Transmission fluid change?

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU
260,000 MILES • 2.4L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CS585
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My car has over 260,000 miles. Transmission fluid has never been changed. I asked online general, seems like there is debate. Where on the one hand changing fluid now could do more harm than good. Then others say the transmission fluid has to be changed. I wanted to know what I should do? I just don't want the car to get worse off by changing the Transmission fluid, but if it needs it I'll do it. Thank you for your time.
Jul 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
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MECHTRIX
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This vehicle has alot of mls on it but If the transmission shifts good drives good acts like a normal transmission change the oil and it will last longer and remain that way its a myth floating around that clean oil is somehow bad for your transmission if anyone ever changed theyre transmission oil and then had the transmission blow up shortly after the transmission was already bad and should have always had clean oil in it and that probably wouldnt have happened. The general rule of thumb is the fluid should always look new like it comes out of the bottle and changed as frequently as needed to keep it that way..so all you need to do is ask yourself whats a better lubricant clean oil or dirty oil you decide that said its hard to get it all out and end up with a compleatly clean oil so it might need to be changed twice or have a transmission shop compleatly evacuate it and refill it they have a machine that is much more efective it pumps fluid thruogh while running and pushes out all the old fluid and dirt it also cleans out the cooler wich tends to get clogged up .. just draining it a pouring new fluid in isnt usually enought doesnt get all the dirt out especially on older transmissions or if its been a long time and its overe due like yours. Onece clean i strongly recomend doing it onece a year after that for the rest of the life of the vehicle and change the filter too at the same time ...good luck hope this helps
Jul 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
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STRAILER
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Yep, that is hard to say, I would always change the fluid because they seem to do better after. They say the clutches might not like it but if this is the case the transmission will start slipping soon anyway. So, it is up to you on want you want to do. Leave it or change it, there might not be a win either way.
Jul 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
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