[pac24]

All fluids will degrade and contaminate over time with high mileage. If you have gone over 100,000 miles without changing it, time to change it and it will do another 100,000 miles. It will only help the transmission last longer...never hurt with fresh clean fluid that will better able to handle heat .

 

[Headaches]

You can adhere to the manual all you like as a religion for the words lifetime as some people do but transmission fluid isn't a miracle fluid from Jupiter that lasts forever as it comes into contact with man-made metals and aluminum.. Regardless of what any service mgr says any and all transmission fluid should be changed every 30 to 40K miles. it can and will make your transmission only last longer which is a mathematical certainty.. Old unchanged fluid is contaminated & with particles which produces even more heat than would otherwise which even shortens the longevity more.. Opening the system to contaminants is negligible and not even worth mentioning, if the drain is removed and the OEM Factory fluid is refilled there would be no such contaminants.

Dropping 3.5 to 4 quarts isn't a transmission fluid change.

 

[Headaches]

For those that are shouting change the transmission fluid every 30k-50k miles. By you doing this how many miles do you expect to get out of the transmission, 200,000, 300,000 etc...?

 

[BriPac]

Dropping 3.5 to 4 quarts isn't a transmission fluid change.

Then what do you call it.. Yes it is still technically called a transmission fluid change & doing it more than once will get most of the old fluid out. Doing this can help ensure you maybe get 100-200k out of it if not more.

 

[luvmapacifica]

When my 2018 Pacifica Platinum turned 100k I went to the dealer saying let's do all the recommended 100k interval services. I assumed transmission fluid would be part of this but they (a Chrysler dealership) said no, stating that the policy is to to leave it alone unless there is an issue. I was shocked but my wallet was happy. They did perform a coolant flush, spark plugs and such but it was a no on the transmission fluid. Right now "she" has 139500 on and going strong. And for what it's worth, this is the best and nicest driving car I've ever owned over 55 years. I hope she lives forever!

 

[Klizzi]

2019 with 275k here. Owner since 8k. Never filled or drained. Goes against everything I know, but here I am. I've driven this car about as hard as anyone over the years and it still rips for a minivan. When it goes it'll get a used trans with a new filter.

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

2019 with 275k here. Owner since 8k. Never filled or drained. Goes against everything I know, but here I am. I've driven this car about as hard as anyone over the years and it still rips for a minivan. When it goes it'll get a used trans with a new filter.

This is very encouraging.

 

[BriPac]

This is very encouraging.

Agreeeeeeeed

 

[BriPac]

When my 2018 Pacifica Platinum turned 100k I went to the dealer saying let's do all the recommended 100k interval services. I assumed transmission fluid would be part of this but they (a Chrysler dealership) said no, stating that the policy is to to leave it alone unless there is an issue. I was shocked but my wallet was happy. They did perform a coolant flush, spark plugs and such but it was a no on the transmission fluid. Right now "she" has 139500 on and going strong. And for what it's worth, this is the best and nicest driving car I've ever owned over 55 years. I hope she lives forever!

Hmmmm the old "leave it alone until there's an issue" when by then it's to late whereas if you would have drained & maintained there might never have been an issue🤔...Nonetheless continued success 👍

 

[Paclife44]

2019 with 275k here. Owner since 8k. Never filled or drained. Goes against everything I know, but here I am. I've driven this car about as hard as anyone over the years and it still rips for a minivan. When it goes it'll get a used trans with a new filter.

Some will say you could have had 500,000 miles if you didn't 'neglect' your trans...

 

[BriPac]

Some will say you could have had 500,000 miles if you didn't 'neglect' your trans...

🍻👍

 

[BriPac]

2019 with 275k here. Owner since 8k. Never filled or drained. Goes against everything I know, but here I am. I've driven this car about as hard as anyone over the years and it still rips for a minivan. When it goes it'll get a used trans with a new filter.

So filling & draining goes against everything you know meaning in general or because of high mileage leave it alone!.

