Wizard's correct. When I was a teen, I bought a beautiful '88 regal with 150K. Drove fine. Noticed the trans fluid was black, had it changed, and it killed the transmission.
There is a distinction between a flush vs. drain and refill. I'm a firm believer in the latter and I believe once vehicles get to higher mileage you should stay clear of any type of flush.
Plus I can understand his English. There are other honest mechanics on TH-cam but they either talk too fast or too cheesy, or talk with an accent. Or talk on & on without providing prices!!! How much does it cost??? If money were no object, we would all go to the authorized dealer s service dept. Oh wait, it's not just the money. They'll follow the stupid manual which might say oil change every 10k miles 🙄🙄🙄
Wizard says what I learned since owning a VW that the dealer told me to dump (trade in) and to replace coolant hoses at 5 years that lasted for 14 years 330,000 miles unlike what they told me. When I sold service I rubbed the owners wrong. I was too honest.
Wizard that was spot on. I've been a Chrysler tech since 93. People have in their heads they don't have to do anything, and they are ruining their vehicles. It's been a losing battle. Now, with the car shortage, these people are screwing themselves even more. Most of our customers can't afford a new car at current prices. A actually just sent this video to my services manager to try and pound it into his head that the service writers need to try harder and sell maintenance.
We bought a new 2000 Intrepid with the infamous 2.7 V6. Since then, I must have read and heard a hundred times, "that was an awful car, with one of the worst engines built". Our experience was that it was a great, extremely reliable, durable car. I am no fan of the brand, and didn't want it in the first place, the wife did. We had it for ten years, and 190K miles. It needed a water pump and a starter in that time. We then sold it to our independent repair shop. Those guys used it as a daily loaner for FIVE years, FIVE YEARS of abuse by hundreds of random drivers. Then it ended up with an elderly gentleman who drove it for a few more years. It had over 300K on it, with the original timing chain and transmission. The "secret" to taking a widely hated "unreliable" vehicle and getting a great service life out of it? I changed the oil every five thousand miles. I used any brand of conventional oil, and most brands of cheap filters (except Fram, as their anti-drainback valves would fail, causing startup rattles) I also drained and refilled most other fluids in the car every 30K. This included coolant, transmission, brakes, and even the power steering every 100K. At nearing 200K and ten years, the car drove and felt new. At seventeen years of service life, it had over 300K miles and had been extremely durable, trouble free and cheap to own for all three owners.
I purchased a brand new Nissan Rogue Select back in 2015. Dealership sold the vehicle along with the lifetime oil change. The problem is that dealership did not last for a lifetime. Only a couple of years later the dealership’s ownership changed hand. The new owner would not honor the lifetime oil change. Their reason was because I never allowed them to perform anything else. I didn’t want to waste my life arguing. I started doing all the maintenance since then. Thanks to all the TH-cam posts, I learned to do everything myself, including oil change, control arms replacement, and transmission fluid and filter replacement. Vehicle is still driving fine. I’m very grateful that there are honest specialists like Wizard out there posting valuable videos.
That's the way it should be done, service your own vehicle and you know it is done right. Many people neglect their vehicles, to many, and then they are shocked when something major fails them.
As a stubborn person anytime i see a sticker that says do not touch, it gets serviced first. I like to think someone at a finance company is crying that I went another day without a car payment.
Oh they ARE just watch one of Tim Dillon's videos about selling subprime mortgages before he started doing comedy. "Now sign this piece o' paper forhhhh CHRIST!!!!" 😂
This is part of why I am personally so in love with simpler vehicles such as those from the 90s and older. Things like the old cast iron pushrod engines were not as powerful as a modern complex unit, however they are much easier to work on and are inherently more robust due to their simplicity. Not to say there is anything inherently wrong with more modern cars, but personally I much prefer something I can easily maintain and repair myself without the need to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of specialty tools and equipment because the manufacturer felt it prudent to make things more difficult to do intentionally.
@@zythr9999 I honestly have never felt the need for things like traction control, stability control, or the myriad of other driver assistance 'safety' features. Then again I developed and honed my driving skills without the car doing a significant part of the work for me. I am still here and in one piece despite being hit by other drivers more than once. So my older vehicles certainly seem safe enough. Hell my newest one even has an airbag.
My 2002 tahoe has 284671 miles today , when I originally bought it 6 years ago I immediately did a flush of all fluids , oil , atf , gear oil , coolant , ect ... probably the smartest choice I made concerning maintaining the vehicle
@@akjohnny5997 Got a 2003 Citroën C5, with 300.000 KM (about 240.000 miles) and just had it fully serviced, all fluids changed, breakpads renewed, sparkplugs, etc etc, and i bet it good now for a other 50.000 KM or more. Been looking for a brand new car, and after looking at several cars, ranging from every brand, up to 100k pricing, and i hated them all.. I like Cars, not mobile PC's that are harder to maintain as a full Semi Truck as everything is hidden and locked away, even one car needed a engine out job just to change the sparkplugs, just like the MB Mclaren SLR... Who comes up with such idioticy, those designers should be fired and never allowed to ever design a car.
I've got an 02 Silverado with same drivetrain. Smart buy on your end and decision to service. Those vehicles are lifetime tanks as long as you do the service intervals. Rolled over 300k with original engine, runs like it did off the lot new. Just wish the transmission and transfer case was the same, but 270k and 300k on those is nothing to complain about either.
I think for non-car people it's really confusing because it's often said "follow the manufacturers recommendation" only to find out the manufacturer puts profits over the good of the customer. Thank you for the PSA. I believe most people want to keep their cars as long as possible (I think) but it is a bit difficult to find that information sometimes. That deters many non-car people who are already probably busy with other things in their lives. Appreciate your videos like always!
My wife and I own and drive regularly a 1980 Chevy El Camino SS with 225k miles and a 1985 Toyota FJ60 Land cruiser with 250k miles. They are both original equipment, orginal owners. The one thing they have in common is they are serviced by competent mechanics at the prescribed service intervals. The Wizard is correct, if you service and properly maintain a vehicle it can last a very long time.
Very true. My Chevy sonic 1.8L is my daily drive with 211000 miles and servicing is key. The nature of my job forces me to change out parts at "end of life" mileage intervals so I have a bunch of "good" used parts laying around. I use to do full syn oil /filter changes at 10,000 highway miles but at 150,000 miles it has dropped to 7,500 (stop and go) miles due to minor increase in blowby. At 350,000 it will be done at 6,500 miles. At 500,000 miles engine will be retired.
@@georgevavoulis4758 They pay a high price for it. A $150,000 Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. will be worth about the same thing as a $35,000 Honda Civic in 10 years, and will have had a lot more problems during that time.
I'm an old school driver, every 80.000km I service the automatic gearbox on my Range L322 DSE, the filter and oil are awful, and the magnet full of little debris. But I'm almost at 300,000 km and everything is working fine. According to Land Rover, I should never have intervened on the automatic gearbox... Greetings from Italy, we love Car Wizard here too!
Oil degrades we all know that. Here's something to remember....a big air compressor at a garage i worked at here in the UK had a sticker saying to maintain it yearly with new oil....it was 40yrs old!
@@tardeliesmagic i have a 200k miles Volvo XC70 with the 2,4 liter Turbo diesel and proper services has kept it alive and well. still has its original Asin 5speed transmission shifting good. i also have the Gasoline version as well and it too has its original trans at 200k.
@@tardeliesmagic Bet it had a very good air intake filtraton system as well.... dirt will kill compressors and the OEM filter on domestic compressors are worse than useless.
I decided to have the transmission rebuilt in my 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 6T70, because paying $3800, is a lot better than paying for a new car, especially since the rest of the car is almost perfect. Us older folks don’t drive much and keep vehicles a long time. My next task for myself is to replace the timing chains and followers.
@@realjordanbelfortbut you wont know for sure how long a used tranny will run, and a used camry will have a used tranny that also needs to be maintained. Rebuilding the trans refreshes its life with new components. Problem with most used vehicles is theyre not properly maintained.
@@realjordanbelfort haha good luck finding a used camry for 3800 these days that's worth a damn, I guarantee that saturn will last 2x longer than a cheap camry. They woulda easily bought themselves into more problems too, at the very least tires and brakes. Not to mention the 6t70 rebuild kits fix some design flaws and are a much better choice than a low miles stock one. It's better that rebuilt trans goes into a saturn that won't rust, most of them are going into junk Impala Limiteds that'll end up blown up and out of warranty within a year
I talked to my Toyota dealer and they said they don't like to change the transmission fluid and they trust the Toyota company recommendation of not changing it. When I questioned them about Toyota considering the life of the car to be through the end of the warranty, they didn't know what to say. I'm currently looking for a quality shop that will be willing to do this for me when I'm ready for it.
I recommend you check The car care nut's TH-cam channel, there he debunks "for life" fluids, he used to work at a Toyota dealership and has a lot of advice for Toyota owners, also he runs an independent shop if you happen to live near Chicago
@@jfrodr YES. Watched that video & my 22 RX will have the following: Oil change: 6 months / 5000 miles Radiator: 5 yrs / 50,000 miles Transmission: 6 yrs / 60,000 miles (it's stated lifetime, but replace anyway-you cannot easily check it, no dipstick) Power Steering: 50,000 miles Spark Plugs: 120,000 miles
I hope this information reaches many folks that believe replacing fluids is a waste of time and money I had that argument with my Lexus dealer they were reluctant to service a transmission and rear differential axel claiming there’s no need
I have a dealer maintained 2015 Tundra with nearly 200k miles. You're right that the dealer said to never touch that Toyota tranny, not even a partial change. They said I'd need to sign a waiver if I insisted.
My parents had an old 1997 Honda CRV 5mt. They had a great mechanic and they did routine maintenance religiously, it ran to 400000mi. We live in upstate NY, so eventually rust won out at nearly 20 years. When they got rid of it, it still had it's first clutch.
I have changed professions however I was a diagnostician/mechanic for over 25 years. You are a very knowledgeable wise person before your time. I would have been honored to work under or beside you. I watch your videos still learning things, especially being out of the loop for about 8yrs. Peace be with you and your family. Be safe
I'm old school: Change the oil every 3,000-3,5000 miles, other fluids (including belts & hoses) when you reach 85-90% of expected life (per car manual), and wax 1-3x/year depending on geography. All should be good. All my cars have gone 160M+ - 250M+ miles. Didn't sell them because of mechanical/body/paint issues. Just wanted a change.
I had a 1988 Honda Civic, 5 speed - 468,000 miles when I sold it. We never changed the transmission fluid. Leaked oil like crazy, but kept on going and shifted gears quite nice. My brother had an old Chevy Chevette that made 600,000 miles. By that time the floor boards had rusted completely out and you could see the road under the car, while driving. We put plywood on the floors of the cabin, LOL. Engine just wouldn't give up the ghost. P.S. I owned a 1969 AMC Ambassador Super Sport Typhoon, with a 343 V8 - That thing was fast and delivered hot pizza to customers doors every night. The brakes kept falling apart on me(old braking system). I just did pizza with the emergency break, haha.
