Which fluids and when?

[blipszyc]

'16 GT Premium, Automatic

Was wondering what the consensus was on the following fluids and change intervals:

Brake Fluid
Transmission Fluid
Differential Fluid
Coolant

My local shop is saying these should all be flushed and replaced every 30K, which seems way too frequent. Thoughts?

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[KingKona]

'16 GT Premium, Automatic

Was wondering what the consensus was on the following fluids and change intervals:

Brake Fluid
Transmission Fluid
Differential Fluid
Coolant

My local shop is saying these should all be flushed and replaced every 30K, which seems way too frequent. Thoughts?

They get paid to convince you. Your manual has the real information.

 

[blipszyc]

They get paid to convince you. Your manual has the real information.

So you follow the manual and change fluids when it says to?

 

[KingKona]

So you follow the manual and change fluids when it says to?

Nope. But that's what you can do.

 

[Cory S]

Brake fluid - mileage/duty dependent. I’ve never flushed my brake fluid in any vehicle in less than 5-6 years or under 60,000. I’ve had vehicles with 100K+ miles and 7+ years old with original fluid. A brake bleed every 3-4 years or 50K is plenty sufficient in 99% of cases. Unless road course racing the car often.

6R80 fluid and filter - Anywhere from 40-75K miles, but there’s hundreds of thousands of 6R80’s that will/have gone 100K+ on the original fill.

Differential fluid - 60-100K miles.

Antifreeze/Coolant - It really doesn’t just go bad anymore, so I would maintain about a 5-7 year complete fluid flush/swap on that. My 2007 truck is still on the original coooant, radiator, water pump etc.

All of these can be done sooner if desired obviously. Some even longer. YMMV.

 

[Skye]

https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/mustang/2016/owner-manuals/

Start with the Owners' Manual, your standard and baseline.

From this, many of us develop our own intervals as to how often or why we do things (age, track time, etc.), never extending or delaying, but more frequent.

Unless I'm doing something unique, I'll follow the manufacturer guidelines for oil, brake fluid and coolant.

For differential and trans, a bit more frequent. For example, in my truck, I change my trans (manual) at 50K mi / 80K km intervals, even though Toyota says I never have to change it, unless in extreme environments.

Air and cabin filters, I'll do more frequently at 10K mi / 16K km.

The battery is replaced every 5 years, regardless how well it is doing. In the Spring/Summer and before Winter (). Summer and hot temps do impact batteries. But where I live, it's not only more convenient, the Winters are harder still on the battery (IMO).

While I inspect tires often, I'll consider replacing during the Spring/Summer, even if giving up some miles. See Winter ().

Belts and hoses, as needed, when I think it is time or by the manufacturer standard, whichever is sooner. It depends.

For any vehicle in-general, I do a good, overall visual inspection once a month, under hood, underneath, everywhere.

No less than every other month, I'll review the maintenance schedule or update a written list, looking ahead for a period of time.

More Members will be providing their inputs today, giving you a general consensus.

* IDK if dealers and service providers still accomplish this, but "power-flushing". Ya, don't do that. Drain and replace or follow generally accepted standards. Power-flushing often results in blown seals and possible damage. Great for the dealer or service provider bottom line, not so great for your wallet.

* No additives, unless recommended by Ford. Use products that meet the standard or spec and you'll be fine.

 

[Cory S]

https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/mustang/2016/owner-manuals/

Start with the Owners' Manual, your standard and baseline.

From this, many of us develop our own intervals as to how often or why we do things (age, track time, etc.), never extending or delaying, but more frequent.

Unless I'm doing something unique, I'll follow the manufacturer guidelines for oil, brake fluid and coolant.

For differential and trans, a bit more frequent. For example, in my truck, I change my trans (manual) at 50K mi / 80K km intervals, even though Toyota says I never have to change it, unless in extreme environments.

Air and cabin filters, I'll do more frequently at 10K mi / 16K km.

