Has anyone done a Transmission filter and fluid change and caused more issues?

[E53inLA]

Well, where do people stand on changing other fluids? Transfer case & final drive for example?

I did the transfer case shortly after replacing the actuator, and final drive is next up.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by E53inLA

Well, where do people stand on changing other fluids? Transfer case & final drive for example?

I did the transfer case shortly after replacing the actuator, and final drive is next up.

Personally?

Oil change prior to what the service lights call for, but usually by about 10% or so (last four vehicles). That means 24,000 km oil changes, including with the 535 twin turbo. Worked well.

Diffs if they get water in them (look for colour when checking levels).

Transfer case (x drive in my case) when the wear limits are reached (error code)

[E53inLA]

Originally Posted by JCL

Personally?

Oil change prior to what the service lights call for, but usually by about 10% or so (last four vehicles). That means 24,000 km oil changes, including with the 535 twin turbo. Worked well.

Diffs if they get water in them (look for colour when checking levels).

Transfer case (x drive in my case) when the wear limits are reached (error code)

Water in the diffs? Maybe in Vancouver.... but in Los Angeles?
The fluid guide I downloaded from XOutpost in 2010 suggests every 30K miles.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by E53inLA

Water in the diffs? Maybe in Vancouver.... but in Los Angeles?
The fluid guide I downloaded from XOutpost in 2010 suggests every 30K miles.

Water in the diffs from water coming in the vents when fording creeks. Applies to all makes, and all locales (except during droughts......)

Edit: there isn't a downside to changing the differential fluid and the pre-xdrive fluid earlier, except cost. 30,000 seems early, but what does the service guide say for your model? if you have xdrive, be aware of the fluid monitoring the transfer case is doing and any resets that may be required.

[E53inLA]

Originally Posted by JCL

Water in the diffs from water coming in the vents when fording creeks. Applies to all makes, and all locales (except during droughts......)

Fording creeks??? Is that a euphemism for car wash?

I suppose during a flash flood we might actually drive through a deep puddle when a storm drain get blocked.

Joking aside, I'm not very impressed by the systems that are supposed to warn service is needed. We've had brake problems and the brake sensor didn't trigger. The type of stop & go traffic, couple with hilly terrain make me a firm believer in changing oil more often than 15K.

But what I was really driving at is why trans fluid is lifetime, but none of the other gear fluids?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by E53inLA

Fording creeks??? Is that a euphemism for car wash?

I suppose during a flash flood we might actually drive through a deep puddle when a storm drain get blocked.

Joking aside, I'm not very impressed by the systems that are supposed to warn service is needed. We've had brake problems and the brake sensor didn't trigger. The type of stop & go traffic, couple with hilly terrain make me a firm believer in changing oil more often than 15K.

But what I was really driving at is why trans fluid is lifetime, but none of the other gear fluids?

Those other components are very different. No pumps with pressure lubrication, no filters, hypoid gears, no valve bodies. Transmissions have a very low lubrication requirement, you aren't changing it to lubricate it better. Old fluid lubricates fine. You are changing it to refresh the friction modifier additive package, deal with fluid oxidation, etc.