As a mechanic, I've always tried getting people to service their autos, there's so much misinformation out there, especially from non qualified mechanic UKpostsrs who know less than a first year apprentice. And every car I've serviced the auto with "lifetime fluid" , has driven so much better. I've always said it was "lifetime of the warranty" I've even had Toyota argue with me when I said I wanted my 150 Prado Auto serviced when I didn't have a workshop. He argued it never needed doing, so rather than risk that Trainwreck, I went to a local auto shop ego were happy to take my money.

Sealed Trans is purely a sales gimmick, certainly aimed at reducing costs for fixed price servicing.

Excellent advice from someone who's seeing plenty of auto transmissions opened up. Can't fathom why Ranger and Everest don't have transmission oil coolers as standard - so many of these vehicles are purchased for towing.

Just did my RG Colorado for the first time 109k, oil was like what you just pulled out of the Ranger and Everest. I used 20 ltrs of oil during the service. Drained and filled the pan 3 times before removing the pan , (driving 10 km between drain and fills)and replacing the filter. I used Nulon Syntaf Multi Vehicle Trans fluid, also fitted one of your coolers at the same time(Someone forgot to pack the cable ties)😂….It runs 20-25c cooler now, I’ll se how it performs when towing the van to Darwin next month, cheers Gaz

Manufacturers obviously do not want people extending the life of their transmissions. It's smarter for them to engineer in a failure after warranty expires. That way you get to sit in a fancy dealer lounge again, enjoy another pod coffee, then buy a new vehicle. It's guys like Rocket that save us.

First thing I do with any of my cars (mainly) BMW is service my transmission as years ago I came across a BMW service bulletin that stated "sealed for life" meant 80000km at highway speeds. My guess is they all did this once capped price servicing became common as also mentioned by others.10 or so years ago it was very hard to get ZF oil without selling a kidney but it certainly helped when Penrite was able to meet the correct spec.

Hi Rod.. good work, I have been servicing my trans for some years now.. good to be vindicated

Definitely service your transmission regularly! It's a lot cheaper than waiting until it's too late and needing a full overhaul.

Sealed for life( of the transmission) If you don’t service it life will be brief … Service your transmissions people !!!

Definitely service the auto. Currently has a cooler, thermal bypass and Nomad valve body. At the next service I plan to get the upgraded converter and big pan fitted

Thankyou Rod i tell people constantly no such thing as sealed transmission

I'm a Tech of 50+ years and agree with every comment you have made. I've been attempting to educate people there no such thing as sealed for life or don't need to service your trans, gear box or diff. Another miss leading item is the extended distances between vehicle services and engine oil changes.

Man i want to do an apprenticeship with rod, obviously hes a world of knowledge but my man seems like an incredible teacher.

My Nissan Qashqai has done 184K on the CVT and it goes like a Swiss watch. I asked the dealer about a service and they said no need to touch it. Good for the life of the car.

Great advice Rocket

I did the transmission service on my NX Pajero at 90,000km and was quiet shocked how dark the oil was. Never towed a caravan, occasionally the 6×4 garden trailer. The service manual recommends 190,000 unless it operates under severe conditions. Decided to do a full flush out used 20Lts of automatic fluid. Now I will drop the transmission fluid on a more regular basis around 20,000km. Engine oil change every 7500km. Grate to get good information from a auto transmission specialist.

Great video Rod. Personally never bought into the 'sealed for life' idea, there are moving parts, heat, friction worth getting looked at. Generally go with what you're advising, every 3rd or 4th service get it done. Or I've had some trips with very deep water crossings and I'll often just get all the fluids done after those trips, front and rear diffs, auto, transfer case, engine... cheap insurance.

Agree service to your driving conditions . oil cooler is a must have . Temp monitoring is handy if it can be sourced .

I put a B&M 1/8 BSP drain plug in, change filter every year on ranger. Works a treat. My oil looked like that at 60,000 km when I bought it..

Great video lads, great advice. No different than late model engines with super thin oil, stupid long intervals and crap filtration....

Actually this is the first time I have heard of a sealed automatic transmission, which I agree with you doesn't exist. Great video. It's amazing how dark that fluid is, quite scary actually.