I have an '06 Ford Taurus with 241,000 miles on it, I got it when it had just shy of 60k. Before I made my first car payment, I dropped the transmission pan and changed the filter. I've done that service every 2 years since then. I also put a trans cooler on it to help prolong the life of the transmission. It still shifts crisp and smooth. Also, the timing chain on must be OK, because I'm getting 28 MPG in rural, high altitude driving, and the engine still pulls strong (thanks to regular synthetic oil changes). I plan on keeping the old Taurus running indefinitely; it's easy to work on, parts are available and cheap, and it's comfortable to drive. edit to add: it's the Vulcan engine; OHV with iron block and heads
the Subaru CVT fluid 100% needs to be changed often, even though Subaru says not to. fluid is cheap, transmissions are not. never listen to manufacturers that say not to change fluids. they want the cars to fail after a certain time. the Lubeguard Complete CVT fluid works great and is way cheaper than OEM, plus it has anti shudder additives that really helps older CVTs. i just had a customer that was quoted several thousand to replace a shuddering TR690. i changed the fluid to the Lubeguard and he said it works perfect now with zero shudder.
Subaru of America (not Japan or Canada interestingly enough) says it's a "lifetime fluid" Which is true enough of course, it lasts until the life of the trans is over.
I just ran into this on my '06 Nissan Murano. Back then, they claimed that the CVT was "sealed" and didn't require fluid changes. I hate that I didn't do it. It's older car, but I loved it for several reasons. It's actually waiting to be picked up right now with a trashed transmission.
It's all about the planned obsletession. They don't want car's to last too long no one would buy new. When I was 19 I bought a 87 f150 with only 60000.miles. changed the oil every 4000miles transmission t case and diff oils every 60000.miles . Got 396000miles out of it till the frame rotted out. Got 25 years of use out of that truck. That was the most trouble free and maintenance free vehicle I ever owned.
Mostly agree with two exceptions. 1: With CVT transmissions it is in my view a good idea to change the fluid at 30k, normal automatic at 60k, and planetary gear hybrid or EV at 100k, all with synthetic fluid of course. 2: With regard to timing chains, most well built engines will not need this service done IF the oil is changed every 5k miles. Do not follow any recommendations for 10k mile oil changes as that is how you cause wear. Timing chains do not stretch unless they get poor lubrication or(in the case of the 3.6) the engine is not designed correctly.
It's actually pretty easy to keep a car in good condition of you are educated. You don't even need to be into cars. That's why I love videos likes this, they educate you with the best intentions. It's a shame there are so many people in the car industry that are simply dishonest. Thank you wizard!
@@manchesterexplorer8519yeah. This is true. It’s not even just the motor. Everything starts to break or snap or get out of alignment. You’re going to get electronic issues that cost a fortune to fix. All this starts right after the 3 year warranty is up.
I'm so glad you told all this because you are so right !! And I also know because I also work in the automotive industry. Don't always believe a car manufacturer, they have other interests. But listen to the people who actually work on these cars and see this every day.
Fantastic video! I am a believer in maintenance and skeptic of lifetime fluids. 3 cars in my garage. One with 157k miles, one at 166k miles and the third with 183k miles. 2003, 2007 and 2008 model years all maintained (including maintaining the paint by regular wash & wax) by me. I happen to be technician so I can do any repair my cars need. All three cars drive and look great. My expectation is for all of them to exceed 200k miles.
Exactly. Prob why the younger guys I work with all have 20-30 thousand in credit card debt and wonder why they can't ever save any money. But they all have new cars lol@@theskyizblue2day431
Changing fluids is key to extended life of the components 😊. Though you may get feeling down after three concurrent repairs it’s still less expensive to repair rather than replace your vehicle 😊. Lifetime fluid won’t last the average 8.4 years people keep their vehicles. The most liked vehicles are owned on average just over 10 years.
When I bought my Nissan Frontier, I remember the finance lady trying to sell me on leasing. I remember telling her that I intended to drive it until it died and she gave me a dirty look. That was in 1998. I last drove it this morning and still use it to this day. It has 427,000 miles on the original engine now, but I did pull the engine at 397,000 miles to service it. I replaced the original timing chain set, oil pump, engine gaskets and seals and set the valve lash. I also pulled the transmission and went through it with a bearing and syncro kit and put in a new clutch and water pump at that time. That was 7 years ago and it still runs great today. I do all my own work on it with assistance from a factory service manual and my own common sense. The important thing is that I understand when things are starting to fail and I repair it at that time rather than waiting until something fails. It's far cheaper that way.
I've driven a lot of different cars over many years and been fastidious about maintenance. The bonus, lots of trouble free miles. If you plan on keeping your car a long time follow the Wiizard's advice. If you get rid of them every 3 years follow the manufacturer's advice.
At 100,000 miles, according to the service table in the owners manual, I should have changed the transmission fluid in my transmission 2 to 4 times, every 50,000 under 'normal use' and 25,000 under 'severe duty' use, but then of course an Allison in my 2009 Duramax, the T-case and Differentials are replace fluids at 50K each What I am saying is, get familiar with your owners manual, you pay a lot of money for your vehicles, take care of them!
Car Wizard, you absolutely hit the nail on the head. Most consumers do not know these points or have been misled (“timing chains last forever…”). Years back… I paid the price on BMW E-38. I even asked at the dealership if the transmission fluid was in fact ‘never to be changed’. The downside… at around 147,000 kms, I found out how much a BMW transmission (quality) rebuild cost. The upside… I crossed over 389,000 kms before selling it. All whilst enjoying one of the best driving machines (for distance) on the road and it worked FLAWLESSLY. Thanks for the video.
Mr. Wizard is so right. People often listen to the manufacturer's recommendations on fluid replacement and service. It doesn't hurt to service the vehicle sooner than what is recommended.
I kind of liked it this year when I took my 22 year old Golf to the dealer and had them give it a thorough service. 22 years, over 400 000 km (it's a petrol engine, not diesel), and they're still perfectly willing to guarantee the car's mobility. They also made me aware of some things that should be taken care of at some point, but that weren't necessary to fix right there and then. Only the stuff necessary to have it pass its semi annual mandatory inspection was dealt with at that point. That's how I like it.
@@hadtopicausername I have a 40 year old mk1 Golf that I'm re commissioning . Sat in the garage for past 12 years & started on the 3rd turn of the key with the usual pre start up procedures beforehand , Hope to get it on the road again by spring .
Funny. I just replaced the factory radiator in my 02 Jetta(TDI) and she's sitting at 300k/mi. Still runs great, all I have to do is fluid changes and replace the bits that wear out as they do. I'm expecting another 10 years out of it.
After working for a repair shop we have had a lot of cars in that supposedly had lifetime use oil in the transmission, but when it came out it looked like tar and smelled really off. The transmission was beginning to fail, and the owner came by and asked what this was about. We told him about the bullshit that the dealers told about never servicing their transmission, and it was long overdue to flush it out with new oil. It got expencive for him, but the car still drives fine now, many years later.
When i was working as a delivery man we ran Renault trafic vans (i live in europe), several parts/fluids we're said to be lifetime parts like the timing chains as mentioned, the company only fell for that one once, that one made it to 350k km before it broke the chain. After that all of them we're changed at 250k and every single one of the remaining vans lived to clock 6/700k km with any major major issues.
Absolutely true about transmission fluid. I was telling people that 30 years ago and the response I usually got was "what?!.....nu-uh...you're just trying to make more service money."
Imagine the scene - you take your high mileage vehicle to the service department, and someone in business attire escorts you to the new car showroom instead. Go figure.
Some salespeople try to guess your income by the area you live in. Reply with an inner city location or some other known low-income area. That should make the conversation interesting.
1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣👉🏼My vehicles: 1️⃣1994 Camry with over 300,000 mi, 2️⃣2001 Camry with 260,000 mi, 3️⃣1999 Honda Civic with 160,000 mi... All three have automatic transmissions... What I do for service is disconnect the transmission output hose that goes to lower part of the radiator and place the end into a container... then I start the vehicle and shifted into gear until 1 qt drains out. Then I add 1 quart of synthetic transmission fluid back into the transmission. Even though each transmission holds three quarts of fluid, I repeat this five times and that way the fluid in the torque converter gets flushed out and replaced with brand new fluid. Then I reconnect the hose. My final step is to verify that the fluid level is correct and it always has been after following this procedure... Even my 94 Camry still shifts absolutely silky smooth with zero slippage... I usually do this transmission fluid service at 70,000 mile intervals, sometimes less... and I want to point out that I drive the vehicles very gently so as to make them LAST 🔄❗ Since I do the transmission service myself it generally costs me maybe $40 and a couple hours of my time from start to finish. It's so worth it. SO WORTH IT ❗ The average new vehicle transaction price is now $48,000 as of this writing. Folks are financing vehicles for 7 years now with sometimes over $1,000 per month payments depending on one's credit rating... to me that is absolute INSANITY 🤯❗ I prefer to find used Hondas or Toyotas maybe 10 to 15 years old that have 10 to 15 years of depreciation but still 10 to 15 years of life left in them. THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO ROLL... ⬅️🚗💨💫❗ Thank you for listening😌
Was given a vacuum cleaner once that said "never replace a filter!" It had an asterisk that said "good for 2 years, useful life of product". Fortunately they do actually make replacements.
I've been servicing my transmissions (myself) every 12K (or less) since the 1980s, and have had no problems--and yes, I still own & drive those cars. All the fluid changes are best done at 1/4 to 1/3 the recommendations.
There was a story in a UK newspaper of a chauffuer driven Jag V12 that was retired still running at 512000 miles. It was always serviced, fluids changed but the motor mechanicals were never touched and with original timing chains. Very tough motors if not cooked.
Had a Nissan cvt, serviced it, traded the car in with 90000 miles and still drove like new. Have a 4runner that says it has a sealed transmission. Still changed the fluid under 60000 miles
Finding someone skilled enough to change out a timing chain and guides isn’t something I’d take a chance on. Can’t find decent help these days in any industry. I agree with everything else in the video.
im a dealership teck. iv replaced a grip of belts and chains for mostly just people i know or for other shops in my driveway or the weekend at work. finding the skill is not that hard you need to just go find whatever place works on your brand in the area and talk to there like top teck. most places have a timing guy that just does all the timing jobs. do not go to like a pep boys or something looking for skill lol.
@@therealvanillayou got that Pep Boys thing right! I was on vacay down in Florida. Typically I change my own oil before vacay but wasn’t able to this time due to scheduling constraints. So I had it done at Pep Boys down the street from my bro’s house. Left for MS the next day, and all kinds of alarms were going off when I got to AL - turns out the oil change “tech” double-gasketed the oil filter causing oil loss and almost seizing up my engine. Luckily I found a dealership that diagnosed the problem! Pep Boys? Never again!! 😡😡
I agree with you on your service recommendations, if you can keep your car on the road for 200 or 300 thousand miles. It’s a good policy for vehicles in warm dry climates. However, here in the northeast, the enemy is salted roads in the winter. No matter how frequently and thoroughly you wash your vehicle, there are areas you can’t flush clear, and for many of us doing these extensive services is countered by the appearance of extensive rust by the time the vehicle reaches high mileage ranges. Once that happens, the value of your vehicle is so dramatically reduced, that such services exceed the value of the vehicle.
