[hmk123]

i was wondering what maintenance schedule others are following on cars they only drive on weekends. My Hellcat has seen a few road trips but otherwise gets primarily driven only every other weekend. Annual mileage is probably less than 2000 miles. I am coming up on 5 years of ownership and am thinking of getting power steering fluid and coolant exchanged. I know some German brands recommend brake fluid changes every two years. I usually do them every three. Also did the rear differential fluid a while back.

Any idea on the automatic transmission? Should its fluid be changed after a certain time interval?

 

[66stingray]

You should follow the same maintenance schedule as everyone else. In fact, keeping low miles is more detrimental to a car that gets used regularly. Tires tend to flat spot and seals tend to rot among other things. I had plenty of garage queens and keeping them properly maintained needs lots of foresight. Flush the coolant, change the brake fluid definitely. Brake fluid retains water and will corrode brake components from the inside out. Low mileage on the trans fluid should be ok within 5 years unless you tracked it or had some issues with it before. Make sure the air conditioner gets used when you take it out. Even with weekend use, I would keep it on a trickle charger in between uses. Check all rubber components if you are coming up on 5 years, tires, belts, etc...

 

[Slowpoke387]

Trans fluid on these is supposed to be good for more than five years. Thought there was a post somewhere that mentioned no need for flushing ever. I’ll have to go back and look for it.

 

[hmk123]

Trans fluid on these is supposed to be good for more than five years. Thought there was a post somewhere that mentioned no need for flushing ever. I’ll have to go back and look for it.

I found something online that says ZF recommends changing the fluid every 8 years.

When the coolant is changed does that automatically change it for the intercooler, too, or are those two different fluids?

 

[hmk123]

You should follow the same maintenance schedule as everyone else. In fact, keeping low miles is more detrimental to a car that gets used regularly. Tires tend to flat spot and seals tend to rot among other things. I had plenty of garage queens and keeping them properly maintained needs lots of foresight. Flush the coolant, change the brake fluid definitely. Brake fluid retains water and will corrode brake components from the inside out. Low mileage on the trans fluid should be ok within 5 years unless you tracked it or had some issues with it before. Make sure the air conditioner gets used when you take it out. Even with weekend use, I would keep it on a trickle charger in between uses. Check all rubber components if you are coming up on 5 years, tires, belts, etc...

Totally agree with you. Brake and rear diff fluid were already changed. Definitely do brake fluid changes more frequent than 5 years. And I hear you about the challenges with properly maintaining a vehicle when it is not used very much. I also still have a 2006 Magnum SRT8 that I daily drove for 2 years and then primarily garaged as well.

I try to stay on top of fluid and hose/belt changes. Have learned two things: time flies and vehicle maintenance has gotten expensive. Especially when multiple are involved…

 

[AeroF16]

I try to stay on top of fluid and hose/belt changes. Have learned two things: time flies and vehicle maintenance has gotten expensive. Especially when multiple are involved…

Haha it’s terrible when they all sync up! I spent $5k on tires over the past 4 months and I take good care of them!

I just follow the regular maintenance schedule. Sometimes I’ll do something prematurely if it’s convenient but too much of that gets expensive!

 

[66stingray]

Haha it’s terrible when they all sync up! I spent $5k on tires over the past 4 months and I take good care of them!

I just follow the regular maintenance schedule. Sometimes I’ll do something prematurely if it’s convenient but too much of that gets expensive!

In the same boat, I have a 2016 yukon and 2016 Hellcat I bought new. My Yukon has 14,000miles and just had to replace the original tires because all 4 started to separate at the beads from dry rot. My Cat has only 9k miles and the tires look ok but living on borrowed time. The original Bridgestones on my Yukon suck.

 

[AeroF16]

In the same boat, I have a 2016 yukon and 2016 Hellcat I bought new. My Yukon has 14,000miles and just had to replace the original tires because all 4 started to separate at the beads from dry rot. My Cat has only 9k miles and the tires look ok but living on borrowed time. The original Bridgestones on my Yukon suck.

My 2016 Hellcat had the original tires as well until I replaced them in Feb. The tread was fine (20k) miles but they were getting hard and road like crap. Put some new tires on and it rides like a brand new car.

I bought my wife a new Jeep Grand Cherokee L in October. Curious, I looked at the ratings of the tires on Tirerack and they were horrible for snow. Being as it was my wife’s car that she hauls the kids around in, I immediately replaced them (we live in a snowy area). I know I’m preaching to the choir on a Hellcat forum but it sucks to spend $60k+ on a new vehicle and have to replace the tires immediately!

