I have a 89 camaro w/ a 700r...this car had sat 8 yrs w/out being started in a barn....I got it and got it running reciently...and tuned up /changed fluids in the engine..got it running real good...people tell me that since the car has over 100,000 miles to not change the tranny fluid...they say new fluid will break the old sludge free and cloge passages and ruin it....but on the other hand...this car runs and drives great...I hate to just leave that old fluid in there...it looks clean on the dipstick....so...has anyone had real life stories of changing fluid on an old high mileage tranny and it dieing soon after??? what do you all think???

 

personally, i couldnt see it doing anything like that. thats what the filter in the tranny is for. kinda like changing oil in your engine. the filter picks up junk the oil catches.

 

As they say, dont fix it if it aint broken... but seriously, if the fluid is clean and a nice shade of red, then its fine. If its brown or even black, think about changing it.

 

Like said - red fluid looks clean, leave it alone. I have heard of new fluid make an old tranny slip, since the old "junk" is no longer in there acting as a friction additive.

 

What do you guys think is the best fluid to use
in a 700r4 ? I have 117,266 on mine now. It's
been 14,681 since the last change. I run a
cooler and a deep sump pan as well as an
aux spin on filter. I have been running Valvoline's
Max Life trans fluid. Seems to be working ok, but
I did get it hot one time about 3 or 4 months ago.
Hot being 250 on the trans temp gage. It pegged
it for about 20 minutes. The trans seemed alright
then but is now starting to shift a little weird now.
I also have a B&M stage 1 shift kit in it. I know the
fluid got hot as I could smell it for a very short time,
but I've checked it and it's still red as can be and
really doesn't smell burned.

Do any of you who KNOW the 700r4 think
changing out the fluid with fluid from Royal
Purple or Redline would make much difference ?
I believe after 117,000 + I might change out the
TV cable as well as the there is a bit of slack
in the old one even after adjusting it..

It's time to do a service on the trans AND the
rear end so I was going to go with Royal Purple
or Redline 85-140 gear oil if they make it, or
if not 75w90 for the diff. What do you think ?

Thanks for any tips or advise.