Trans filter only filters particles.If you do your own you'll see whats in the pan and filter.Not much.Fliud is the life blood.Lots of moderen autos don't even have serviceable filters.My neighboe did his filter in his 05 for the FIRST time at 100k in his 05 48re.He said it looked almost as good as the new one and really didn't need it replaced.He's always done flud exchange every 30k.I just did a fliud exchange to Amsoil full syn.trans fliud at 30k on my 06 Gran Marquis.I'll do the filter at 90k.Keep pulling your tans filters out and inspecting them.You'll see for yourself.

 

Stick with the mopar tranny fluid! It is the only fluid in any of my toys that isnt royal purple.

 

Changing the filter before you have problems can prolong the life of the tranny, waiting until the filter gets plugged up enough that you notice shifting problems(caused by a lack of oil flow) you can gaurantee the tranny is toast after that. Exchanging or flushing the oil in the tranny is not a bad idea, but doing it and never changing the filter is a bad idea, the clutches alone have the capability of producing more debris in the oil than anything in an engine, even normal wear over the life of the tranny can and eventually will plug the filter.

 

Well no matter what fluid you use... If your into the Trans for a fluid drain and Filter replacement, you might as well take the extra 15 minutes and adjust the bands...

Directions here:
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/transmi...T_band_adj.htm

 

Only "plugged"trans filters I have ever seen were trannys that came apart big time.Seen HUNDEREDS(bet thousands) with nothing much in them.

 

While I usually change the filter when I drop the pan, I must admit they never looked really dirty and did not appear to be in jeapordy of clogging. One of these days I will wise up a buy a new pan or at least put a drain plug in the stock one.

 

Well I was always taught to change the filter at every service and will always do so being they don't cost that much. I have yet to have the bands adjusted on any Dodge transmission I've owned over the past 34 years. I know some re-builders say it has to be done at every service and others say it doesn't need to be done on a Dodge transmission, so adjust them if it make you feel better.

 

Make up your mind, you just said you never change the filters.
I take it you work for or run a quickie lube place.

 

Looks are decieving, take a dirty air filter and soak it in oil and tell me if it still looks dirty.

 

Nope.no quickie lubes.Ran several full time shops over 30odd years.Two with over 35 techs and several full time tranny builders.Did imports about 15 years and G.M. and then a Chrysler store for the other years.Started out as a whatever in a shop part time in high school and then college.Turn wrenches for a few years mainly bigger truck etc.Then hired on with Firestone Tire and Rubber USA back in the Radial 500 era.Did that 3 years(seen a LOT of tires and tire failures)I've turned wrenches,wrote service,booked warranty,been a shop foreman,dispatcher(I was the tower if you know what that is)service manager.Been involved heavily in the way of auto and manual transmissions with Datsun/Nissan,several G.M.lines,Mazda,Isuzu and Chrysler.Not saying don't ever service the filter but a fliud exchange and leaving the filter till every other time works great.The FLIUD is the lifeblood of a auto.The Chrysler store we had two BG machines that usually had techs waiting for another tech to finish using it most all day every day.Wore the fittings out on them about every 6 months.Had long time customers with fleets of trucks that saw their auto failure rate(and moneys spent)drop drasticly with the introduction of these fliud exchange machines and saw this in all product lines.I've seen the insides of LOTS of automatics and over differant eras and vehicles.Anyhow I'll say it again.Those fliud exchage machines are the best thing to happen to a automatic trans since its invention.(full synthetic fliud been a great plus also)combined its really great.

 

Do yourself a favor and install a drain plug or replace the pan with one that has a drain plug. It will make the next service much easier.

 

As far as I know Amsoil is the only one who makes a group V full synthetic trans fluid. The last time I checked Royal Purple didn't make ATF+4 trans fluid. Oh I'm not sure if Redline makes AFT+4 or not so you can check to see if they do.

 

I used Valvoline ATF+4.

 

Redline's +4 is called C+. I'm running it; it works good; even got rid of the 1-2-1-2 shift thing.

Nick