Like all your videos . I maintain my own car , all what i have to be done , in many years now . Save a lot money for doing so . If there is an insurmountable problem/defect that I don't know or can't fix, then I'll take it to a mechanic like you , to fix it
Living in NH , I can attest that the best vehicles are the pre-2000's Volvos as they don't really rust . I own a 1991 Volvo 240 WITH 250K that I've had for 14 years , original drivetrain , has some quirks with occasional basic repairs from time to time but nothing major. But the most important thing is that it really doesn't rust , the exhaust system has only had to be replaced once since it was new which is crazy considering the winters we have as once a car starts to get rusty it's basically finished within just 5 years no matter how good it runs.
I spent 20 years in NH so I can fully understand where you are coming from. Finding a rust free car over 7 years of age in New England is NOT easy. Sweet Volvo by the way, those things are very underrated!
Manufacturers started to give extended service intervals, not because the engines or transmissions were built better, but because it attracted fleet buyers of big organizations.. I always used to get a new cam belt at 40,000 miles. Cheaper than a big engine repair.
Yup. I've a 2011 Toyota Camry LE 2ARFE, which I service myself. 59K miles on the ODO. I've already flushed/refilled the power-steering (Mercon V) and cooling system (Toyota spec.), more than once. Next week I'm going to drain&fill the automatic transmission (Dextron VI). My previous car (1997 Ford Contour SE V6 lasted 23 years.)
This is also true when you have a manual it says get your powersteering oil donne at 30,000 miles or get an oil change before 3500 miles get your collant flushed at 50,000. DO NOT GO OVER! A lot of dealers say youre to late to get it for free so you got to pay for it 200 300 400 dollars. Go to the dealer with your car NOT to some mechanic If your car breaks down after that the dealer can say you had it done somewhere else so this is NOT covered by the dealer anymore. Also GET YOUR MAINTENANCE DONE! Its way cheaper to get things done on time and the value at resale is higher because of maintenance.
I've always changed my trans fluid every 30,00 miles. Never had a problem - knock on wood! One of the cheapest things you can do to extend the life of a car is to just keep the fluids clean.
The thing is that the dealerships know who is receiving this information about not changing the oil until it hits 10,000 miles... Or the lifetime transmission fluid and differential fluids... It's for those people so they can replace the car and buy another one...
Yeah Im actually a fan of timing belts. Usually a lot easier and cheaper than chains to change, less momentum in the timing gear in general, ensures its done on a routine basis and ensures you get a good water pump while youre at it.
@@wigletron2846 IMO answering you won't matter since you already proved you aren't a scientist; you like to judge based on context instead of whatever something actually is. (In this case, my answer about guaranteed to fail tech in cars.) That said, since u asked: PhD physics. >1K answers and questions published, many about cars. >3M views.
Thanks for stressing mantience! I have a 01 gmc 4.8l and 02 silverado they both have over 200,000 miles. Been keeping up on the fluids. Hope I get 300,000 out of them.
I had the transmission serviced in my 2011 Camry at 87,000 miles. I was a bit worried, but my lord my transmission runs 110% better. "Lifetime" fluid my ass, changing it makes my car shift so much smoother. Get it changed before 100k, and ever 50k miles afterwards.
When I think of the life of the vehicle, I think of forever. It's like in the Army, they would never get rid of a jeep. They just kept rebuilding them, every part was likely replaced, and when the body rusted out, they put on a new body. They last forever.
I am a fanatic about fluid changes on my truck. I had my transmission and rear differential fluid changed at 33K. And my brake fluid, coolant and power steering fluid changed around 45k. My truck now has 63K on it and I had my rear differential fluid changed again. Fluids are cheap maintenance. I plan to own this truck for as long as I can.
Daily drive a ls430 240k on the odometer and runs perfectly fine and shifts smooth. I service the trans fluid every 40k and engine oil every 3500. Been through 3 timing belts. Other than suspension components I’ve had to replace the car runs perfectly fine. I plan to take it to 400 or 500k
The fluid intervals you have chosen are very short. If you don’t drive much then probably ok but we have 6 vehicles in our family and drive long distances. Between 25-35,000 km per year. Much highway km. Don’t bag drive them. No towing. So I’m doing 2-3 oil changes per year per vehicle. Transfer case in the Porsche gets changed every second oil change. It’s a known weak part. CVTs and auto trans get fluid replaced partially 75-100,000 km. This has gotten me up to 400,000 km without issues. Sell most cars well before then.
Started writing this at 4:38 where Mr. Wizard asked what comes to mind. The life of a vehicle in my opinion should be no less than 175-225k, my Acadia specifically says not to change the transmission fluid. I've had the truck for 3 years now and have changed the transmission fluid 6 times (twice a year) and it doesn't harm anything. If anything your transmissions operating temp will drop about 10deg cooler, you'll save more fuel cause the trans doesn't have to work as hard and hey, these Acadias have drain bolts, crack her loose than fill her up. It takes longer time to change the oil actually than the transmission fluid on one of these things. but ALWAYS change your transmission fluid regardless of what the dealer tells you
Bought my first ever new car in 2015 and my lifetime is gonna be as long as I can keep it running and safe to do so! I've had multiple cars go into the 300k but I bought those just before or just after 100k and my first car had almost 500k on it! I'm gonna push this golf as far as I can!
Lifetime means when it dies! How soon it dies depends on you. Fluids are cheap the components they lubricate are not. Just stay on top of the fluid changes and be warry of the recommended schedule. They might say oil changes every 10,000 miles but 5,000-7,000 depending on your driving condition is a better frequency. Anything listed as lifetime well when something fails that becomes its lifetime. Better to over maintain than under maintain. Learn how to inspect your car and make it a point to do so once or twice a month as it doesn't take much time.
Timing chain alone on the newer Ford Duratec/Ecoboost V6 will run anywhere from $2000-7000. But thats usually done with the water pump as well since its driven by the chain internally. The high number is up to replacing the engine cause the Water pump went. I have a 3.5L SHO, so I'm aware of this looming issue, but still have a warranty. The PTU on this car and EXplorers/Escapes aren't serviceable, especially the older pre 2017/2018 I think. However the fluid can be changed, but its not as thorough as one that has a drain, just did it myself. Gotta go in through the fill port and vac/suck as much of the old gear oil out, and then refill. Most places won't do this service, and if they did at todays rates, would be a $200-500 job alone.
I recently asked an honest, local transmission re-builder with over 25 years experience and countless 5 star reviews this question: “How often should I change my transmission fluid?” His response shocked me. He said, “Change your fluid once a year, and your transmission will serve you well.”
This is unnesisary. It just waists your money just like changing your tires one every year or engine oil one every month. ATF purpose is high pressure fluid and cool down your trany. ATF will last at least 3 years or 30 KM whichever comes first.
Wizard is wrong on one thing. I never changed my trans fluid on any car I've ever owned in my life. My 2000 tundra has over 350k miles on original transmission. I got over 400k on a 96 Camry as well. I just add fluid when necessary lol.
Looking at my 1982 F150 I bought in 11th grade in 2001... Me: How long do you plan on lasting? Truck: How long do YOU plan on lasting? I figured they'd just dig a really big hole and drive me in there with ya...
@@bwatt1383 It's a 40yo Iowa truck, there is rust-o-plenty... The hardest thing I ever did to it was a completely optional job, the truck was born a 2wd, it's now a 4x4 with a solid Dana 44 from a 1978 F150 under the front of it.
please make a video about what its like to run a shop, whats it like to have employees, what you would do to ur building to make it better, what you do with ur second building. more explaining about ur company, not just the car projects would be really interesting. thanks
I have a Thunderbird 4.6L 2V and I know lots of other guys that also do. Nobody ever changes the timing chains or chain guides unless the engine is taken apart for some other reason. It's NOT a routine maintenance item. The kind of extreme use that Wizard describes (400,000mi=600,000km) is when the engine would need a complete overhaul, IF the rest of the car even lasts that long.
Bought a used ES350 because it was 💯 maintained with every record documented. First thing I did was have the transmission fluid and filters replaced (not a power flush but pan drop). Dealer maintenance did not include touching the transmission but I don’t believe in planned obsolescence
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on TH-cam. I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
Changing the fluid, of course. Inspecting/changing timing chains every 100K miles, not unless the vehicle is known to wear out chains prematurely. Your average midsized sedan will not wear out a timing chain within 250K miles unless there is a defect, abuse, or lack of oil changes.
I was one of those people that thought that timing chains would last forever. I have an '09 Subaru Outback with a belt and when my wife got her '18 WRX I thought man no more timing belt worries. Then I watched a video by a Subaru Tech, Mr. Subaru, he talked about how much more complex the chains are than belts because they had to introduce lubrication and a lot of moving parts compared to the belt, so I now I am much less relieved.
You usually don't have to worry about timing chain problems as they are the exception rather than the norm ... so long as you don't neglect your engine's service needs, especially oil and filter changes whenever necessary. For most driving situations, you should be fine so long as you keep your oil clean and uncontaminated while maintaining proper oil level and using oil of the recommended viscosity and at least the minimum required API service grade for your engine (almost impossible to mess up as modern oils are of API grades exceeding what was factory fill in all older cars still in use today, and new grades for a given viscosity supersede old grades of the same).
I always learn so much from the Wizard - I don’t work on my own cars, but I’m a better owner and consumer because of it. Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference. Thanks Wizard!
This is probably one of the MOST USEFUL videos you have posted. Everybody knows that engine oil needs to be replaced at certain intervals, but almost nobody knows that transmissions (both automatic and manual including differential) need to be serviced too because they are very expensive to repair. My Jaguar XJ has a ZF transmission, one of those supposed "maintenance free". I do not care what the manual says, I replace both fluid and filter every 50.000 km, and still runs like new. But it is also very certain that if the transmission has not been serviced in a long time and the fluid has gone bad, it is better to leave that way.
Good video and timely advice for many. Not too long ago, you were critical of Honda's V6 engine, because it still uses a timing belt. Honda clearly states that the belt should replaced every 100K miles I've had several of these engines. I recently replaced the belt on an Accord (at 120K miles, I cheated a little) and that is one service I choose to have done by a dealer. Their package approach includes a new belt, new tensioner, new waterpump (driven off the backside of the belt), new coolant, and new serrpentine accessory belt, all for $1,100. To some, that may sound expensive. Well... the last time several years ago I had the same service done on older Odyssey, the engine was still running well at over 200K when we traded it. Show me a 200K mile GM, Ford, FCA, (your favorite OEM here) V6 engine with chain driven overhead cams that has NOT required at least a new timing system, if not a total engine rebuild costing several times more.
