Too late to change fluid?

[okc2KGT]

Ok so i have 73,xxx miles on the car and want to change my transmission fluid next week. I bought the car last may with 56,xxx and i havent changed it during my ownership. I dont know if the previous owner changed it or not, but i would assume he did at some point. But, if he didnt, would it be too late to change it? I want to put in synthetic and i dont want to f--- anything up.

thanks


2000 gt, 4r70w

 

[Dark Knight GT]

If you're worried that by putting new transmission fluid in the car, the detergents will clean out the transmission and eat up the old warn seals and cause leaks, I would check the transmission fluid by the dipstick a couple of times. Start the car up, let the fluid circulate, then, check it again. If there's any metal grit in the fluid on the dipstick, its fugged. If it appears to just be dirty or old, go ahead and change it. I do recommend running full synthetic at this point. The car should of come stock with Mercon V which is synthetic blend. Lets just hope the previous owner knew all of this.

 

[okc2KGT]

thanks. i did like you said, and there wasnt any grit or anything unusual on the dipstick. what color should the fluid be? it looked like a dark orange color.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

If thats the way it appeared on the dipstick, the fluid is going bad. Change it whenever you can and while your in there, change the tranny filter too. It's real easy to remove. When you drop the transmission pan, the filter will be starting you in the face. It just slides right out. No screws or bolts holding it in place.