I was wondering how often you guys are changing tranny filter and fluid?
I didnt change mine for the firsy 40000 mi. Still running fine but am wonderiing
if I should do it every 15 or 20 thousand.

 

I've done mine a couple times... I have just over 48K on the truck.... I put Amsoil ATF in and a baldwin filter. I'm going to do it again probably this spring 'cause it'll be about 2 years on it (give or take a few months). Don't forget to adjust the bands as well...


Tony

 

I haven't had my truck longer than about 10k miles to develop a good pattern, but I plan on changing mine every 15k or so. Even though it's quite a messy job the tranny fluid, filter and gasket are cheap. I run regular, non-synthetic fluid and tow a 19', 5000# trailer in the summer months. I just changed mine about 500 miles ago and the stuff going in looked as good as the stuff that came out.

It might be overkill but it's cheap insurance.

And, just as TPilaske says, don't forget to adjust the bands. I got an inch-pound wrench at Harbor-Frieght for $18.

 

I have mine done every spring by the shop that built it. Give them a chance to make adjustments and pick up on any problems and gives me a piece of mind.

 

I take mine to a fast lube place and let them do a flush. No problems so far with 160K miles. I did take it to a trans shop at 150K miles for a filter and band adjustment.

 

If your not towing and fluid came out with nice red color..your ok.

Stock trannys run hotter than after market ones, especially with your 315's. For that reason I recommend synthetic ATF. Amsoil makes a good ATF+4 that will do well for 40-60,000 miles, depending on your usage.

I would change more often with Dodge ATF+4....Like Idahoguy said, it's cheap insurance and the stock tranny is one of the weaker links on the diesel Dodges, IMO. Not a bad tranny if you have a good one, just wide range of quality...some last forever, some don't.

You could do the flush method @ 20,000 (mentioned by Geico266) and change filters at 60,000.

I use Amsoil on my DTT tranny and change every 20,000 mi.....overkill, but I do some drag racing and want to protect major tranny investment. With the Mag Hy-Tec Pan it's an easy doityourself....just pull the drain plug. Same (20,000 mi) for differentials (Mag Hy-Tec's).

RJ