Overkill fluid changes

[Av8or1]

Alright, I'm feeling feisty today so it's time to start an internet fight.

Some of y'all go completely overboard on fluid changes, like completely bonkers. As if changing fluids on your 5G ranger is your only hobby or passion.

The overkill I've heard:

• Trans fluid change/flush every 10k miles
• Engine oil change every 3k miles
• Diff fluid change every 10k miles. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!)
• Spark plugs every 15k miles (okay it's not a fluid)
• Annual Battery change

I'm going to throw a wild concept out there. If you have no adverse symptoms - follow the manufacturer's recommendation. Sometimes components fail, yeah it sucks, but it happens. Changing the fluid every drive is not going to guarantee that the component will not fail, and there's a thing in my industry called "Maintenance induced failure" Getting in there and screwing with stuff increases your chances of a failure too.

Not to mention the TIME and MONEY required to do all those excessive fluid changes. Yes I get the argument that a failure of the above components costs more than the individual fluid change, but if you're going as far overkill as above, the argument is muted, and my time to do that unnecessary maintenance is worth money too. There is such a thing as diminishing returns and some of the suggestions I see are FAR diminished.

But if that's your passion, then go for it I guess.

Sponsored

 

[Grumpaw]

Alright, I'm feeling feisty today so it's time to start an internet fight.

Some of y'all go completely overboard on fluid changes, like completely bonkers. As if changing fluids on your 5G ranger is your only hobby or passion.

The overkill I've heard:

• Trans fluid change/flush every 10k miles
• Engine oil change every 3k miles
• Diff fluid change every 10k miles. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!)
• Spark plugs every 15k miles (okay it's not a fluid)
• Annual Battery change

I'm going to throw a wild concept out there. If you have no adverse symptoms - follow the manufacturer's recommendation. Sometimes components fail, yeah it sucks, but it happens. Changing the fluid every drive is not going to guarantee that the component will not fail, and there's a thing in my industry called "Maintenance induced failure" Getting in there and screwing with stuff increases your chances of a failure too.

Not to mention the TIME and MONEY required to do all those excessive fluid changes. Yes I get the argument that a failure of the above components costs more than the individual fluid change, but if you're going as far overkill as above, the argument is muted, and my time to do that unnecessary maintenance is worth money too. There is such a thing as diminishing returns and some of the suggestions I see are FAR diminished.

But if that's your passion, then go for it I guess.

I'm in the "tweener" of your changes...
Oil/filter at 5000 miles
Rear end every 15,000 miles.
Trans fluid via sucky with 12 volt pump method (6-7 quarts) every 15,000 miles along with a bottle of LubeGuard
Still on OE coolant and brake fluid, plugs and battery.
I change often as I tow a heavy trailer, regularly, which is "severe".
So far, after almost 4 years, I have not had any problems or maintaince/warranty issues with Truck.
So, it may cost me $250-$300 a year in fluid products as I am still able to do it myself.
Coming up on probably a battery replacement but Weize/Amazon is just a day away

 

[21rangerCactus]

Oil changes 10k
Diff fluid/trans fluid/filter and spark plugs I think was done at 60kish.

Just hit 97k yesterday. I bought a fluid pump and I have a Fitz stick, so I'll probably pump some trans fluid out and replace at my upcoming oil change.

 

[BassRanger]

I'm a former over-maintainer. As I've gotten older, I've adopted more of a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. Quality oils/filters/parts and change at or before the recommended service interval, and move on with life.

 

[veedubtuner]

I change my washer fluid every 4000 miles ?

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I bought my Ranger used with somewhere between 15-20k on it. Figured I'd change both diffs and transfer case fluids because I didn't know what kind of life the truck had before bought it, it's a simple DIY, and I'm a bit OCD. All three fluids were so full of metal dust that they looked like grey milk and the magnetic drain plugs couldn't collect anymore metal.
I didn't do all three the same day, but the day I did my transfer case....all my gear hunting/surging/hesitation issues disappeared. Shifts smooooth as butter now.
All this to say......my years of not trusting the owners manual drain intervals has served me well.

 

[2stroke]

As a retired mech, I've seen a lot of vehicles damaged by infrequent service. Those owners paid my shops bills though! I follow severe service fluid change intervals. Besides, I still have the tools, it's a hobby now.

 

[rozebud]

my oil gets changed every 8000 klms. with a tire rotation every second oil change. when my truck hits 100000 klms ill get the sparkplugs, trans fluid and rear diff fluid changed. right now im at 43000 klms. so i have a few more klms to go yet..so far only 1 issue was a senser change by the gas tank and that was under warranty. also a new battery 2 weeks ago.

 

[NotBudule2]

Just did mine at 18000 miles , rear diff. was nasty and a gob of metal sludge (no pieces) on magnet ... front was slightly dark and just a film on magnet and transfer case the same ...

 

[Big Blue]

I didn't do all three the same day, but the day I did my transfer case....all my gear hunting/surging/hesitation issues disappeared. Shifts smooooth as butter now.
All this to say......my years of not trusting the owners manual drain intervals has served me well.

Very interesting, since the transfer case fluid has exactly nothing to do with the transmission.

 

[AzScorpion]

I change my washer fluid every 4000 miles ?

What about your blinker fluid and horn oil?

I use full synthetic so I do mine every 10K. ?

 

[Grumpaw]

What about your blinker fluid and horn oil?

I use full synthetic so I do mine every 10K. ?

Agree on the blinker fluid. But, I have found that weekly applications of 303 slathered on my horn gets rid of the need for horn oil....just rub it all over.....
Besides, slathering 303 all over my horn makes my horn honk with more authority.........more of a loud blast instead of a little toot.....

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Very interesting, since the transfer case fluid has exactly nothing to do with the transmission.

I can't explain it either. All I know is that the issue was there driving into my garage and gone when backing out of it.

 

[veedubtuner]

What about your blinker fluid and horn oil?

I use full synthetic so I do mine every 10K. ?

The viscosity weight of the Blinker fluid

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Alright, I'm feeling feisty today so it's time to start an internet fight.

Some of y'all go completely overboard on fluid changes, like completely bonkers. As if changing fluids on your 5G ranger is your only hobby or passion.

The overkill I've heard:

• Trans fluid change/flush every 10k miles
• Engine oil change every 3k miles
• Diff fluid change every 10k miles. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!)
• Spark plugs every 15k miles (okay it's not a fluid)
• Annual Battery change

I'm going to throw a wild concept out there. If you have no adverse symptoms - follow the manufacturer's recommendation. Sometimes components fail, yeah it sucks, but it happens. Changing the fluid every drive is not going to guarantee that the component will not fail, and there's a thing in my industry called "Maintenance induced failure" Getting in there and screwing with stuff increases your chances of a failure too.

Not to mention the TIME and MONEY required to do all those excessive fluid changes. Yes I get the argument that a failure of the above components costs more than the individual fluid change, but if you're going as far overkill as above, the argument is muted, and my time to do that unnecessary maintenance is worth money too. There is such a thing as diminishing returns and some of the suggestions I see are FAR diminished.

But if that's your passion, then go for it I guess.

Wow... who peed in your cheerios? You just looking for a good fight? ?


I did my diffs, trans, and transfer case at 30k. They needed it. Now I've decided to keep the 30k interval because its easy for my old man brain to remember.

Engine oil is every 5k. I feel like that's a reasonable interval. 10k is too much, for me, whether Mother Ford says its ok or not.

Sponsored