Hi, I’m a fairly new subscriber. I sort of stumbled on your channel a couple of months ago. I absolutely love your channel. I know this sounds odd but there is something sort of mesmerizing about watching you. You have a voice and style that is very….something…I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s cool. Your style is also very calming as opposed to people that induce a lot of drama. Your also extremely informative and educational and I love the honesty and integrity. I even love the way that Mrs. Wizard will shout a comment or question at you. In any event, I’m very glad that I found your channel as I really look forward to them. Thanks and take care!👍
I really appreciate this video. At 100, 000km, I had my transmission fluid changed (though the manual would differ in thought). The timing chain in particular was of interest. I have looked in the car book & it recommends at 400, 000 km (from what I recall). Next time I go in to get a service done, I will be asking for them to look at the chains & guides. Thank you again for such a great video.
Usually around 150k km, your valve cover gasket will fail , having some engine oil seepage. That happens for most cars these days. Since you need to remove the valve cover to replace leaking gasket, might as well check the timing chain while it is exposed.
I have a 2014 Toyota Sienna. It has 94,323 miles on it. My local Toyota dealer said they recommend doing a flush, but I have watched many videos saying that they do not recommend doing a flush, because material in the fluid might get clogged up in the little cavities and cause the transmission to start to slip. I have had this van since 2016 and it only had 10,000 miles on it. I have been changing the oil every 5,000 miles and have had no problems at all. I also change the air filter and cabin filter every 6 months myself. I am disabled otherwise I would have been draining and filling the transmission myself, but as you know with this new design of having to get the transmission to a temp between 103 - 114 it requires a scan tool to see the exact transmission temp and I just can not move that fast having Cerebral Palsy. When you say service the transmission do you just recommend taking the transmission pan off and changing the transmission filter and filling it up with the correct level, or are you also recommending to have the transmission flushed, so I will not have to remove the pan? I have no leaks anywhere under the van, but I am very leery to do a flush after seeing so many videos on why not to flush the transmission. I love watching your videos and I wish I could have you do the work on my Van, but I live in Waco Texas. 😞I just want someone like you that is honest and good. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me! ATB! Rob
Yep, all of this is why I change my GTI’s oil twice as often as they say to. On another note, I’ve owned multiple old bmws with a quarter million miles on them with original timing chains. I always changed out the guides though because they get very brittle.
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 cummins with the California standard output engine rated at 235hp. The transmission made it to 295,000 before I needed to replace the governor solenoid. The forward clutch gave up the ghost at 310,000 miles and it needed a rebuild. Engine is still fine btw.
I just purchased a 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness. I watch all the Car Wizards video. I’m so glad I watched this one. If only we had more mechanics like the Wizard.
As we ponder our transportation options, it's important to understand what you are buying, especially when it comes to a complex machine like a vehicle. I think the Wizard, if I may call him that, has first hand experience in maintaining machines, be it a specific class of machines, known as automobiles. The main point is this: to say that machines do not require maintenance, is the same as saying they do not wear out. Which of course they do. This fact is well understood by the OEMs and obviously the Car Wizard, who is tasked with maintaining and repairing them. If we look at specific examples you can easily recognize that cars do, in fact, wear out, and do so mechanically in a very well understood way for OEMs like GM or FORD who have been making Automobiles for a very very long time. One good example is automatic transmissions, because these transmissions have evolved slowly over decades, and given this experience, we know where they are strong and where they are weak, how they wear out, and what maintenance is needed to keep them operational. To keep a transmission running it needs clean and effective hydraulic fluid for the wet clutches, gears and bearings. This means periodically changing the fluid and filter, no matter what a sticker says on the side of the machine. I can guarantee you that the fluid will wear out and the filter will become restricted, and the metal gears, clutches and bearings will wear.
You are 100% correct. I maintain my vehicles the eay you recommend and that is why I can get several 100k out of my Hondas and Toyotas. I wish I lived closer to your shop as I am getting up in years and don't enjoy working on cars like I used to
Wizard needs to do some kind of servicing/engineering comparison between problematic engines and not-so-problematic engines. Say why a Toyota 2GR doesn’t have problems like the GM 3.6L even though both use timing chains
I think it's just metallurgy and tolerances (quality control) differences sometimes. Toyota have notoriously tight tolerances (i.e., variation plus/minus from spec) on their engines for example, that the various part numbers for the different OEM bearings you can get for a Toyota Camry engine have such a small difference in clearance, that the difference is smaller than what a home mechanic rebuilding the engine could measure anyway. But when it's built at the factory they make sure it's within that 5 microns, or 10 microns or whatever of the intended clearance, or the cylinder walls are within 10 microns of the intended dimensions etc (same for Honda, blocks that are say 20 microns out of spec get scrapped and sent for recycling). There is a channel from Australia where they compared a Toyota 2JZ engine block to a Nissan RB30 and Ford Barra block (all similar cast iron inline sixes) and found the Toyota block had greater hardness and lacked the random thin spots (from the sand core shifting during casting) found on the Nissan or Ford blocks. As to the Wizard's opening question, I think vehicle manufacturers design for a vehicle life of about ~7 years, but thankfully most cars last for over 15 years before starting to need major overhauls of the cooling system or so on.
Thank you for this video. I'm 71 and know a car needs to be serviced. A few months ago I bought a 2017 Mazda 3 & wanted to change out the fluid for the transmission. I took it to the Mazda dealer & they refused to do it saying they were instructed by Mazda this was a sealed unit & never needed to be serviced. I knew that was not right, I took my car to 3-other shops before I found one that knew how to change it correctly and did the work. I also have had the radiator flushed & new hoses put on it. I soon want to get the differential changed out. My car has 75,000 miles on it. It is truly a shame what dealers tell customers now, nothing but lies.
We have 4 Chevy work vans all over 300k miles one with a 5.3 vortec and 2 with the 4.8 they all run fine and get driven about 1000 miles a week sometimes more and then when they get to the job site they idle for hours……and the guys driving them aren’t easy on them lol!! We also had a ford van with the 3v 4.6 that had over 500,000 miles before it was wrecked!
I just learned not to buy a Cadillac. Never be too cheap to change fluids! Pay a litte now, than a lot later. My mom's 2017 Chevy Spark does not have a transmission dip stick. It's a Cvt. Wish I had a shop like yours! Happy Holidays!
Great video. Have run and on my Shop for 30 years. Thank you for making the radio. It makes it easier for the rest of us trying to do the right thing. The only tweak I would make is too shorten up the fluid intervals. I have found changing the drivetrain fluids every 50 seems to be the sweet spot. You just don’t want the the fluid you’re taking out to look absolutely terrible. You want to see fluid that is definitely dirty but not completely wiped out. I have seen some fluids that I changed at 30k and it looks terrible. Thank you again for making the video.
Thanks for this video Wizard! I have a 2015 Grand Caravan AVP (I know, you don't like the 3.6L VVT). It has 84,000 + miles. I have had oil changes done more or less every 5000 miles. It doesn't burn a bit of oil. Confirms your saying many times that maintaining your vehicle will make it last longer and keep running well. Thanks again for this video. I wish I lived close to Kansas (I'm in California), I'd be bringing my Caravan to you for sure.
The car wizards hate of the Pentastar is unjust and he is a moron for thinking it’s a bad engine. They’re very solid engines and can run forever with very little maintenance. He seems a few very early model year 3.6s fail due to issues that were fixed down the line and in typical moron fashion thinks the entire line is bad without doing any research into it. He’s just a fatter scotty kilmer.
Excellent advice/explanation by the Car Wizard. It's almost a 'roll of the dice' when you suspect the auto transmission may not have been serviced & it may need a service. I had this dilemma on an old Z3 I had bought. The service books were up to date but NO auto transmission service. The vehicle had 190 000 KMs. I decided not to do the service as I suspected issues with new oil at that milage. drove it another 20 000 Kms before I sold it. No drama's at all. I also told the buyer that the transmission was not serviced and they still bought it at a reduced asking price.
Glad you made this informative video that sets a clear record on what needs to be changed and when and what manufacturers think of vehicle life as opposed to owners.
Wizard's correct. When I was a teen, I bought a beautiful '88 regal with 150K. Drove fine. Noticed the trans fluid was black, had it changed, and it killed the transmission.
And there you have it. Proof!!
So it's better to 'lifetime' not change it and keep it till it breaks at 300k then?
@@doom85249 the Wizard said to change the fluid before it reaches 100K miles. If it goes way over leave it alone.
@@doom85249 You wanna rotate the fluid and not just change it outright. 👌
There is a distinction between a flush vs. drain and refill. I'm a firm believer in the latter and I believe once vehicles get to higher mileage you should stay clear of any type of flush.
The most honest mechanic I've ever seen lol. Someone get this man a medal. Love your vids!
Most mechanics are pretty honest. Problem is not all mechanics are equally good. Some are absolutely awful.
Plus I can understand his English. There are other honest mechanics on TH-cam but they either talk too fast or too cheesy, or talk with an accent. Or talk on & on without providing prices!!! How much does it cost??? If money were no object, we would all go to the authorized dealer s service dept. Oh wait, it's not just the money. They'll follow the stupid manual which might say oil change every 10k miles 🙄🙄🙄
Wizard says what I learned since owning a VW that the dealer told me to dump (trade in) and to replace coolant hoses at 5 years that lasted for 14 years 330,000 miles unlike what they told me. When I sold service I rubbed the owners wrong. I was too honest.
Scotty Kilmer is ... Wizard's a close 2nd.
@@ministryoftruth8588The car care nut is another one thought he mainly specialises in Toyota and Lexus.
Wizard that was spot on. I've been a Chrysler tech since 93. People have in their heads they don't have to do anything, and they are ruining their vehicles. It's been a losing battle. Now, with the car shortage, these people are screwing themselves even more. Most of our customers can't afford a new car at current prices. A actually just sent this video to my services manager to try and pound it into his head that the service writers need to try harder and sell maintenance.
We bought a new 2000 Intrepid with the infamous 2.7 V6. Since then, I must have read and heard a hundred times, "that was an awful car, with one of the worst engines built". Our experience was that it was a great, extremely reliable, durable car. I am no fan of the brand, and didn't want it in the first place, the wife did.
We had it for ten years, and 190K miles. It needed a water pump and a starter in that time. We then sold it to our independent repair shop. Those guys used it as a daily loaner for FIVE years, FIVE YEARS of abuse by hundreds of random drivers. Then it ended up with an elderly gentleman who drove it for a few more years. It had over 300K on it, with the original timing chain and transmission.
The "secret" to taking a widely hated "unreliable" vehicle and getting a great service life out of it? I changed the oil every five thousand miles. I used any brand of conventional oil, and most brands of cheap filters (except Fram, as their anti-drainback valves would fail, causing startup rattles) I also drained and refilled most other fluids in the car every 30K. This included coolant, transmission, brakes, and even the power steering every 100K. At nearing 200K and ten years, the car drove and felt new. At seventeen years of service life, it had over 300K miles and had been extremely durable, trouble free and cheap to own for all three owners.
lol
I purchased a brand new Nissan Rogue Select back in 2015. Dealership sold the vehicle along with the lifetime oil change. The problem is that dealership did not last for a lifetime. Only a couple of years later the dealership’s ownership changed hand. The new owner would not honor the lifetime oil change. Their reason was because I never allowed them to perform anything else. I didn’t want to waste my life arguing. I started doing all the maintenance since then. Thanks to all the TH-cam posts, I learned to do everything myself, including oil change, control arms replacement, and transmission fluid and filter replacement. Vehicle is still driving fine. I’m very grateful that there are honest specialists like Wizard out there posting valuable videos.