The battery is replaced every 5 years, regardless how well it is doing. In the Spring/Summer and before Winter (). Summer and hot temps do impact batteries. But where I live, it's not only more convenient, the Winters are harder still on the battery (IMO).

While I inspect tires often, I'll consider replacing during the Spring/Summer, even if giving up some miles. See Winter ().

Belts and hoses, as needed, when I think it is time or by the manufacturer standard, whichever is sooner. It depends.

For any vehicle in-general, I do a good, overall visual inspection once a month, under hood, underneath, everywhere.

No less than every other month, I'll review the maintenance schedule or update a written list, looking ahead for a period of time.

More Members will be providing their inputs today, giving you a general consensus.

* IDK if dealers and service providers still accomplish this, but "power-flushing". Ya, don't do that. Drain and replace or follow generally accepted standards. Power-flushing often results in blown seals and possible damage. Great for the dealer or service provider bottom line, not so great for your wallet.

* No additives, unless recommended by Ford. Use products that meet the standard or spec and you'll be fine.

We have cabin filters? LOL I live in the north. Never on dirt roads and i may do 5K miles per year. Until I feel like my HVAC isn’t blowing enough or I smell something odd, I’m not touching it. .

 

[Linkster1666]

We have cabin filters? LOL I live in the north. Never on dirt roads and i may do 5K miles per year. Until I feel like my HVAC isn’t blowing enough or I smell something odd, I’m not touching it. .

Do you have trees with leaves, weeds in the ditch and bugs? Change it regularly anyway.

 

[Cory S]

Do you have trees with leaves, weeds in the ditch and bugs? Change it regularly anyway.

Yes, we do. I see leaves, trees, weeds, and bugs pouring into the fresh air intake often. Kidding. I don’t actually see that.

Last time I changed a cabin filter, was on my 2011 BMW after 8 years and 110K miles. Looked basically just like the new one I replaced it with. $19.00 spent and thrown in a fire basically.

 

[Linkster1666]

Yes, we do. I see leaves, trees, weeds, and bugs pouring into the fresh air intake often. Kidding. I don’t actually see that.

Last time I changed a cabin filter, was on my 2011 BMW after 8 years and 110K miles. Looked basically just like the new one I replaced it with. $19.00 spent and thrown in a fire basically.

Congradulations! All that tells is you never used the hvac system.

 

[KingKona]

We have cabin filters? LOL I live in the north. Never on dirt roads and i may do 5K miles per year. Until I feel like my HVAC isn’t blowing enough or I smell something odd, I’m not touching it. .

I changed mine at 35K miles. It was atrocious. Packed with shit, crap, crud and corruption.

You'll be surprised if you do it yourself, it's a mess. And NOT an easy job. Which is why no one changes it.

 

[Cory S]

Congradulations! All that tells is you never used the hvac system.

I used it as needed. If you live on 4 mikes of dirt roads, by the ocean, or maybe drive in heavy city traffic, sure. Remember, there were no “cabin filters from 1908-1994.

 

[Cory S]

I changed mine at 35K miles. It was atrocious. Packed with shit, crap, crud and corruption.

You'll be surprised if you do it yourself, it's a mess. And NOT an easy job. Which is why no one changes it.

I believe you 100%, but I’ll guarantee the conditions your vehicle(s) sees and mine are completely opposite.

 

[KingKona]

I believe you 100%, but I’ll guarantee the conditions your vehicle(s) sees and mine are completely opposite.

That's a mighty odd statement. Do you....like.....stalk me by following me around when I drive?

I'd guess our cars see almost the same conditions. Although you might drive it less than I do.

But seriously.....it's an awful job. I cut the hell out of my hand changing it. Took me 32 hours.

 

[Cory S]

That's a mighty odd statement. Do you....like.....stalk me by following me around when I drive?

I'd guess our cars see almost the same conditions. Although you might drive it less than I do.

But seriously.....it's an awful job. I cut the hell out of my hand changing it. Took me 32 hours.

So. Sounds like a waste of time and a waste of money. You ever going to do it again?

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