I remember my Holden Vectra automatic was for life, but still recommend replacement for severe duty. It was an odd transmission as it had a drain plug and dip stick, and no pan or serviceable filter. I drove it thinking out of ignorance that the new modern synthetic oils were so good it didn't need servicing. Got to 85,000km and noticed that oil started darkening. Soon after it started going significantly darker with less than 5,000km with a burned smell. Changed my mind rapidly. Drained the oil and saw a ton of metallic particles. From the service drain, drained and replaced about the drainable fluid 3 times each time after 500km. From that point on I never had any further concerns with colour, smell or metallic particles with oil drain and fills every 45,000km. The transmission has nearly 200,000km without any drivability issues. You have to understand why OEMs sell people on sealed for life.

I have an '06 Forester XT with the 4EAT auto. When I first got it (2008) I would hammer it in manual shifting (sometime in the wrong direction). I may be a senior Citizen,but I still drive it hard occasionally. Every couple of years I drain the transmission Pan ,change the spin-on filter and top it up with a mix of Transmission fluid and Lucas additive.

Should always have a cooler on any auto. Diffs and transfer cases are another very important component . A must to service. Same as 4wdriving through soft sand all the time. Should always upgrade to a larger 4 core radiator. Simple things save thousands of dollars.

That oil looks perfect compared to the oil and filter I did on a customer's NL Fairlane. This oil was black, it was the worst oil I have ever seen come out of an auto in 45years of pulling spanners that didn't come out with chunks. Had 300K plus on the clock and was told it had never been touched.

U guys did the nomad valve body job through a more local transmission shop in QLD on my 2007 Toyota Prado about 7 years ago and it still changes like a dream…yes, I got your transmission cooler and the lines go to the cooler not inline with the radiator as well. That way if the radiator fails, it won’t milky the tranny. I never go past 60,000 or 2 years whichever comes first. It no longer tows a van and it never will apart from a 6x4 box trailer 700kg max. Love your work. It’s really interesting seeing what you guys actually do. Maintenance is so neglected, especially by the public that just does not understand. Any servicing greater than 80,000…ESPECIALLY if you tow is absolute nuts. You must service your car completely and double check the mechanic to ensure everything is covered. When I was a young fella, my girlfriend sold her car and the buyer wanted us post sale to pay for a timing belt! Well, she had the vehicle serviced by the family mechanic 😮and THEY missed it. Bad luck buddy, buyer beware. Had she known the devastation not changing a timing belt could cause, of course she would have got it changed…this is what I mean buy double checking the mechanic does everything by the book. It’s your vehicle, ultimately YOU are responsible not your mechanic. Same mechanic missed an old radiator hose that burst. The family had 4 vehicles and religiously got them serviced at that mechanic. It just goes to show, you do need some basic understanding of the safety checks for hoses, exposed belts, keeping battery terminals clean, especially with cars over 10 years. I also do not agree in 12 month service intervals. Mine are 6 months regardless of vehicle age. A service is cheap compared to an engine etc. I’m now 52 and have picked up a lot. Channels like this are gold. I even now remember talking to you back then Rodney. Cheers mate!

back in the day when I was rebuilding and servicing automatic vehicles we would recommend 20,000kms or 12months and always recommend a transmission cooler

Rod, I have 2 cars one is a Toyota Camry sxv20r, a 2000 model 4cyl. The engine gets oil and filter changes every 6 months on average, 4,000 km. The auto gets serviced oil and filter every 25,000 km. No oil leaks and I have owned it for 13 years. It is perfect. I also have a Hyundai i30 cn7 sedan 2 lt. I had them change the engine oil and filter at the first free 1,500 6 months check-up, and they looked at me like I was a nutter. Saying I don't need a change for 12 months. At 5 months on, now 6,900 km I had new oil and filter again. Cheap insurance for car. Now, this is one of those no-filler pipe jobs. Do you recommend doing the auto, which is not a CVT, thank God but a 6-speed sequential shift torque converter auto, every 2 years? I am glad I watched your video. I asked the dealer about when to service the auto and the service manager said, never. That sounded alarm bells. He told me there are no filter kits available for them. I would have thought that the Tucson that also has a 2lt 6-speed auto would be the same kit. But was told they aren't. I asked him if he had seen one or tried to use one and he looked rather perplexed. Thanks for your information. It's great to see Aussie mechanics that are more than fitters and who actually know about properly servicing and diagnosing cars. Not to mention preventative maintenance.