This happened to me too. I feel like I got my moneys worth but I’m still pissed because it was a big selling point. Now I do them myself.
That's the way it should be done, service your own vehicle and you know it is done right.
Many people neglect their vehicles, to many, and then they are shocked when something major fails them.
As a stubborn person anytime i see a sticker that says do not touch, it gets serviced first. I like to think someone at a finance company is crying that I went another day without a car payment.
Yup lol.
Right
Oh they ARE just watch one of Tim Dillon's videos about selling subprime mortgages before he started doing comedy. "Now sign this piece o' paper forhhhh CHRIST!!!!" 😂
You're a brilliant and honest man. Finding a mechanic like you is like finding a good family doctor, IMPOSSIBLE. Thank you!
Any time my dad hears "lifetime," like lifetime warranty, he always asks "WHOSE lifetime?"
Your dad's funny. And right!
Exactly!
Lifetime of a fruitfly
The seventy five years old engineer.
Typical dad joke...😂
This is part of why I am personally so in love with simpler vehicles such as those from the 90s and older. Things like the old cast iron pushrod engines were not as powerful as a modern complex unit, however they are much easier to work on and are inherently more robust due to their simplicity. Not to say there is anything inherently wrong with more modern cars, but personally I much prefer something I can easily maintain and repair myself without the need to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of specialty tools and equipment because the manufacturer felt it prudent to make things more difficult to do intentionally.
.are the 90s and older safer?
@@zythr9999 I honestly have never felt the need for things like traction control, stability control, or the myriad of other driver assistance 'safety' features. Then again I developed and honed my driving skills without the car doing a significant part of the work for me. I am still here and in one piece despite being hit by other drivers more than once. So my older vehicles certainly seem safe enough. Hell my newest one even has an airbag.
My 2002 tahoe has 284671 miles today , when I originally bought it 6 years ago I immediately did a flush of all fluids , oil , atf , gear oil , coolant , ect ... probably the smartest choice I made concerning maintaining the vehicle
nice, got a 2001 suburban with 178K, hopefully it lasts closer to what yours did. seems the tranny is the weak part on these vehicles?
@@akjohnny5997 Got a 2003 Citroën C5, with 300.000 KM (about 240.000 miles) and just had it fully serviced, all fluids changed, breakpads renewed, sparkplugs, etc etc, and i bet it good now for a other 50.000 KM or more.
Been looking for a brand new car, and after looking at several cars, ranging from every brand, up to 100k pricing, and i hated them all..
I like Cars, not mobile PC's that are harder to maintain as a full Semi Truck as everything is hidden and locked away, even one car needed a engine out job just to change the sparkplugs, just like the MB Mclaren SLR... Who comes up with such idioticy, those designers should be fired and never allowed to ever design a car.
Those were good vehicles.
@@arranchace1306 300.000km are only 186.411,4 miles.....
I've got an 02 Silverado with same drivetrain. Smart buy on your end and decision to service. Those vehicles are lifetime tanks as long as you do the service intervals. Rolled over 300k with original engine, runs like it did off the lot new. Just wish the transmission and transfer case was the same, but 270k and 300k on those is nothing to complain about either.
I think for non-car people it's really confusing because it's often said "follow the manufacturers recommendation" only to find out the manufacturer puts profits over the good of the customer.
Thank you for the PSA. I believe most people want to keep their cars as long as possible (I think) but it is a bit difficult to find that information sometimes. That deters many non-car people who are already probably busy with other things in their lives.
Appreciate your videos like always!
My wife and I own and drive regularly a 1980 Chevy El Camino SS with 225k miles and a 1985 Toyota FJ60 Land cruiser with 250k miles. They are both original equipment, orginal owners. The one thing they have in common is they are serviced by competent mechanics at the prescribed service intervals. The Wizard is correct, if you service and properly maintain a vehicle it can last a very long time.
Very true. My Chevy sonic 1.8L is my daily drive with 211000 miles and servicing is key. The nature of my job forces me to change out parts at "end of life" mileage intervals so I have a bunch of "good" used parts laying around. I use to do full syn oil /filter changes at 10,000 highway miles but at 150,000 miles it has dropped to 7,500 (stop and go) miles due to minor increase in blowby. At 350,000 it will be done at 6,500 miles. At 500,000 miles engine will be retired.
@@bobdeengineer7396 Oil changes should be done every 3,000 miles.
I am convinced people who drive high end vehicles Audi,BMW,Mercedes-Benz, DO NOT LOOK AFTER their cars but want to drive around looking rich .
@@georgevavoulis4758 They pay a high price for it. A $150,000 Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. will be worth about the same thing as a $35,000 Honda Civic in 10 years, and will have had a lot more problems during that time.
@@geraldscott4302 If they keep it 10 yrs.
I'm an old school driver, every 80.000km I service the automatic gearbox on my Range L322 DSE, the filter and oil are awful, and the magnet full of little debris. But I'm almost at 300,000 km and everything is working fine. According to Land Rover, I should never have intervened on the automatic gearbox...
Greetings from Italy, we love Car Wizard here too!
A little bit of maintenance now can save you from alot of repairs later. Excellent video Wizard!
Oil degrades we all know that. Here's something to remember....a big air compressor at a garage i worked at here in the UK had a sticker saying to maintain it yearly with new oil....it was 40yrs old!
@@tardeliesmagic i have a 200k miles Volvo XC70 with the 2,4 liter Turbo diesel and proper services has kept it alive and well. still has its original Asin 5speed transmission shifting good. i also have the Gasoline version as well and it too has its original trans at 200k.
A.K.A. _"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."_
@@tardeliesmagic
Bet it had a very good air intake filtraton system as well....
dirt will kill compressors and the OEM filter on domestic compressors are worse than useless.
I decided to have the transmission rebuilt in my 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 6T70, because paying $3800, is a lot better than paying for a new car, especially since the rest of the car is almost perfect. Us older folks don’t drive much and keep vehicles a long time. My next task for myself is to replace the timing chains and followers.
you could have literally either
a) bought and installed a used transmission for less than $1500
or
b) bought a used camry for that much money
@@realjordanbelfortbut you wont know for sure how long a used tranny will run, and a used camry will have a used tranny that also needs to be maintained. Rebuilding the trans refreshes its life with new components. Problem with most used vehicles is theyre not properly maintained.
@@realjordanbelfort haha good luck finding a used camry for 3800 these days that's worth a damn, I guarantee that saturn will last 2x longer than a cheap camry. They woulda easily bought themselves into more problems too, at the very least tires and brakes. Not to mention the 6t70 rebuild kits fix some design flaws and are a much better choice than a low miles stock one. It's better that rebuilt trans goes into a saturn that won't rust, most of them are going into junk Impala Limiteds that'll end up blown up and out of warranty within a year
My parents still drive the 2003 Saturn VUE the bought new. As long as they can keep finding the parts they'll keep fixing it and keep it running.
Tell us more
I talked to my Toyota dealer and they said they don't like to change the transmission fluid and they trust the Toyota company recommendation of not changing it. When I questioned them about Toyota considering the life of the car to be through the end of the warranty, they didn't know what to say. I'm currently looking for a quality shop that will be willing to do this for me when I'm ready for it.
I recommend you check The car care nut's TH-cam channel, there he debunks "for life" fluids, he used to work at a Toyota dealership and has a lot of advice for Toyota owners, also he runs an independent shop if you happen to live near Chicago
@@jfrodr YES.
Watched that video & my 22 RX will have the following:
Oil change: 6 months / 5000 miles
Radiator: 5 yrs / 50,000 miles
Transmission: 6 yrs / 60,000 miles
(it's stated lifetime, but replace anyway-you cannot easily check it, no dipstick)
Power Steering: 50,000 miles
Spark Plugs: 120,000 miles
I hope this information reaches many folks that believe replacing fluids is a waste of time and money
I had that argument with my Lexus dealer they were reluctant to service a transmission and rear differential axel claiming there’s no need
I have a dealer maintained 2015 Tundra with nearly 200k miles. You're right that the dealer said to never touch that Toyota tranny, not even a partial change. They said I'd need to sign a waiver if I insisted.
@@jfrodr That's a very good channel and I've been watching it for a while now. I've been wishing I lived close to his shop but sadly I don't.
My parents had an old 1997 Honda CRV 5mt. They had a great mechanic and they did routine maintenance religiously, it ran to 400000mi. We live in upstate NY, so eventually rust won out at nearly 20 years.
When they got rid of it, it still had it's first clutch.
It's funny Subaru doesn't have a CVT fluid change for the US but it does for Canada, Japan, ect
I have changed professions however I was a diagnostician/mechanic for over 25 years. You are a very knowledgeable wise person before your time. I would have been honored to work under or beside you. I watch your videos still learning things, especially being out of the loop for about 8yrs. Peace be with you and your family. Be safe
I'm old school: Change the oil every 3,000-3,5000 miles, other fluids (including belts & hoses) when you reach 85-90% of expected life (per car manual), and wax 1-3x/year depending on geography. All should be good. All my cars have gone 160M+ - 250M+ miles. Didn't sell them because of mechanical/body/paint issues. Just wanted a change.
200 million Miles’s?????????
I had a 1988 Honda Civic, 5 speed - 468,000 miles when I sold it. We never changed the transmission fluid. Leaked oil like crazy, but kept on going and shifted gears quite nice. My brother had an old Chevy Chevette that made 600,000 miles. By that time the floor boards had rusted completely out and you could see the road under the car, while driving. We put plywood on the floors of the cabin, LOL. Engine just wouldn't give up the ghost.
P.S. I owned a 1969 AMC Ambassador Super Sport Typhoon, with a 343 V8 - That thing was fast and delivered hot pizza to customers doors every night. The brakes kept falling apart on me(old braking system). I just did pizza with the emergency break, haha.
I have an '06 Ford Taurus with 241,000 miles on it, I got it when it had just shy of 60k. Before I made my first car payment, I dropped the transmission pan and changed the filter. I've done that service every 2 years since then. I also put a trans cooler on it to help prolong the life of the transmission. It still shifts crisp and smooth. Also, the timing chain on must be OK, because I'm getting 28 MPG in rural, high altitude driving, and the engine still pulls strong (thanks to regular synthetic oil changes).
I plan on keeping the old Taurus running indefinitely; it's easy to work on, parts are available and cheap, and it's comfortable to drive.
edit to add: it's the Vulcan engine; OHV with iron block and heads
Car Wizard, you are doing a great service to automotive consumers! Especially as so many of us are having to keep our old cars these days.
the Subaru CVT fluid 100% needs to be changed often, even though Subaru says not to. fluid is cheap, transmissions are not. never listen to manufacturers that say not to change fluids. they want the cars to fail after a certain time. the Lubeguard Complete CVT fluid works great and is way cheaper than OEM, plus it has anti shudder additives that really helps older CVTs. i just had a customer that was quoted several thousand to replace a shuddering TR690. i changed the fluid to the Lubeguard and he said it works perfect now with zero shudder.