 

[baabootoo]

“Take care of your car in the garage, and the car will take care of you on the road.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

 

[Mattm400]

I've always been a fan of maintenance, I keep all oil, filters, etc. In stock for all of my vehicles, bikes, machinery, etc. My garage shelves look like a parts house. It's definitely what makes them last. I see ppeople on the roads all the time with bologna skin bald tires & even know a guy that hasn't changed his oil in over 8 or 9 years. It drives me nuts. But to each their own.

 

[NoCoHC]

The coolant is supposed to be ten years what about rear diff and manual transmission fluid? I'm to the point of stopping the twice a year oil changes on my 15 with 6200 miles and just doing it annually unless my driving habits change.

 

[Dextar]

Those of you who are doing brake fluid flushes, are you doing it yourself or the dealer? Doesn't the car need a code to open things up to properly flush all the fluid?

I've already changed the rear diff fluid, did that a year ago with about 14k miles on the clock and it was 4 years old. Didn't look bad but it made me feel better knowing there was fresh fluid in there and it's silly cheap to do.

ZF Trans fluid is supposed to be changed (Per ZF) every 8yr/60k miles (I think it's actually a little less than 60k). It's a lifetime fluid in that it'll last the warranty period after that you're on your own but it has to be done a special way.

I always keep mine on a CTEK charger during winter and keep a canister of DampRid on the passenger floor. Keep mouse traps/poison around the outside of the car to avoid dealing with rodents eating the wire harnesses.

Don't forget about your cabin air filter too!

 

[Spoolin]

You should follow the same maintenance schedule as everyone else. In fact, keeping low miles is more detrimental to a car that gets used regularly. Tires tend to flat spot and seals tend to rot among other things. I had plenty of garage queens and keeping them properly maintained needs lots of foresight. Flush the coolant, change the brake fluid definitely. Brake fluid retains water and will corrode brake components from the inside out. Low mileage on the trans fluid should be ok within 5 years unless you tracked it or had some issues with it before. Make sure the air conditioner gets used when you take it out. Even with weekend use, I would keep it on a trickle charger in between uses. Check all rubber components if you are coming up on 5 years, tires, belts, etc...

Although I do agree that brake fluid should be changed every so many years due to use and possible breakdown, I don't buy that the fluid gets much water in it over time. If the system is properly sealed, which is the case with the braking system, the fluid should not be absorbing water.

I'd just follow normal maintenance schedules per the manual on the fluids and inspect the belts. My hellcat is a garage queen and the same with my S2000 and I usually just follow normal schedules. If the car is sitting for more than 2 months, I'll put max air pressure in the tires or put it up on jack stands, have the tank full of gas with stabilizer in it and have the battery on a trickle charger.

 

[AeroF16]

Those of you who are doing brake fluid flushes, are you doing it yourself or the dealer? Doesn't the car need a code to open things up to properly flush all the fluid?

I've already changed the rear diff fluid, did that a year ago with about 14k miles on the clock and it was 4 years old. Didn't look bad but it made me feel better knowing there was fresh fluid in there and it's silly cheap to do.

ZF Trans fluid is supposed to be changed (Per ZF) every 8yr/60k miles (I think it's actually a little less than 60k). It's a lifetime fluid in that it'll last the warranty period after that you're on your own but it has to be done a special way.

I always keep mine on a CTEK charger during winter and keep a canister of DampRid on the passenger floor. Keep mouse traps/poison around the outside of the car to avoid dealing with rodents eating the wire harnesses.

Don't forget about your cabin air filter too!

I do it myself (brakes) every two years or so using a pressure bleeder. It’s an easy enough job and I don’t worry about cycling the ABS valve to get the tiny amount of fluid out of it, though that is probably the “proper” way to do it.

 

[NoScat]

I've always been a fan of maintenance, I keep all oil, filters, etc. In stock for all of my vehicles, bikes, machinery, etc. My garage shelves look like a parts house. It's definitely what makes them last. I see ppeople on the roads all the time with bologna skin bald tires & even know a guy that hasn't changed his oil in over 8 or 9 years. It drives me nuts. But to each their own.

I too am a fan and I know that my early and often oil changes have kept my cars going longer than most.

 

[Citrus90]

I too am a fan and I know that my early and often oil changes have kept my cars going longer than most.

I’m amazed that most manufacturers have jumped on the 10k oil change scheduling for their new cars. I remind my friends all of the time that all they care about is the warranty period, but no one listens. I think 5-6k oil changes are a must for a DD, especially if you live through a lot of stop and go traffic.