I was told by a auto technician back in the late 90 auto transmission fluid doesn't last any longer than engine oil ( proberly was mineral oil back then) I’ve always changed my auto oil at half what the factory recommends or 30000-40000kays it comes out a nice dark red 👌

Also service autos. Run a mechanical workshop in Perth and see this time and time again, transmissions in need of servicing. Have one of your coolers on my BT50 and when you get it out to me putting the Nomad valve body and thermal bypass on as well. Great work men.

I picked up (last year as a project) an '05 Ford Courier RWD 'hi-rider' crew cab with a 4.0l V6 and 5-speed auto. It has 360 thousand K's on it and a 'sealed for life' transmission. I've done a lot of refurbishing and replacing of parts on the engine and suspension, brakes, etc, and I have a filter kit for the transmission that I'll be doing in the next week or so. I have looked at it and I doubt it's ever been serviced. I'll shoot some videos when I do it. It has a transmission oil cooler thankfully.

Disco 4 owner here with a sealed for life zf8spd. Anything with moving parts and oil requires servicing. If you can’t understand that then you pay the consequences. Every 60k for me new oil every 120k new pan and filter. Yes I do it myself it’s not hard.

When I had my 4x4 every twelve months. Reason, at that time I was going up the to Noosa Northshore every six weeks sometimes four and Fraser once a year. A lot of soft and wet sand and sometimes the tracks were monstrous. I had an imported 60 series high top and then 100 series still serviced every twelve months. It was really worth it.

For the first five years I did yearly services. Then went to 2 yearly services. Now at 40 years old I do 3 yearly services. I don't drive it as hard as I used to but still driven daily. Hope to get another 10 years before I have to rebuild it.

My BT50 has always had a rough manual gearbox and last weekend it was whirring when I let the clutch out so I thought it needed to be rebuilt. I changed the fluid because I can't afford a rebuild right now and the difference is unbelievable, it's like a different car. Book says change oil after 10 years or 240,000kms. I'm well over that but wish I'd done it sooner

You guys serviced our Prado and Fortuner and they were like new cars afterwards!

i do a lot of drivin g in traffic and service my ZFHP26 6 speed every 12 months

I have a 2018 Subaru Outback with “lifetime” transmission oil. (ie until the 5 yr warranty is up). Done 130,000km in about 4yrs. Now it has what feels like a misfire or funky shifting at low speed. According to the Subaru dealer “it’s fine” Definitely going to get another shop to look at it.

Just bought a 2017 bt 50 146 K s putting the bundle pack in looking forward to the difference

Great video thanks

Cheers mate from the US! Great video, you explained the issue and the resolution very well. Better yet, you corrected a common misguidance from the manufacturer. If you call Valvoline or Mobile and ask if their fluid is good for 75,000 miles or more, I'm sure they would chuckle. Keep up the great content, it helps the industry as a whole.

Early model Valiants had no drain plug. They did have a dipstick. We used to punch a hole in the back quarter of the pan with a centre punch to drain them and then remove the pan for service. We would then braze up the hole refit and refill with new fluid.

I bought a Camry V6 with 75K miles and the tranny had never been serviced. The Toyota dealer refused to guarantee the car would work if they changed it. So I took it to my trusted mechanic shop and had it done. NOT a flush, just 5L of WS fluid and the filter. The fluid looked as bad or worse than your first example. So now I am thinking of having it done again in another 10K miles to get more of that original gunk out of it. And I think I will get a cooler installed too.

Thanks Rod, I have a few Customers that think That because it is not Recommended in the Book service it does not need doing. I can now show them this video. I have been Doing this same thing for years. It started with the Ford Transmissions Since about 2003 when the Ba Falcon came out with no dipstick or filler tube. If they are really bad, I Flush The system through the cooler lines. Running one into a Drain Pan and filling the other. That way I can get the other 7 to 8 litres of Old Dark Fluid from the Convertor and cooler etc. You use a bit more fluid doing this, But It is Cheap insurance. Cheers Mate.