 

[Headaches]

Then what do you call it.. Yes it is still technically called a transmission fluid change & doing it more than once will get most of the old fluid out. Doing this can help ensure you maybe get 100-200k out of it if not more.

I will yell back at you when we hit 200,000. We supassed 100,000 46,722 miles ago.

 

[BriPac]

I will yell back at you when we hit 200,000. We supassed 100,000 46,722 miles ago.

I will yell back at you when we hit 200,000. We supassed 100,000 46,722 miles ago.

You very well may get there but you're just running on luck and borrowed time now but good luck anyway.. Make sure & holler back if you don't make it also...

 

[Joe Thomas]

Just had ours done at the dealer, 127k mi.
Bought used at 119k.
Also reflashed the trans software to eliminate upshift clunks

 

[vicksterss]

It's important to note that the lifetime fill listed in all CDJR manuals is the lifetime of the warranty.

Ah yes. That does compute.

ZF, the manufacturer of these transmissions, publishes data on the recommended fluid change intervals.

Do you know offhand where one might find this published data?

 

[vicksterss]

Did mine at 97k, about 2k ago. Old fluid was dirty and discolored. Dealer said they recommend doing fluid changes despite lifetime recommendation. I’ve noticed it shifts a bit worse now though. Can anyone fill me in on how to do the relearn?

How to Reset Chrysler Pacifica Transmission TCM - improve harsh shifts

 

[shawnee]

I was under the impression that the "lifetime" transmission fluid was a relatively new trend. But I discovered my mom's 2006 Toyota Corolla is also "lifetime". I was checking the fluids and wanted to verify the procedure for checking the transmission fluid. Every other fluid in the maintenance section is mentioned but not the transmission. Later in the manual I find a statement that under normal operation the transmission fluid should not be touched, ever. It only needs to be changed under severe duty. I could not find the documentation that defines severe duty but not too worried as car only has 50,449 miles. Tranny has a dip stick and fluid looks and smells good.

 

[BriPac]

I was under the impression that the "lifetime" transmission fluid was a relatively new trend. But I discovered my mom's 2006 Toyota Corolla is also "lifetime". I was checking the fluids and wanted to verify the procedure for checking the transmission fluid. Every other fluid in the maintenance section is mentioned but not the transmission. Later in the manual I find a statement that under normal operation the transmission fluid should not be touched, ever. It only needs to be changed under severe duty. I could not find the documentation that defines severe duty but not too worried as car only has 50,449 miles. Tranny has a dip stick and fluid looks and smells good.

I think a lot of car makers going back 20 plus years state lifetime fluid. Everytime you drive fluid gets up to 180 degrees ish, clutch material & metal fibers mix with it while shear breakdown & lubricity loss is inevitable sooner than later. Unless you have a lease trade in or don't keep your car long you can ignore it but if you own it and want to keep it for a long time every 40 to 50k is exactly when you should be changing it so your transmission will last as long as it can properly.. Car manufacturers say lifetime because they simply don't want you servicing it whether it be yourself or they want to sell you another transmission or you buy another new vehicle.
Most people change their oil at 5K you don't think your transmission is worth changing it at 50k?

 

[SitKneelBend]

Ah yes. That does compute.



Do you know offhand where one might find this published data?

So, ZF has since reorganized their website but this information was previously posted on it (source page is no longer available though). They had some pretty detailed datasheets for each transmission available to the public, now it's just high level advertising brochures.

"5-, 6-, 8- and 9-speed as well as 4HP20 automatic transmissions: ZF 5-, 6-, 8- and 9-speed as well as the ZF 4HP20 automatic transmissions are filled maintenance-free with specially developed semi-synthetic ATF oils. However, due to the many factors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions. In operating conditions with high temperatures and loads, or with unknown vehicle use in the past, it can make sense to change the transmission oil at shorter intervals. In each case, only released ATF oil may be used for oil changes. And oil changes must be performed in accordance with the relevant specifications. The exception is the ZF 5HP18 automatic transmission which must be filled differently depending on the version."

Source: https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemedia/lol-lubricants/lol-en/lol-te-ml-11-en.pdf