I bought a one owner car recently...1997 Oldsmobile 88 with 61k miles 2 months ago. The car runs great and shifts fine but I was wondering if I should change the tranny fluid just to be pro-active. Opinions anyone?

I would. You can either pick up a transfer pump from harbor freight, and get about a gallon out, or dropping the pan works too, which also lets you change the filter. Refill with Dex VI.

No better time to preserve it then by starting regular maintenance now. Also an external cooler goes a long way. If you are doing a pan drop, a shift kit doesn't sound like a bad idea either. No better time than the present to make it last forever.

The fluid that came out of my '94 Regal with 75k miles was pretty dirty. I have already exchanged 4 quarts through the pump out method, and still plan on a pan drop at some point too.

I wouldn't.

The flush methods are the devil. More people come here complaining of trans issues AFTER a flush has been done.

If the fluid is dirty, then a pan drop and filter change is ok. More than likely, the fluid is dirty because of all the clutch material suspended in it. This is a tell tale sign your trans is on its way out the door. Trans oil doesn't get dirty from the outside world unless you have a physical opening somewhere.

I agree, DO NOT get a flush.

To clarify, I was referring to pulling fluid out through the dipstick filler tube.

Like the others are suggesting, it is a good idea to change the tranny fluid, but do a pan drop and filter change, not a flush.

I agree. There'* so many differing opinions on this! I've always went with the pan/ filter change, gets some fresh juice in there without shocking the system. I run ford aerostars as my work van, and they have the A4LD, a terrible trans! But, I managed to run the first one 20K after the drive band broke. And my current DD had the OD band break, but I just bought a parts donor, it'* atf is still nice and red.