Scotty Kilmer says the same thing. Fluid us cheap transmissions are expensive
Subaru of America (not Japan or Canada interestingly enough) says it's a "lifetime fluid"
Which is true enough of course, it lasts until the life of the trans is over.
I just ran into this on my '06 Nissan Murano. Back then, they claimed that the CVT was "sealed" and didn't require fluid changes.
I hate that I didn't do it. It's older car, but I loved it for several reasons.
It's actually waiting to be picked up right now with a trashed transmission.
I don't give a rats ass about SOA's warranty... my Subaru's CVT is getting a drain & fill at 50k...
Just use OEM fluid.
It's all about the planned obsletession. They don't want car's to last too long no one would buy new. When I was 19 I bought a 87 f150 with only 60000.miles. changed the oil every 4000miles transmission t case and diff oils every 60000.miles . Got 396000miles out of it till the frame rotted out. Got 25 years of use out of that truck. That was the most trouble free and maintenance free vehicle I ever owned.
Mostly agree with two exceptions.
1: With CVT transmissions it is in my view a good idea to change the fluid at 30k, normal automatic at 60k, and planetary gear hybrid or EV at 100k, all with synthetic fluid of course.
2: With regard to timing chains, most well built engines will not need this service done IF the oil is changed every 5k miles. Do not follow any recommendations for 10k mile oil changes as that is how you cause wear. Timing chains do not stretch unless they get poor lubrication or(in the case of the 3.6) the engine is not designed correctly.
It's actually pretty easy to keep a car in good condition of you are educated. You don't even need to be into cars. That's why I love videos likes this, they educate you with the best intentions. It's a shame there are so many people in the car industry that are simply dishonest. Thank you wizard!
Depends on the car , try keeping a BMW , Mercedes , VW or Audi in up to par condition after 100k and good luck.
@@manchesterexplorer8519yeah. This is true. It’s not even just the motor. Everything starts to break or snap or get out of alignment. You’re going to get electronic issues that cost a fortune to fix. All this starts right after the 3 year warranty is up.
I'm so glad you told all this because you are so right !! And I also know because I also work in the automotive industry. Don't always believe a car manufacturer, they have other interests. But listen to the people who actually work on these cars and see this every day.
Fantastic video! I am a believer in maintenance and skeptic of lifetime fluids. 3 cars in my garage. One with 157k miles, one at 166k miles and the third with 183k miles. 2003, 2007 and 2008 model years all maintained (including maintaining the paint by regular wash & wax) by me. I happen to be technician so I can do any repair my cars need. All three cars drive and look great. My expectation is for all of them to exceed 200k miles.
Why not hit a million miles on both? You can always change and buy a transmission & engine
LOL. At the rate I accumulate miles on these cars, I won’t live long enough to reach 1 million miles!
Stop being cheap and get newer cars with more modern safety features. Nobody cares how many miles you’ve put on your beaters.
@@zfunk9cars from 07 and 08 are beaters now? 😂 what is this spoiled world coming to?
Exactly. Prob why the younger guys I work with all have 20-30 thousand in credit card debt and wonder why they can't ever save any money. But they all have new cars lol@@theskyizblue2day431
Changing fluids is key to extended life of the components 😊. Though you may get feeling down after three concurrent repairs it’s still less expensive to repair rather than replace your vehicle 😊. Lifetime fluid won’t last the average 8.4 years people keep their vehicles. The most liked vehicles are owned on average just over 10 years.
When I bought my Nissan Frontier, I remember the finance lady trying to sell me on leasing. I remember telling her that I intended to drive it until it died and she gave me a dirty look. That was in 1998. I last drove it this morning and still use it to this day. It has 427,000 miles on the original engine now, but I did pull the engine at 397,000 miles to service it. I replaced the original timing chain set, oil pump, engine gaskets and seals and set the valve lash. I also pulled the transmission and went through it with a bearing and syncro kit and put in a new clutch and water pump at that time. That was 7 years ago and it still runs great today. I do all my own work on it with assistance from a factory service manual and my own common sense. The important thing is that I understand when things are starting to fail and I repair it at that time rather than waiting until something fails. It's far cheaper that way.
I've driven a lot of different cars over many years and been fastidious about maintenance. The bonus, lots of trouble free miles. If you plan on keeping your car a long time follow the Wiizard's advice. If you get rid of them every 3 years follow the manufacturer's advice.
At 100,000 miles, according to the service table in the owners manual, I should have changed the transmission fluid in my transmission 2 to 4 times, every 50,000 under 'normal use' and 25,000 under 'severe duty' use, but then of course an Allison in my 2009 Duramax, the T-case and Differentials are replace fluids at 50K each
What I am saying is, get familiar with your owners manual, you pay a lot of money for your vehicles, take care of them!
Car Wizard, you absolutely hit the nail on the head. Most consumers do not know these points or have been misled (“timing chains last forever…”). Years back… I paid the price on BMW E-38. I even asked at the dealership if the transmission fluid was in fact ‘never to be changed’. The downside… at around 147,000 kms, I found out how much a BMW transmission (quality) rebuild cost. The upside… I crossed over 389,000 kms before selling it. All whilst enjoying one of the best driving machines (for distance) on the road and it worked FLAWLESSLY. Thanks for the video.
Sorry… not 389,000, but rather 289,000 kms.
Mr. Wizard is so right. People often listen to the manufacturer's recommendations on fluid replacement and service. It doesn't hurt to service the vehicle sooner than what is recommended.
I kind of liked it this year when I took my 22 year old Golf to the dealer and had them give it a thorough service. 22 years, over 400 000 km (it's a petrol engine, not diesel), and they're still perfectly willing to guarantee the car's mobility. They also made me aware of some things that should be taken care of at some point, but that weren't necessary to fix right there and then. Only the stuff necessary to have it pass its semi annual mandatory inspection was dealt with at that point. That's how I like it.
Old Golfs never die.
@@stephenhargreaves381 The rust will claim it at some point, though it's held up remarkably well to all the winter salt here.
@@hadtopicausername I have a 40 year old mk1 Golf that I'm re commissioning . Sat in the garage for past 12 years & started on the 3rd turn of the key with the usual pre start up procedures beforehand , Hope to get it on the road again by spring .
Funny. I just replaced the factory radiator in my 02 Jetta(TDI) and she's sitting at 300k/mi. Still runs great, all I have to do is fluid changes and replace the bits that wear out as they do. I'm expecting another 10 years out of it.
25 year old Jetta, sole owner, sorry I sold it now.
After working for a repair shop we have had a lot of cars in that supposedly had lifetime use oil in the transmission, but when it came out it looked like tar and smelled really off. The transmission was beginning to fail, and the owner came by and asked what this was about. We told him about the bullshit that the dealers told about never servicing their transmission, and it was long overdue to flush it out with new oil. It got expencive for him, but the car still drives fine now, many years later.
When i was working as a delivery man we ran Renault trafic vans (i live in europe), several parts/fluids we're said to be lifetime parts like the timing chains as mentioned, the company only fell for that one once, that one made it to 350k km before it broke the chain. After that all of them we're changed at 250k and every single one of the remaining vans lived to clock 6/700k km with any major major issues.
Which parts exatcly?
And what happened at 6/700k ?
Absolutely true about transmission fluid. I was telling people that 30 years ago and the response I usually got was "what?!.....nu-uh...you're just trying to make more service money."
Drain and fill (not flush) once a year for me in all my cars. Literally $50 for good fluid and an easy DIY job.
totally, drain and not flush..
And don’t forget the filter
@@MrZdvy lots of newer cars the filters aren't serviceable
Basically the message is simple.....change all the fluids on a regular proper schedule !
Imagine the scene - you take your high mileage vehicle to the service department, and someone in business attire escorts you to the new car showroom instead. Go figure.
Thats why you need to dress like a hobo. Eliminate the assumption that you can afford a newer car.
Or ask a technical question. They run.
Planned obsolescence.
Some salespeople try to guess your income by the area you live in. Reply with an inner city location or some other known low-income area. That should make the conversation interesting.
@@davidtoth8975 Some dealerships couldn't care less. They'll try to "help you out"...and set you up with a 8 year finance option for a new car!
1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣👉🏼My vehicles: 1️⃣1994 Camry with over 300,000 mi, 2️⃣2001 Camry with 260,000 mi, 3️⃣1999 Honda Civic with 160,000 mi...
All three have automatic transmissions...
What I do for service is disconnect the transmission output hose that goes to lower part of the radiator and place the end into a container... then I start the vehicle and shifted into gear until 1 qt drains out. Then I add 1 quart of synthetic transmission fluid back into the transmission. Even though each transmission holds three quarts of fluid, I repeat this five times and that way the fluid in the torque converter gets flushed out and replaced with brand new fluid. Then I reconnect the hose. My final step is to verify that the fluid level is correct and it always has been after following this procedure...
Even my 94 Camry still shifts absolutely silky smooth with zero slippage...
I usually do this transmission fluid service at 70,000 mile intervals, sometimes less... and I want to point out that I drive the vehicles very gently so as to make them LAST 🔄❗
Since I do the transmission service myself it generally costs me maybe $40 and a couple hours of my time from start to finish. It's so worth it. SO WORTH IT ❗
The average new vehicle transaction price is now $48,000 as of this writing.
Folks are financing vehicles for 7 years now with sometimes over $1,000 per month payments depending on one's credit rating... to me that is absolute INSANITY 🤯❗
I prefer to find used Hondas or Toyotas maybe 10 to 15 years old that have 10 to 15 years of depreciation but still 10 to 15 years of life left in them. THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO ROLL... ⬅️🚗💨💫❗
Thank you for listening😌
I learn something new every time I watch your videos. I may not ever try and wrench the tips, but at least I learn what to look for.
Was given a vacuum cleaner once that said "never replace a filter!" It had an asterisk that said "good for 2 years, useful life of product". Fortunately they do actually make replacements.
That's like "Lifetime Warranty **Once unit breaks, the lifetime is over and warranty void"!
I've been servicing my transmissions (myself) every 12K (or less) since the 1980s, and have had no problems--and yes, I still own & drive those cars. All the fluid changes are best done at 1/4 to 1/3 the recommendations.
Yes, you could overhaul your engine every 10,000 miles and it would have no troubles, either. It is a bit excessive and a waste of money but ... 🤔
There was a story in a UK newspaper of a chauffuer driven Jag V12 that was retired still running at 512000 miles. It was always serviced, fluids changed but the motor mechanicals were never touched and with original timing chains. Very tough motors if not cooked.
A classic Wizard video. Info we need, well explained.
