Transmission Fluid Change

Hello! I recently picked up a 1997 ZJ with the 5.2 engine and 44RE transmission, which had about 149,000 miles on it at the time. It’s now sitting at around 150,000 miles. I’ve been working on replacing fluids and doing various tune-ups because it seemed a bit neglected, though it’s otherwise in good condition.

I was planning to change the transmission fluid and filter, but someone advised me against it, saying there’s a risk of the transmission failing if I do, especially considering the mileage and the uncertainty of whether it’s ever been serviced before. They mentioned that metal shavings from high miles and lack of service might cause issues with the scenario I’m facing.

Should I go ahead and change the fluid and filter, or should I leave it as is, just keeping an eye on the fluid levels until something goes wrong?

Congrats on the ZJ—those are awesome. I had a similar situation with an old Jeep, and here’s what I did: I changed the transmission fluid but did it gradually, like just a few quarts at a time. This way, you’re not shocking the system. If it’s shifting fine now, maybe just keep an eye on it and don’t rush. But if you’re feeling adventurous, go for a partial change and see how it goes. Sometimes, you gotta trust your gut with these old beauties.