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Do I need fluid flushes at 46k?

2010H3TAlpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
563
Location
Issaquah, WA
Had my truck in for an oil change this week and the tech who did the regular 100 point inspection mentioned I might want to get my diffs, t-case, trans, and power steering all flushed and refilled. But my truck only has 46k miles! Is this more of a timing interval thing and he's ignoring my low mileage? FYI my truck runs/drives like new so there would be no other reason to believe it needs the flushes.

Thanks!
 

cgalpha08

"Like Nothing Else"
Messages
3,720
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Check the manual, I think it recommends t-case and trans at 50k. Others, including myself change the t case fluid frequently due to how fast it gets dirty.

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Ghostbuster

Well-Known Member
Messages
862
Location
United States
Yeah go ahead and change the t case. It only takes two quarts of dex vi.

You should do the trans as well, it takes a lot of fluid. The trans is a lot harder to do than the t case.

Oh yeah and you might as well do a radiator flush also. That fluid is probably 6 or 7 years old.

I also did my front and rear diffs around 47k.

Not much $ to keep your fluids fresh.
 
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Paranormal

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
Location
Suffolk County, New York
I would recommend flushing out your anti freeze and your brake fluid. The Transfer case and differentials are easy to do, you probably do not have to change your differential fluids yet. The transmission is not hard but it will get messy in a hurry.
 

2010H3TAlpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
563
Location
Issaquah, WA
Good to know, thank you! I was thinking for some reason that everything was 100k interval but I'll change all of those soon. I see that the rear diff is mentioned in the owner's manual at the 100k service and nothing about the front diff, just do them both at the same time?
 
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Paranormal

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
Location
Suffolk County, New York
Easier to remember that way. I changed all my fluids after purchasing my truck just in case they were never done. The differential fluids are easy and cheap to replace. You may want to take a trip to Harbor Freight and buy yourself a cheap hand pump so you can put the oil back in much easier.
 

chaos254

Well-Known Member
Messages
577
Location
United States
I would have them do the trans and everything else you can do your self and a lot cheaper. Fluid changes are cheap insurance to prevent a costly problem down the road.

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Happy Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,465
Location
Wisconsin
If they can do it, so can you. Lol.
Just be very careful and always block your wheels. Did I mention it is a real messy job.
 

2010H3TAlpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
563
Location
Issaquah, WA
I would have them do the trans and everything else you can do your self and a lot cheaper. Fluid changes are cheap insurance to prevent a costly problem down the road.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I definitely agree with that! I am more relieved than anything, the fluid intervals for my Grand Cherokee were ridiculous. Every 15k for the diffs because of the special friction modifier which costs $60 per diff, just for a few ounces of fluid. WTF! Needless to say, I will never buy another Chrysler vehicle. :)
 

CaddyStrophic

Well-Known Member
Messages
413
Location
United States
I did a full fluid change on my '08 alpha a few months ago. I paid a shop $150 to do the coolant.

I did the rest myself and I think I paid around $200 for top-of-the-line fluids. (LucasOil and Royal Purple)

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SuperBuickGuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,403
Location
Woodinville, WA
I'll add to the chorus about antifreeze changing. If you don't, the already marginal cooling system will fail - orange anti-freeze turns into a paste eventually (if not changed).
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,677
Location
Scottsdale
No need to use a cleaning chemical. Drain and fill should be sufficient I've stuck with OEM recommended Dexcool

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SuperBuickGuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,403
Location
Woodinville, WA
no need to flush, as long as you keep up on the changing of fluid, you should be fine.

Of course, the cynic in me will point out that the radiator has an 80k life so you'll be swapping fluid then as well... something to consider - I'm using Evans in my fj40, and it has some neat properties* that would work well in a H3 - the only down side is the cost... you'll easily be knocking on the $200 door to do the fluid change. With my '40, it had nothing in it so it was 'only' about $140 to do the change.

*it doesn't boil - which on a vehicle that can get a tad warm is a really good thing. That said, if you never get 3/4 hot.... you can buy a lot of dexcool for $160.
 
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