Had a Nissan cvt, serviced it, traded the car in with 90000 miles and still drove like new. Have a 4runner that says it has a sealed transmission. Still changed the fluid under 60000 miles
Finding someone skilled enough to change out a timing chain and guides isn’t something I’d take a chance on. Can’t find decent help these days in any industry. I agree with everything else in the video.
im a dealership teck. iv replaced a grip of belts and chains for mostly just people i know or for other shops in my driveway or the weekend at work. finding the skill is not that hard you need to just go find whatever place works on your brand in the area and talk to there like top teck. most places have a timing guy that just does all the timing jobs. do not go to like a pep boys or something looking for skill lol.
@@jacobnelson2480 What I mean is good help is hard to find.
@@therealvanillayou got that Pep Boys thing right! I was on vacay down in Florida. Typically I change my own oil before vacay but wasn’t able to this time due to scheduling constraints. So I had it done at Pep Boys down the street from my bro’s house. Left for MS the next day, and all kinds of alarms were going off when I got to AL - turns out the oil change “tech” double-gasketed the oil filter causing oil loss and almost seizing up my engine. Luckily I found a dealership that diagnosed the problem! Pep Boys? Never again!! 😡😡
I agree with you on your service recommendations, if you can keep your car on the road for 200 or 300 thousand miles. It’s a good policy for vehicles in warm dry climates. However, here in the northeast, the enemy is salted roads in the winter. No matter how frequently and thoroughly you wash your vehicle, there are areas you can’t flush clear, and for many of us doing these extensive services is countered by the appearance of extensive rust by the time the vehicle reaches high mileage ranges. Once that happens, the value of your vehicle is so dramatically reduced, that such services exceed the value of the vehicle.
Like all your videos . I maintain my own car , all what i have to be done , in many years now . Save a lot money for doing so . If there is an insurmountable problem/defect that I don't know or can't fix, then I'll take it to a mechanic like you , to fix it
Living in NH , I can attest that the best vehicles are the pre-2000's Volvos as they don't really rust . I own a 1991 Volvo 240 WITH 250K that I've had for 14 years , original drivetrain , has some quirks with occasional basic repairs from time to time but nothing major. But the most important thing is that it really doesn't rust , the exhaust system has only had to be replaced once since it was new which is crazy considering the winters we have as once a car starts to get rusty it's basically finished within just 5 years no matter how good it runs.
I spent 20 years in NH so I can fully understand where you are coming from. Finding a rust free car over 7 years of age in New England is NOT easy.
Sweet Volvo by the way, those things are very underrated!
Manufacturers started to give extended service intervals, not because the engines or transmissions were built better,
but because it attracted fleet buyers of big organizations..
I always used to get a new cam belt at 40,000 miles. Cheaper than a big engine repair.
It also makes the "lifetime" ownership cost look lower, and cheapens up the lease service cost.
Yup. I've a 2011 Toyota Camry LE 2ARFE, which I service myself. 59K miles on the ODO. I've already flushed/refilled the power-steering (Mercon V) and cooling system (Toyota spec.), more than once. Next week I'm going to drain&fill the automatic transmission (Dextron VI). My previous car (1997 Ford Contour SE V6 lasted 23 years.)
It’s awesome to find other gearheads with the same opinions! I love this channel.
This is also true when you have a manual it says get your powersteering oil donne at 30,000 miles or get an oil change before 3500 miles get your collant flushed at 50,000. DO NOT GO OVER! A lot of dealers say youre to late to get it for free so you got to pay for it 200 300 400 dollars. Go to the dealer with your car NOT to some mechanic If your car breaks down after that the dealer can say you had it done somewhere else so this is NOT covered by the dealer anymore. Also GET YOUR MAINTENANCE DONE! Its way cheaper to get things done on time and the value at resale is higher because of maintenance.
I've always changed my trans fluid every 30,00 miles. Never had a problem - knock on wood! One of the cheapest things you can do to extend the life of a car is to just keep the fluids clean.
Exactly 💯💯💯
The thing is that the dealerships know who is receiving this information about not changing the oil until it hits 10,000 miles... Or the lifetime transmission fluid and differential fluids... It's for those people so they can replace the car and buy another one...
Yeah Im actually a fan of timing belts. Usually a lot easier and cheaper than chains to change, less momentum in the timing gear in general, ensures its done on a routine basis and ensures you get a good water pump while youre at it.
The whole point of the chain is it shouldn't ever need to be changed. Some lower quality ones won't last though.
@@wigletron2846 You've confused OHV with OVC. See my answer on Quora.
Look out, Jason Arthur Taylor said something, it HAS to be true. 🤣😂🤣
@@jason.arthur.taylor lol who tf are you?
@@wigletron2846 IMO answering you won't matter since you already proved you aren't a scientist; you like to judge based on context instead of whatever something actually is. (In this case, my answer about guaranteed to fail tech in cars.) That said, since u asked: PhD physics. >1K answers and questions published, many about cars. >3M views.
Thanks for stressing mantience! I have a 01 gmc 4.8l and 02 silverado they both have over 200,000 miles. Been keeping up on the fluids. Hope I get 300,000 out of them.
I had the transmission serviced in my 2011 Camry at 87,000 miles. I was a bit worried, but my lord my transmission runs 110% better. "Lifetime" fluid my ass, changing it makes my car shift so much smoother. Get it changed before 100k, and ever 50k miles afterwards.
When I think of the life of the vehicle, I think of forever. It's like in the Army, they would never get rid of a jeep. They just kept rebuilding them, every part was likely replaced, and when the body rusted out, they put on a new body. They last forever.
I am a fanatic about fluid changes on my truck. I had my transmission and rear differential fluid changed at 33K. And my brake fluid, coolant and power steering fluid changed around 45k. My truck now has 63K on it and I had my rear differential fluid changed again. Fluids are cheap maintenance. I plan to own this truck for as long as I can.
Daily drive a ls430 240k on the odometer and runs perfectly fine and shifts smooth. I service the trans fluid every 40k and engine oil every 3500. Been through 3 timing belts. Other than suspension components I’ve had to replace the car runs perfectly fine. I plan to take it to 400 or 500k
1 million
The fluid intervals you have chosen are very short. If you don’t drive much then probably ok but we have 6 vehicles in our family and drive long distances. Between 25-35,000 km per year. Much highway km. Don’t bag drive them. No towing. So I’m doing 2-3 oil changes per year per vehicle. Transfer case in the Porsche gets changed every second oil change. It’s a known weak part. CVTs and auto trans get fluid replaced partially 75-100,000 km. This has gotten me up to 400,000 km without issues. Sell most cars well before then.
2005 Prius with ZERO maintenance save for breaks and oil changes made it to 450xxx miles your losing ALOT of money
@@16driver16 679,000 on a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Original engine. Transmission replaced at 612k.
@@DonnieDarko727 the us version with the 1.8l? My grandma has the same car, I've seen alot over 300k
Started writing this at 4:38 where Mr. Wizard asked what comes to mind. The life of a vehicle in my opinion should be no less than 175-225k, my Acadia specifically says not to change the transmission fluid. I've had the truck for 3 years now and have changed the transmission fluid 6 times (twice a year) and it doesn't harm anything. If anything your transmissions operating temp will drop about 10deg cooler, you'll save more fuel cause the trans doesn't have to work as hard and hey, these Acadias have drain bolts, crack her loose than fill her up. It takes longer time to change the oil actually than the transmission fluid on one of these things. but ALWAYS change your transmission fluid regardless of what the dealer tells you
Bought my first ever new car in 2015 and my lifetime is gonna be as long as I can keep it running and safe to do so! I've had multiple cars go into the 300k but I bought those just before or just after 100k and my first car had almost 500k on it! I'm gonna push this golf as far as I can!
Lifetime means when it dies! How soon it dies depends on you. Fluids are cheap the components they lubricate are not. Just stay on top of the fluid changes and be warry of the recommended schedule. They might say oil changes every 10,000 miles but 5,000-7,000 depending on your driving condition is a better frequency. Anything listed as lifetime well when something fails that becomes its lifetime. Better to over maintain than under maintain. Learn how to inspect your car and make it a point to do so once or twice a month as it doesn't take much time.
Timing chain alone on the newer Ford Duratec/Ecoboost V6 will run anywhere from $2000-7000. But thats usually done with the water pump as well since its driven by the chain internally. The high number is up to replacing the engine cause the Water pump went.
I have a 3.5L SHO, so I'm aware of this looming issue, but still have a warranty. The PTU on this car and EXplorers/Escapes aren't serviceable, especially the older pre 2017/2018 I think. However the fluid can be changed, but its not as thorough as one that has a drain, just did it myself. Gotta go in through the fill port and vac/suck as much of the old gear oil out, and then refill. Most places won't do this service, and if they did at todays rates, would be a $200-500 job alone.
I recently asked an honest, local transmission re-builder with over 25 years experience and countless 5 star reviews this question: “How often should I change my transmission fluid?” His response shocked me. He said, “Change your fluid once a year, and your transmission will serve you well.”
That’s unnecessary doing it that often
that is too much lol. Transmission fluids are like every 7 to 8 year service thing. This is not engine oil.
This is unnesisary. It just waists your money just like changing your tires one every year or engine oil one every month. ATF purpose is high pressure fluid and cool down your trany. ATF will last at least 3 years or 30 KM whichever comes first.
Wizard is wrong on one thing. I never changed my trans fluid on any car I've ever owned in my life. My 2000 tundra has over 350k miles on original transmission. I got over 400k on a 96 Camry as well. I just add fluid when necessary lol.
Looking at my 1982 F150 I bought in 11th grade in 2001...
Me: How long do you plan on lasting?
Truck: How long do YOU plan on lasting? I figured they'd just dig a really big hole and drive me in there with ya...
Dang have you had any major rust repair? Whats the toughest job you've had to do on it
300 6 cylinder?
@@bwatt1383 It's a 40yo Iowa truck, there is rust-o-plenty... The hardest thing I ever did to it was a completely optional job, the truck was born a 2wd, it's now a 4x4 with a solid Dana 44 from a 1978 F150 under the front of it.
@@nou8257 Amen. 300 inline 6 and a np435.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 Yep that will never die
Completely correct!!! Regular maintenance keeps your vehicle, reliable and economic on fuel consumption. Nothing more, nothing less. 👌
please make a video about what its like to run a shop, whats it like to have employees, what you would do to ur building to make it better, what you do with ur second building. more explaining about ur company, not just the car projects would be really interesting. thanks
My buddy, Jim, is a retired mechanic, His comment was, replace CVT fluid between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, regardless of what the manufacturer says
I have a Thunderbird 4.6L 2V and I know lots of other guys that also do. Nobody ever changes the timing chains or chain guides unless the engine is taken apart for some other reason. It's NOT a routine maintenance item. The kind of extreme use that Wizard describes (400,000mi=600,000km) is when the engine would need a complete overhaul, IF the rest of the car even lasts that long.
Yup. Some of those older engines didn't have these issues. ALL new engines do.
Bought a used ES350 because it was 💯 maintained with every record documented. First thing I did was have the transmission fluid and filters replaced (not a power flush but pan drop).
Dealer maintenance did not include touching the transmission but I don’t believe in planned obsolescence
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on TH-cam. I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
Changing the fluid, of course. Inspecting/changing timing chains every 100K miles, not unless the vehicle is known to wear out chains prematurely. Your average midsized sedan will not wear out a timing chain within 250K miles unless there is a defect, abuse, or lack of oil changes.
