Change transaxle fluid... Or not

[MarkCoburn]

I went to buy $25 of transaxle fluid from the dealer today. He actually talks me out of the purchase.? He said that if I am not having problems, I shouldn't mess with it.?

Well...?

1999 345 350hours

 

[beenthere]

I'd check the manual for the hours, but thinking it is 500 hours.
But if it makes you more comfortable knowing it is new, then that is important too.

 

[TractrNoob]

I went to buy $25 of transaxle fluid from the dealer today. He actually talks me out of the purchase.? He said that if I am not having problems, I shouldn't mess with it.?

Well...?

1999 345 350hours

I was told the same thing (more or less) about a month ago. I tried to get the dealership to change the tranny oil in my X485 with 275 hours. They told me if it wasn't having problems not to do it. I wonder if they have a tech bulletin or somesuch warning against this.

 

[TimS]

Your operator's manual should tell you the maintenance interval, and it may even be printed on maintenance chart on the underside of the hood.

If it were me, I'd change out the oil and filter on both of those tractors. That actually reminds me that I need to do it on my 455...

Tim

 

[MarkCoburn]

It was a salesman that told me this, but he said this is the advice his shop gives owners.

His reason was that the original fluid was installed in a controlled inviorment and changing it opens up the possibility of contamination and other problems that where actually more risky than using the same oil until problems arise.

I am going to change it. I wanted to give the guy the benefit if the doubt. I figured if you all agreed with him, then I should really think about it.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[gjw]

I have changed the Hydro fluid on every John Deere garden tractor I have had. I always blow with compressed air & clean the area around the drain plug, the dip stick & the filters. I have never had any problems. I would think the main danger would be dirt falling in. It is not like the transmission is sterilized.

I always make sure to check the level again after it is used a while. On my 748 the oil was on the mark after I moved the tractor foward & backward 3 or 4 times as the manual says. After mowing about 15 minutes I let it cool & checked it again. It was way down on the dip stick. I added to get it up to the mark again & it stayed there. I think that was because of the AWD. I filled the front first as the book says but I imagine there still was some air that needed to work its way out.

 

[TimS]

His reason was that the original fluid was installed in a controlled inviorment and changing it opens up the possibility of contamination and other problems that where actually more risky than using the same oil until problems arise.
Thanks,

Mark

Sure, you want to keep things clean, especially cleaning around the drain plug, filter, and fill port before you start the job. But it's not like you need a Level 3 clean room.

I have found that the fluid does break down over time, with the primary symptom being jerky operation. The fluid does run very, very hot, particularly when you're doing a lot of loader work.

Tim

 

[TractrNoob]

It was a salesman that told me this, but he said this is the advice his shop gives owners.

His reason was that the original fluid was installed in a controlled inviorment and changing it opens up the possibility of contamination and other problems that where actually more risky than using the same oil until problems arise.

I am going to change it. I wanted to give the guy the benefit if the doubt. I figured if you all agreed with him, then I should really think about it.

Thanks,

Mark

I was told the same thing by the Service Manager at the dealership about 30 miles from me.