Every 2 years for me. Just updated car to a 2019 Prado with 73k. Has a dealer history but no doubt the trans never been looked at. Just like the old car it will shortly be in at WAT for a cooler and trans service. Cheers

100 % with you rod

I have a 2005 Falcon RTV ute, always service every 40, thou!, and I have a transmission cooler on it. Best mod I ever did, the Oil at 40 thousand intervals the oil still looks NEW*

Hey Rod great advise, Ive got a 2010 Holden Colorado, its got a large trans cooler, also I give it a service every 20K.Yes the SYNTHETIC last a lot longer but good insurance

Have a 2021 Pajero Sport. Transmission oil service is at 90k... so i was amazed and have halved that. She goes in next at 42k

Interesting. Thanks so much!

Bang on Service schedules are created by the manufacturers marketing team when they are giving the engineers noogies asking how long can we get out of these things and then they double it for good measure not only transmissions but engines and diffs also

Hi guys, thanks for doing very informative videos. Could you do some on Prado 150s and Hilux's. I notice there are a lot on Ford Ranger/Mazda BT50 and various Landcruiser's. Look forwards to seeing them. Also are you looking at a lock up kit for 150 Prados. Cheers

The "lifetime" thing started with European cars, more as a cost-cutting experience. BMW, Mercedes, and a few others do it, as they expect the vehicle to be thrown out, upgraded, wrecked or whatever, within a certain timeframe, so they built the transmissions with certain fluids in mind to keep going for the 60k to 80k the vehicle was expected to do, without failing. It was cheaper for a dealership to simply replace the one trans out of 10,000 cars that would fail from a fluid failure, than to service them all. Problem I have, as a mechanic that now specialises in BMW's, is that many I see are around the 200k mark. I service the trans now, an issue starts, and I cop the blame. New filters, new oils that meet or exceed the minimum specification. I know how to service them. I believe, like everything else, almost anything made these days is designed to have a certain lifespan, so you replace it after a certain amount of time. Once you open some of these transmissions and change the fluids, it doesn't work as well due to wear and tear (that the old fluid was masking), then you're up for a costly repair or replacement bill, so you scrap the vehicle.

Just had the Wholesale Automatic Ultimate bundle fitted last week to my 2020 Ranger. Reduced the tansmission running tempurature by over 30 degrees. Will be servicing every 40K regardless.

I've got a 2016 ranger. I've had my auto serviced every 40k since new. Only ever had 1 problem when it got overfilled during a service and through a code. I'm now looking for a place to install one of your transmission coolers. Car has just under 150k

The 7 Speed Automatic Transmission For the Nissan Y 62 thanks

I've heard so many stories about how often you have to service a ZF transmission. every thing from 50k all the way up to 250k. I do mine at 80k. there are hi service life oils that will last 8 years, it's basically you get what you pay for. good oil is the best insurance you can get.

Have You Guys Done a Video On The Nissan Y 62 automatic Transmission Reverse Gear Failure ?? Thankyou Guys

You are bang on - how too create excessive wear in a transmission if you listen to the so called sealed transmission instructions in your owners manual- it is really important to A) put a suitable trans cooler especially if you intent to tow a 3 ton+ caravan around Australia or go into high ambient temperature conditions,B) always use high quality synthetic transmission oil when doing a service,C) if your transmission does not have a transmission temperature probe/ gauge FIT ONE- it will save you thousands in repair costs.

I wish everyone out there could watch this!! Not only transmission oil tho, engine oil should be changed more frequently than what the manufacturers say!

A750f trans cooler and a wholesale auto deep trans pan I initially serviced the trans when i got the car it was the same colour (black) I'd probably service the trans mission every 12 months. Trans pan temps don't really go above 70° and converter temps maybe a 85 at the convter when the cars around town.

You should change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles or 50,000 kilometers on normal passenger cars, doing so will give you triple the life of any transmission.

Hi Rod. Would be great to see install an trans oil cooler system and for you to explain the benefits, where you mount it, connections etc. Thank you

I had both my Hilux and Ranger transmissions serviced at 60,000 ks.

Absolutely service the transmission. We have a Discovery 3 TDV6 (live in the UK) and every two years it has a fluid flush with a local specialist. It'll only have done about 15,000 miles (24,000 km) in that time but the fluid is always black - that's with the proper ZF Lifeguard Fluid 6 transmission fluid. Land Rover initially claimed "filled for life", and then reduced it to 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years, whichever comes first. If our experience of typical UK driving conditions is anything to go by 24,000 miles (40,000 km) or two years is the absolute limit of what the oil can take.