I was one of those people that thought that timing chains would last forever. I have an '09 Subaru Outback with a belt and when my wife got her '18 WRX I thought man no more timing belt worries. Then I watched a video by a Subaru Tech, Mr. Subaru, he talked about how much more complex the chains are than belts because they had to introduce lubrication and a lot of moving parts compared to the belt, so I now I am much less relieved.
You usually don't have to worry about timing chain problems as they are the exception rather than the norm ... so long as you don't neglect your engine's service needs, especially oil and filter changes whenever necessary.
For most driving situations, you should be fine so long as you keep your oil clean and uncontaminated while maintaining proper oil level and using oil of the recommended viscosity and at least the minimum required API service grade for your engine (almost impossible to mess up as modern oils are of API grades exceeding what was factory fill in all older cars still in use today, and new grades for a given viscosity supersede old grades of the same).
This is why I prefer belts 10:1. Just change it in interval. If the chain/guides fail its a much bigger deal.
I’ve been doing the service on the CVT in my wife’s civic every 25k. Yeah, it’s probably a little overkill. It gives me peace of mind.
I always learn so much from the Wizard - I don’t work on my own cars, but I’m a better owner and consumer because of it. Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference. Thanks Wizard!
This is probably one of the MOST USEFUL videos you have posted. Everybody knows that engine oil needs to be replaced at certain intervals, but almost nobody knows that transmissions (both automatic and manual including differential) need to be serviced too because they are very expensive to repair.
My Jaguar XJ has a ZF transmission, one of those supposed "maintenance free". I do not care what the manual says, I replace both fluid and filter every 50.000 km, and still runs like new.
But it is also very certain that if the transmission has not been serviced in a long time and the fluid has gone bad, it is better to leave that way.
Good video and timely advice for many. Not too long ago, you were critical of Honda's V6 engine, because it still uses a timing belt. Honda clearly states that the belt should replaced every 100K miles I've had several of these engines. I recently replaced the belt on an Accord (at 120K miles, I cheated a little) and that is one service I choose to have done by a dealer. Their package approach includes a new belt, new tensioner, new waterpump (driven off the backside of the belt), new coolant, and new serrpentine accessory belt, all for $1,100.
To some, that may sound expensive. Well... the last time several years ago I had the same service done on older Odyssey, the engine was still running well at over 200K when we traded it. Show me a 200K mile GM, Ford, FCA, (your favorite OEM here) V6 engine with chain driven overhead cams that has NOT required at least a new timing system, if not a total engine rebuild costing several times more.
Hi, I’m a fairly new subscriber. I sort of stumbled on your channel a couple of months ago. I absolutely love your channel. I know this sounds odd but there is something sort of mesmerizing about watching you. You have a voice and style that is very….something…I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s cool. Your style is also very calming as opposed to people that induce a lot of drama. Your also extremely informative and educational and I love the honesty and integrity. I even love the way that Mrs. Wizard will shout a comment or question at you. In any event, I’m very glad that I found your channel as I really look forward to them. Thanks and take care!👍
I really appreciate this video. At 100, 000km, I had my transmission fluid changed (though the manual would differ in thought). The timing chain in particular was of interest. I have looked in the car book & it recommends at 400, 000 km (from what I recall). Next time I go in to get a service done, I will be asking for them to look at the chains & guides. Thank you again for such a great video.
Usually around 150k km, your valve cover gasket will fail , having some engine oil seepage. That happens for most cars these days. Since you need to remove the valve cover to replace leaking gasket, might as well check the timing chain while it is exposed.
@@fleurdewin7958 Good to know. Thankfully below 150, 000 km. Come spring, I will ask. Should be easy on an i4.
I have a 2014 Toyota Sienna. It has 94,323 miles on it. My local Toyota dealer said they recommend doing a flush, but I have watched many videos saying that they do not recommend doing a flush, because material in the fluid might get clogged up in the little cavities and cause the transmission to start to slip. I have had this van since 2016 and it only had 10,000 miles on it. I have been changing the oil every 5,000 miles and have had no problems at all. I also change the air filter and cabin filter every 6 months myself. I am disabled otherwise I would have been draining and filling the transmission myself, but as you know with this new design of having to get the transmission to a temp between 103 - 114 it requires a scan tool to see the exact transmission temp and I just can not move that fast having Cerebral Palsy. When you say service the transmission do you just recommend taking the transmission pan off and changing the transmission filter and filling it up with the correct level, or are you also recommending to have the transmission flushed, so I will not have to remove the pan? I have no leaks anywhere under the van, but I am very leery to do a flush after seeing so many videos on why not to flush the transmission. I love watching your videos and I wish I could have you do the work on my Van, but I live in Waco Texas. 😞I just want someone like you that is honest and good. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me! ATB! Rob
Cool 😁
Yep, all of this is why I change my GTI’s oil twice as often as they say to. On another note, I’ve owned multiple old bmws with a quarter million miles on them with original timing chains. I always changed out the guides though because they get very brittle.
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 cummins with the California standard output engine rated at 235hp. The transmission made it to 295,000 before I needed to replace the governor solenoid. The forward clutch gave up the ghost at 310,000 miles and it needed a rebuild. Engine is still fine btw.
Don't forget sealed bearings, especially driveshafts.
I just purchased a 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness. I watch all the Car Wizards video. I’m so glad I watched this one. If only we had more mechanics like the Wizard.
As we ponder our transportation options, it's important to understand what you are buying, especially when it comes to a complex machine like a vehicle. I think the Wizard, if I may call him that, has first hand experience in maintaining machines, be it a specific class of machines, known as automobiles.
The main point is this: to say that machines do not require maintenance, is the same as saying they do not wear out. Which of course they do. This fact is well understood by the OEMs and obviously the Car Wizard, who is tasked with maintaining and repairing them.
If we look at specific examples you can easily recognize that cars do, in fact, wear out, and do so mechanically in a very well understood way for OEMs like GM or FORD who have been making Automobiles for a very very long time.
One good example is automatic transmissions, because these transmissions have evolved slowly over decades, and given this experience, we know where they are strong and where they are weak, how they wear out, and what maintenance is needed to keep them operational. To keep a transmission running it needs clean and effective hydraulic fluid for the wet clutches, gears and bearings. This means periodically changing the fluid and filter, no matter what a sticker says on the side of the machine. I can guarantee you that the fluid will wear out and the filter will become restricted, and the metal gears, clutches and bearings will wear.
You are 100% correct. I maintain my vehicles the eay you recommend and that is why I can get several 100k out of my Hondas and Toyotas. I wish I lived closer to your shop as I am getting up in years and don't enjoy working on cars like I used to
In the subaru manual, there is an asterisk that explains the fluid DOES need changing under extreme driving, which is a very broad criteria.
Wizard needs to do some kind of servicing/engineering comparison between problematic engines and not-so-problematic engines. Say why a Toyota 2GR doesn’t have problems like the GM 3.6L even though both use timing chains
I think it's just metallurgy and tolerances (quality control) differences sometimes. Toyota have notoriously tight tolerances (i.e., variation plus/minus from spec) on their engines for example, that the various part numbers for the different OEM bearings you can get for a Toyota Camry engine have such a small difference in clearance, that the difference is smaller than what a home mechanic rebuilding the engine could measure anyway. But when it's built at the factory they make sure it's within that 5 microns, or 10 microns or whatever of the intended clearance, or the cylinder walls are within 10 microns of the intended dimensions etc (same for Honda, blocks that are say 20 microns out of spec get scrapped and sent for recycling).
There is a channel from Australia where they compared a Toyota 2JZ engine block to a Nissan RB30 and Ford Barra block (all similar cast iron inline sixes) and found the Toyota block had greater hardness and lacked the random thin spots (from the sand core shifting during casting) found on the Nissan or Ford blocks.
As to the Wizard's opening question, I think vehicle manufacturers design for a vehicle life of about ~7 years, but thankfully most cars last for over 15 years before starting to need major overhauls of the cooling system or so on.
Thank you for this video. I'm 71 and know a car needs to be serviced. A few months ago I bought a 2017 Mazda 3 & wanted to change out the fluid for the transmission. I took it to the Mazda dealer & they refused to do it saying they were instructed by Mazda this was a sealed unit & never needed to be serviced. I knew that was not right, I took my car to 3-other shops before I found one that knew how to change it correctly and did the work. I also have had the radiator flushed & new hoses put on it. I soon want to get the differential changed out. My car has 75,000 miles on it. It is truly a shame what dealers tell customers now, nothing but lies.
We have 4 Chevy work vans all over 300k miles one with a 5.3 vortec and 2 with the 4.8 they all run fine and get driven about 1000 miles a week sometimes more and then when they get to the job site they idle for hours……and the guys driving them aren’t easy on them lol!! We also had a ford van with the 3v 4.6 that had over 500,000 miles before it was wrecked!
I just learned not to buy a Cadillac. Never be too cheap to change fluids! Pay a litte now, than a lot later. My mom's 2017 Chevy Spark does not have a transmission dip stick. It's a Cvt. Wish I had a shop like yours! Happy Holidays!
Excellent education Car Wizard, thanks for saving a lotta folks' wallets with this info.
Great video. Have run and on my Shop for 30 years. Thank you for making the radio. It makes it easier for the rest of us trying to do the right thing. The only tweak I would make is too shorten up the fluid intervals. I have found changing the drivetrain fluids every 50 seems to be the sweet spot. You just don’t want the the fluid you’re taking out to look absolutely terrible. You want to see fluid that is definitely dirty but not completely wiped out. I have seen some fluids that I changed at 30k and it looks terrible. Thank you again for making the video.
Thanks for this video Wizard! I have a 2015 Grand Caravan AVP (I know, you don't like the 3.6L VVT). It has 84,000 + miles. I have had oil changes done more or less every 5000 miles. It doesn't burn a bit of oil. Confirms your saying many times that maintaining your vehicle will make it last longer and keep running well. Thanks again for this video. I wish I lived close to Kansas (I'm in California), I'd be bringing my Caravan to you for sure.
The car wizards hate of the Pentastar is unjust and he is a moron for thinking it’s a bad engine.
They’re very solid engines and can run forever with very little maintenance. He seems a few very early model year 3.6s fail due to issues that were fixed down the line and in typical moron fashion thinks the entire line is bad without doing any research into it. He’s just a fatter scotty kilmer.
Excellent advice/explanation by the Car Wizard.
It's almost a 'roll of the dice' when you suspect the auto transmission may not have been serviced & it may need a service.
I had this dilemma on an old Z3 I had bought. The service books were up to date but NO auto transmission service. The vehicle had 190 000 KMs.
I decided not to do the service as I suspected issues with new oil at that milage. drove it another 20 000 Kms before I sold it.
No drama's at all. I also told the buyer that the transmission was not serviced and they still bought it at a reduced asking price.
Glad you made this informative video that sets a clear record on what needs to be changed and when and what manufacturers think of vehicle life as opposed to owners.