 

[SickToo]

Brake system perfectly sealed? Disassemble everything at 5 years. You will be blown away at how much sludge there can be. Not every caliper will have it but moisture gets in everything. And while living by the beach might be good for your skin metal does not dig it

Pretty sure ph and acidity of coolant will change when you start heat cycling it? 10 years is nonsense. Best to do a drain and refill every spring. Not a flush, just a drain and refill. I still have my 2000 R/T Dakota. It still has factory radiator, heater core, and head gaskets in it. Pure ethylene glycol is only good for for 5 years max once mixed with water. Even if stored in a cool dry place

 

[hmk123]

Strange thing is that power steering and brake fluid changes are not even mentioned (only top them off):

https://msmownerassets.z13.web.core.windows.net/assets/publications/en-us/Dodge/2016/Charger_SRT/1815.pdf

 

[Rockster]

Although I do agree that brake fluid should be changed every so many years due to use and possible breakdown, I don't buy that the fluid gets much water in it over time. If the system is properly sealed, which is the case with the braking system, the fluid should not be absorbing water.

I'd just follow normal maintenance schedules per the manual on the fluids and inspect the belts. My hellcat is a garage queen and the same with my S2000 and I usually just follow normal schedules. If the car is sitting for more than 2 months, I'll put max air pressure in the tires or put it up on jack stands, have the tank full of gas with stabilizer in it and have the battery on a trickle charger.

Brake systems are not sealed but vented to atmosphere. As the reservior cools down air outside air flows in to balance the air pressure. This outside air contains moisture. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and will build up moisture.

Under normal usage this moisture primarily presents a corrosion/master cylinder piston seal/caliper seal risk.

If the brakes are used enough to get the brake fluid hot the pedal can become soft or even go to the floor the water has turned into steam and the brakes are no longer hydraulic but air/hydraulic. Air is many many times more compressible than brake fluid.

For my previous (German) cars the factory called for 2 year brake/clutch hydraulic system fluid flushes. I was pretty good about having this done on schedule but I let it go 2.5 years. No brake problems but the clutch became impossible to engage smoothly and the transmission no longer shifted smoothly. When I took the car in for these the SA looked up my car's service history and noted the 2.5 years since the last brake fluid service. He recommended this. Considering I was facing possibly having to replace the clutch maybe even the transmission I agreed. To my mild surprise the brake fluid flush/bleed "fixed" the clutch. While under normal operation the brakes were as near as I could tell unaffected the clutch hydraulic system -- which shared fluid with the brake hydraulic system -- was quite affected by the old fluid.

With previous cars for which I did a brake fluid flush/bleed I got to see the fluid that came out of the caliper bleed screw. While the fluid in the reservoir looked "ok" the fluid in the brake caliper was nasty looking.

 

[AeroF16]

Brake systems are not sealed but vented to atmosphere. As the reservior cools down air outside air flows in to balance the air pressure. This outside air contains moisture. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and will build up moisture.

Under normal usage this moisture primarily presents a corrosion/master cylinder piston seal/caliper seal risk.

If the brakes are used enough to get the brake fluid hot the pedal can become soft or even go to the floor the water has turned into steam and the brakes are no longer hydraulic but air/hydraulic. Air is many many times more compressible than brake fluid.

For my previous (German) cars the factory called for 2 year brake/clutch hydraulic system fluid flushes. I was pretty good about having this done on schedule but I let it go 2.5 years. No brake problems but the clutch became impossible to engage smoothly and the transmission no longer shifted smoothly. When I took the car in for these the SA looked up my car's service history and noted the 2.5 years since the last brake fluid service. He recommended this. Considering I was facing possibly having to replace the clutch maybe even the transmission I agreed. To my mild surprise the brake fluid flush/bleed "fixed" the clutch. While under normal operation the brakes were as near as I could tell unaffected the clutch hydraulic system -- which shared fluid with the brake hydraulic system -- was quite affected by the old fluid.

With previous cars for which I did a brake fluid flush/bleed I got to see the fluid that came out of the caliper bleed screw. While the fluid in the reservoir looked "ok" the fluid in the brake caliper was nasty looking.

Edit: I just re-read your post and found the answer.

Was this by chance a system where the clutch shares a reservoir with the brake fluid?

Im actually having shifting issues with my M6 Hellcat right now. It’s a 2016that I recently bought and I’m sure the brake fluid has never been flushed. I did flush the fluid out of the reservoir through the hydraulic line down to the clutch release bearing but I haven’t done the entire brake system yet.