The oil would have been smelly too! You can never have TOO MANY transmission oil coolers. Heat is a killer of auto transmissions. Transmission service every 40000km for my Landcruiser 200 Series and I have an external cooler sold by these guys on mine too.

So glad you made this video. Used to Service the Mrs BMW E53 X5 (3.0D) Vehicle Manual said Auto was non-serviceable (lifetime) I'm ashamed to say, it's done 300,000 without a service or oil change on the Auto. Read much about it on BMW forums. Some said to do it, some said leave it alone. Others said you might now experience issues with new fluid, as the old fluid has metal in it preventing slippage... etc etc. It's a ZF 6 speed auto and you can buy a filter for them.... Thank You for shedding some logic on the situation.

Wish I'd serviced my S/H BT50, 110,000 new transmission at a cost of around $13000.00. It had never done any towing, no tow pack. Don't think it had ever even been off road but it still failed.

Hmmm...for some reason this vid reminds me of that old joke "pull my finger". Good vid. I drop the pan and change the filter in my vehicles every 30k miles or so. Fill up with synthetic. Never had a trans quit on me.

I needed some oem parts so I ordered from the dealership. While I was there getting my parts I asked about a transmission service just out of curiosity because it's a bit of a pain in the butt to do. The service rep didn't know so he told me to ask the head mechanic. I was given the ''life time fluid'' BS, so I pressed the matter and told him to define what life time means, ie, warranty, years, X kms he didn't want to elaborate and tried to make out that I was an idiot. That was the point I thought screw you, just give me the price on a filter kit and fluid, $1000 for a filter kit, and a $100 a liter for fluid. The realization the guy wasn't just a ass hat and a crap mechanic dawned upon me, I was never going back to that to that dealership so I let lose, I told the guy exactly what I thought of him and left. I did the sevice myself, all up $300.

My wife has a little 2003 Audi tt mk1 roadster it has a sump plug that also incorporates fill point I would love a aftermarket pan with filler and dipstick if they made one but wouldn't be worth someone going to the trouble to develop one. Might be a market for a more popular mainstream vehicle.

Sound advice

I fitted the world's biggest ATF cooler to my U760E transmission so it never gets hot. I also ditched the low viscosity Toyota WS lifetime fluid (should be called BS fluid) and refilled it with Castrol Transmax synthetic fluid. My transmission thanks me every time I drive the car.

My ZD30 Patrol has a service interval of 80K for trannie, suggested more frequently if towing. Background story is, we're booked on Spirit of Tasmania Saturday, Trol booked in for 40K service Tuesday with Nissan dealer, only service point since new. I requested all driveline oils drained replaced including trannie, nothing complicated there, or so I thought. Initially complication was getting them to agree to trannie service, as it's not due. I stressed service interval in manual staits more frequently if used to tow, and you know I tow with it, please do trannie, (wished I hadn't). 4pm phone call. Sorry, we won't have your vehicle done today, it's got issues with transmission. What, why, it was operating fine. Well it's got the technicians confused, it's discharging oil everywhere. What? I'm now supper worried, what have they done to it? Next day, we'll have your car ready late tonight. Wednesday, Late at night I go to collect vehicle. It's parked in the dark but even so, it's obvious oil is still dripping from vehicle chassis etc. and smell of oil is strong. I ran the car home, no issues. Gets up next day, oil dripping still from car in driveway, concerning is rear trannie seal between box & transfer case, I does a few checks, and neither the transfer case nor diffs have been cracked/drained. Thursday: Rings service manager, yes they possibly didn't get done as guys spent so much time on trannie issue. Bring it in and I'll get them straight onto it. Thursday arvo: You vehicle is ready. I goes in to collect it. The reception staff. Your vehicle created such a mess in our workshop I'm greeted with. It's the talking point of the dealership, in my mind it was a simple service. Service advisor arrives, assures me all is good now with the Trol. I pay the bill, as agreed prior, no additional thank god. Takes me out to Trol, it's parked in the sunshine gleaming at me, it's had a total clean, inside & out, plus under body, under bonnet. They totally made up for their stuff up. I'm still sceptical as to what caused a simple service to be so radical. Only thing I can think of is they are not familiar with trannie service, hence drained oil (4lts) put in total refill volume of oil (7lts). so it's now totally overfilled, starts it and oil pumps out every possibly exit, mostly being breather blowing oil out under pump pressure covering vehicle and workshop. Oh, yes, we did make it to Melbourne, (van in tow) onto the Spirit, grand 6 week holiday to get over the stress they created for me. Oil from rear seal also ceased, phew. What a drama! I've reverted to doing services myself.

