if your owner's manual doesn't specifically state that you should change your fluids at 30K miles then this is just a dealer cash cow. They want to stiff you with a $600 bill to make "checking" your diff worth it to them.
The owners manual will also tell you to never service the transmission. Nobody is getting rich servicing fluids.
My wife's Honda manual clearly says to replace brake fluid and flush the system every three years. It doesn't say anything like that for other fluids. It all depends on the condition and driving style/usage type, whether you tow or not. Specifically for Jeeps, if you do any kind of tough off-roading, you should be checking the diff fluids at 15K and do a full flush at 30K if not sooner. that is just common sense! Regarding XMSN oil, most mechanics I've talked to recommend against a pressure flush of the system. They only recommend draining and topping off every 10-15K if you have hard usage. Pressure flush can dislodge debris and spray it all over the place and for older or hard used XMSN, that can cause slippage or other issues. My Honda manual doesn't state to flush XMSN oil. Dealers will gladly charge you $$$ to flush it and when it craps out, they will gladly charge you $$$$ to fix/replace it. It is really a win/win for them.
It’s not a worn out Chevrolet. Flushing the fluids isn’t going to make the tranny die. ZF recommends service at 60k mile intervals.My wife's Honda manual clearly says to replace brake fluid and flush the system every three years. It doesn't say anything like that for other fluids. It all depends on the condition and driving style/usage type, whether you tow or not. Specifically for Jeeps, if you do any kind of tough off-roading, you should be checking the diff fluids at 15K and do a full flush at 30K if not sooner. that is just common sense! Regarding XMSN oil, most mechanics I've talked to recommend against a pressure flush of the system. They only recommend draining and topping off every 10-15K if you have hard usage. Pressure flush can dislodge debris and spray it all over the place and for older or hard used XMSN, that can cause slippage or other issues. My Honda manual doesn't state to flush XMSN oil. Dealers will gladly charge you $$$ to flush it and when it craps out, they will gladly charge you $$$$ to fix/replace it. It is really a win/win for them.
What fluid are you replacing with the beer??You needs to buy a BMW or Porshe, my neighbor owns those and all the stupid customers buy all dem soivaces', every 30K they wallet flush em, 500$ oil change for a 911, 1200$ 30K soivace' for his BMW. Difference is a BMW customer doesnt question it, a Jeep customer goes and buys a pump, 4 qts of gear oil, 2 qts ATF, 12 Pack of beer and changes the fluids himself
Yeah, I read about those ZF 9-speeds. I didn't like them since the design was very new. I remember the Jeep Cherokee launch got delayed by months due to issues with that XMSN. Honda was introducing it on the Pilot in 2016. I also read that it takes 12qt of oil @$60 each. I just wanted to stay away from that mess. Sure enough two colleagues of mine complained about their Pilots having the ZF. It wouldn't shift right and one of them had to replace the whole XMSN. I went with the middle trim that came with the more validated Honda 6-speed XMSN and saved myself a $10K and a whole lotta headache. I will read up on when I need to service that XMSN.
Thats a bit dramatic, the fluid is $30 per quart, not 60.
My info was from late 2015 when I was researching my purchase. I'm glad things came down. I do agree with the 8-speed. I LOVE IT in my Chrysler 300! It has been flawless, albeit a bit sluggish. I don't have the Sport. When I drove a challenger v6, with the sport mode engaged, the engine and XMSN all came to life! I LOVED IT.
Redline has ZF fluid for about $13, about the only one I'd substitute the ZF for.
