transmission oil change

old fluid is darker and smells burnt

Eddie,

You have asked a question that has been the subject of arguments for years. The manual says to change it but alot of techs say don't.

There have been many times where a vehicle seemed to be fine prior to the replacement and either the high detergent quality of the new fluid made a problem that was already there show its ugly head or the transmission lost prime and a weak pump couldn't pick it back up.

In both cases it was the transmission at fault NOT THE FLUID.

Your options are:
1) Changing it and hoping for the best.
2) Leaving it alone and saving your money to replace the transmission after a lack of maint. has destroyed it.

No matter what I tell you to do as an opinion it will end up being the wrong decision as luck would have it. I can only tell you what the manual says.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Hopefully there will be somone watching this post that will be a little more opinionated on this matter so they can guide you (right or wrong) to a decision.

Hello Eddie,

Regardless of the vehicle the transmission filter screen and transmission fluid MUST be replaced every 40.000 miles. Furthermore never have a "HIGH PRESSURE" flush job done. Reason being is that your truck may never move again (especially in reverse). Just do a standard filter screen and fluid change.

Thank You
Helene