I have read all the posts about transmission service I could find and still have a couple of questions about mine.

I have a 2000 Trooper 3.5L auto tranny with 94,000 miles on it. I want to have the transmission fluid and filter changed. It seems from what I have read that a flush would be bad due to stirring up all the sludge in the bottom of the pan. It dosn't have a dipstick so it would seem that the lube center flush system wouldn't work anyway.

What is the recommended procedure for changing the tranny fluid? Seems the best would be to drain the fluid, remove the pan and clean out the sludge, then perhaps a flush of some type not a detergent rich power flush, then drain and fill.

What would you do? I am not currently experiencing any tranny problems that I can detect. I have been pulling about a 3,500lbs camp trailer during the last two summers, and have noticed on steep grades I can smell a faint smell like hot coolant, but don't know if that is related to the tranny or the engine. No lights or gauges were in the red, no smoke emmitting from under the truck. Once over the summit nothing out of the ordinary.

Thanks in advance for any input you can offer.

-Jared

I have read that the first step is checking the condition of the existing fluid. Wether it is still red or has become burnt and black will give you a starting point as to how you should handle it.

My mechanic told me the best way to check if the fluid is going bad is to smell it.Sometimes even red fluid can be burning and you think its still good , but if there is any trace of a burnt smell , then its time to change it.They do offer a full transmission flush , it takes about an hour , and costs about 150 , but it takes all the fluid from your tranny , except whats in the torque converter , then they flush it out twice , then refill it.I did it once on my work van , but unfortunately I still had the tranny die at 375,000.

Ask around with local mechanics and see if they offer the full flush , and not the one where they just drain alittle and stick new stuff in. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

A lot of folks say that if you have never changed the tranny fluid, at 94K, then don't change it. The new fluid will have detergent properties that can make stuff fail, even if you drop the pan and somehow get all the sludge out. If you do decide to change it I'd drop the pan and change the filter. Good luck.

Here is a previous thread - http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showf...mp;amp;o=&fpart=all&vc=1

I still vote for the flush/new filter repeat as necessary to make sure all the old gunk is removed option.