Great video. Learnt slot from it.

Great stuff

I think a transmission should be serviced at least every 20 thousand kms, depending on how and what type of driving you do, and yes I do agree that they should have a cool fitted. Thanks for the video. Andy Peters. Ps love your work.👍

I am towing with a CVT, transmission is serviced every 20k,no issues after 5 years

I have a y62 series 5, changed transmission fluid at 20k, now done 53k so will change again at 55k.

I perform regular maintenance on my Subaru cvt transmission every 40.000 km, including removing the pan, cleaning the magnet and strainer.

Yep service everything regularly

Hey Rod ever thought of opening up something in the Northern Subs of Melbourne we dont have any one any good over here and going over there way to hard.

My regular Mazda dealer refused to service my Mazda 6's auto so I took it to another dealer. at 11 yrs and 50K they said the fluid was still like new. Never towed with it and mostly off-peak freeway use but I still get nervous when I'm told something is service free. A broken auto can make a car a technical write-off at today's prices.

I would like to see a 150 prado !!

Would be interesting to see the oil in a Triton as you have said they run a good box with a good cooler and how much cleaner it would be .

My 200 series is never without a caravan (20.6" full off-road) hooked up. Gets serviced every 60K. Shifts as good as new and has 250K on the clock.

Mine has scheduled services, I do them more often than scheduled.

My opinion the whole sealed transmission thing is just a way for the manufacturer to sell more rebuild kits after the warranty expires

Hey Rod, I’m really liking these auto trans info-sessions. You often mention trans temperatures and the benefit of coolers but, for those of us with trans temp gauges etc, can you indicate what are good/ideal temps, what are ok short term high temps and what are maximum temperatures that should really be avoided please? Thanks. Garry

We tow with a 200 series regularly and do a service every 18 months.

So that's why the dipstick disappeared, my 2017 Pajero works hard towing our caravan or doing it tough on the tracks, I have it serviced every 12 months.

Hi Rod, I have a 2007 BF mark 2 Falcon Ute with a 5.4 3 valve and 320,000 KLM on it. It’s a 4 speed auto and has an external cooler as I tow a heavy trailer regularly. What can I do to beef up the trans?

I service my wife's corolla cvt 7 speed every 30k also my 4wd 2001 Holden Jackaroo at 30k since I bought it in 2002.

I leave my Toyota hilux to a good authorized dealer every 15 000 km which are pretty tight intervals and it's not cheap. I haven't seen anything about changing gearbox oil on the quite lengthy document I get every time after service. I change vehicle every 3 years so it's the next owners problem I guess.

I have a 2014 Lexus IS 250c. It has no dipstick. At exactly 100k it started slipping. I ended up having it replaced with a rebuilt one.

Can you do a video on transmission oil capacity please. I understand there is a difference between changing the oil in the pan and flushing the entire transmission.

Better described as doesn’t need servicing whilst under warranty. With 4wd/AWD all going auto NOT servicing the gearbox, given water immersion, dust, vibration etc is just insane. Especially if you’re off road or remote driving. Blowing a g/box on the Tanami Rd, Birdsville Track etc would be poisonously expensive just for the vehicle recovery let alone the repair

It's amazing how many people believe this.I argued with my toyota dealer when I bought my hilux last year...I asked when the trans need servicing? The salesman so proudly told me it never needed one...I replied bullshit ..I'm booked in at yours in early June...I've serviced every transmission I've ever owned at 30k klms. This will be first time I've done at 40. But I've never used a a flush machine that's why your doing it

Mate, I thought you were cracking your knuckles something shocking until I realised your mate was fiddling with the little rattle gun.

I had my Jeep Gladiator serviced recently and mentioned it shifted slow when cold. The service person stated that its a sealed box and if there was an issue it would be due to software. What crap.