ATF change interval question

I recommend changing every 5 years, it does deteriorate with age, and probably faster if the vehicle isn't driven often.

2013GV said:

I recommend changing every 5 years, it does deteriorate with age, and probably faster if the vehicle isn't driven often.

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Thanks for the suggestion.

Quoting verbiage from different Suzuki User Manuals for cars using same AISIN transmission and same specification ATF (Suzuki 3317/Mobil 3009) with regards to ATF change interval to explain the confusion:

1. Change after 99000 miles.
2. Change after 99000 miles or 11 years whichever comes earlier.
3. Change after 99000 miles or 11 years whichever comes earlier for normal driving conditions and after 20000miles or 30 months whichever comes earlier in case of HARSH driving conditions.

You fall squarely in item 3. Harsh driving. Minimal mileage, and Infrequently driving it.
One of my vehicles is lucky to do 1,500 miles a year, that one gets regular engibe oil changes 12 monthly and transmission done every 5 years.
Even my well travelled one gets severe schedule maintenance as its doing a lot of round town stop start driving.

Its your call, but oil changes are the lifeblood of any engine or transmission. We got rid of our last 3G gv at work this week. 400,000 kms, still not burning oil, and it was one of the 2.4 litre 2009 head and block cracking range. Timing chain in the wee thing was a bit rattly at start up but quiet after 10 seconds when cold.

2013GV said:

You fall squarely in item 3. Harsh driving. Minimal mileage, and Infrequently driving it.

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How frequent is infrequent? Mine goes out few times a week for intra city trips.

Som said:

How frequent is infrequent? Mine goes out few times a week for intra city trips.

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That i would classify as severe, with my daily commuter, I do an average of 10,000 miles a year and treat it as severe for maintenance as its predominantly stop start traffic driving with the occasional 300 km trip on open roads.

Som said:

How frequent is infrequent? Mine goes out few times a week for intra city trips.

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You'll find the "harsh environment" descriptions in the owner's manual.

After some research I think it boils down to how long(in terms of years) the additives in the mix (friction modifiers, anti foaming agents etc) last to a satisfactory level of performance.

Another way to ask this is: if an OPEN ATF bottle is stored, for how many years it stays good?

Keeping high temperature driven oxidation outside the scope of discussion here, since oxidation and resultant degradation of the oil itself is visible through darkening of the ATF color.

Som said:

After some research I think it boils down to how long(in terms of years) the additives in the mix (friction modifiers, anti foaming agents etc) last to a satisfactory level of performance.

Another way to ask this is: if an OPEN ATF bottle is stored, for how many years it stays good?

Keeping high temperature driven oxidation outside the scope of discussion here, since oxidation and resultant degradation of the oil itself is visible through darkening of the ATF color.

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Open bottle, about 6 months. Max 1 year.
Colour change is not a valid indication, I can take a brand new bottle and get different shades depending on how well its mixed.

FWIW: I change my engine oil annually and the ATF every second, (vacuum out and refill) Low annual mileage Change when switching tires, winter/summer.