Ok well I've had the Ranger for a long while and haven't really done any maintenance to the transmission for a LONG time. I'm guessing it's been years since I changed anything in the transmission. So here's my question.

Say I've never changed the trans fluid (106k miles). Would changing it now mess anything up? I don't want to replace a transmission since I just put in a replacement engine last April.

I need to get up to date on maintaining the Ranger and ensure it'll run for many many more years!!

 

If it's still healthy then changing the fluid won't hurt it at all. Just use the exact fluid specified and buy plenty of it.

 

I just checked it cuz I read stuff about trannys failing shortly after changing fluid, and it's still got a reddish tint to it, and it doesn't smell burnt. Hell, it may have been flushed when I had the engine replaced. The fluid doesn't look bad at all though.

 

auto trans? if so remember to change the filter other wise all that is pointless

 

Transmissions like that are already dead. Transmission guys call them "zombies". If your transmission is healthy and not burning fluid then it will be fine to change it. I change the ATF in my F-150 every 30,000 miles (easy to say when the truck has 65k on it I guess) and I'm changing the fluid in this Ranger as soon as I can too.