To change or not to change, that is the question.
The manual says it never has to be changed. Others on here change it at varying intervals of between 30000 and 60000. I have 40000 on my 2004 with NV4500 five speed. I dipped my finger in the little fill hole and the fluid that comes out is as clean and clear as the new stuff I just bought.
Those familiar with the NV4500 know that is takes special fluid. That stuff is 30 bucks a quart.
Can you see any reason to change it now if it is clean as new?
All highway driving. 4x2 so no off roading.
What do ya'll think?
MK

 

Thank you to all that responded and voiced your opinion.

Oh, no one responded.... Well I can look on the bright side. I don't have any ball joint problems, my truck doesn't vibrate,I don't have any high speed death wobble,I don't have any fuel in the oil, my paint is good,and it gets great mileage.
......and I don't have any of the problems I would have had had I bought a Ford. I just wanted your opinion on changing out clean and clear tranny fluid before recommended time.
Anybody home?

 

I guess sometimes people just don't know what to tell you.

FYI.......I have 180 K+ on my truck and the NV4500 fluid and it has never been changed, and I don't plan on changing it unless I have a problem. I still shifts about like it did when it was new.

I my case, I follow the recommended service intervals pretty darn close, and have had minimal problems with the truck.

 

The fluid is evidently Castrol Syntorq, a full synthetic GL4. It seems to make sense to use the real stuff as results from using other brands seem mixed at best. My local Dodge dealer has it at about $15 ? $16 ? a qt or so, and you can get it from Standard Transmission for a bit over $50 a gallon.

I changed mine at 30k, noticed a bit smoother shifts, and plan on doing another 30k change along with the transfer case and axles. At 30k the fluid looked fine, it didn't look like the black snot that was in the axles at 15k, and if it still looks fine and I don't notice an improvement in shifts I'll consider a 60k change. Evidently some additives get consumed with use, which is why I like the idea of some regular change interval.

 

My question is, how did you end up with an NV4500 in an '04 truck?

 

Castrol developed Syntorq specifically for New Venture ("NV"4500), due to a number of related issues regarding the NV4500. One of these was a "fill for life" requirement driven by the legal dept. as it related to warranty. The big technical problem was a heat issue at the gear faces which could only be adequately addressed with the a full synthetic formulaiton. Syntorq is basically just a synthetic GL4 gear lube. Anything less will result in destruction the transmission after any appreciable amount of heavy load (towing).

But remember the life part of "fill for life" only matters for the term of the warranty. Conventional wisdom in changing lubes periodically still applies if you plan on the equipment lasting longer than the warranty period. No lube will last indefinitely. What is your definition of the "life" of the vehicle?

 

Oh, That is the wonderful world of California. No 6 speed was available that year until 04.5. Now with the reported problems in getting parts for the NV5600 and a large surplus of NV4500 parts and transmissions I think I'll be fine with the 5 speed.
Thanks to those that responded. I think I'll wait another 10000 to change the oil in the trans. Every 50000 seems good to me.
MK

 

I do mine every 30,000 with Redline MT90. If it goes boom I'll put in the 6 speed I've always wanted. I am my own warranty station.