their marketing folks than their engineers. Such an interval is designed to keep their costs down related to their free maintenance program, not service their engines properly. If BMW were to use even a 7,500-mile interval (as many of the owners actually follow), they would double their costs related to oil changes performed under their free maintenance program. The 'Bimmer bean-counters' won't (or at least, wouldn't) allow it...

Bottom line: if anyone here in Corvetteland is considering a late-model BMW or MINI, look for a very low mileage one, or at least one one which the owner has done additional 'interim' oil changes...

 

[DrNavyRet]

Actually, I agree with what you are saying and I have read all the pros and cons from those who call themselves experts. My real question is when will there be a test that mere mortals (dummies like me) can perform to truly indicate that the lubricants or other fluids are no longer effective. By doing that, we could contribute to the "greening" of the planet.

 

[Hib Halverson]

My original post, Steve Zamcheck, asked the above question. Hib, thanks for the help. Some mechanics feel the manual trans fluid should not be changed but I agree with your advise.

Thank you
Steve

You're welcome, Steve.
Glad to be of service.

 

[timfitz63]

Actually, I agree with what you are saying and I have read all the pros and cons from those who call themselves experts...

I've encountered those same 'experts' on other forums as well... Some have presented studies that say that clean oil causes more engine damaged than used oil; and that the lubricating ability of oil actually gets better as it ages within your engine; to me, the implication of such studies, then, is that none of us should ever change our oil... I remain a bit skeptical of those findings... ;squint:

... My real question is when will there be a test that mere mortals (dummies like me) can perform to truly indicate that the lubricants or other fluids are no longer effective. By doing that, we could contribute to the "greening" of the planet.

I don't believe there are any DIY oil quality/effectiveness tests; the oil needs to be sent to a lab for evaluation.