Just wondering what time span/milage people usually service their auto trans? I note the service booklet is something like every 105,000km or 63 months? I did mine a few days ago it had run up 63 months but only about 53,000km and the fluid was fairly dark and the pan had some particles in the bottom and a grey paste like substance on the magnet. I used a Repco filter kit which has a plastic/metal filter and a cork gasket where as the one I took out would have been done by a Holden dealer and was a plastic filter with a paper pan gasket. I just used standard Valvolene Dexron 3 and it is changing gears a lot smoother. I'd be interested to learn what others are replacing fluid and filters in these transmissions and what they have found in the bottom of the pan. Also do you flush or refill? I did a mates VT a while back and it had over 1/4 inch of crud in the pan however it was fairly neglected.
With my VS I service my auto trans filter and fluid every 20,000 km, which works out to be every 4th engine oil and filter change for me.. Even at 20,000 km, the pan magnet has started to get the grey buildup on it. The pan is usually pretty clean still though. I wouldnt like to leave it for the recommended service interval,(which for VS is 80,000 km or 48 months!!) it would be getting pretty dirty by then id imagine. The trans has done 150,000 km now since ive owned the car, and it still shifts as good as the day I got it, and has no lag when selecting drive or reverse etc. I shift the gears up and down manually a lot too. Ive been using valvoline dex 111 fluid. I bought a 20 litre drum of it for $100 on special.
im about 2k away from 300,000km on my trans, had a hard life at times but serviced every 40,000km, use Castrol Transmaxx Z Fully Synthetic. The stuff stuck to the magnet like goo is usually worn off clutch material. The best thing you can do for your trans is keep fluid clean and run a large external oil cooler.
Good words of wisdom above. When it comes to transmission servicing don't follow the manufacturers guidelines, do it on a much more regular basis as mentioned above.
