Transmission flush on 2015 6.0?

[fjtort2]

Just curious at what mileage I should have my tranny flushed? 16,400miles on it right now.. Pulls a trailer on a daily basis and plows snow in the Winter.

Thanks!

[newdude]

Don't "flush" it (dealer hooking up a flush machine). A pan drop or two to get as much old fluid out as possible would be what I'd go for. I'd go by the severe service schedule for your truck in your owner's manual which suggests changing the fluid and filter every 45,000 miles.

 

GM's position is no on flushes:

 

The use of external transmission fluid exchange or flush machines is not recommended for the automatic or manual transmission. Use of external machines to replace the fluid may affect the operation or durability of the transmission. Transmission fluid should only be replaced by draining and refilling following procedures in Service Information (SI). Refer to Automatic/Manual Transmission Fluid and Filter Replacement.

 

 

The only thing that is allowed to be flushed is the transmission cooler and that is only when replacing or repairing the transmission itself. GM has a special cooler flush machine just for that task that dealers have.

[fjtort2]

Thanks! I'll just keep driving it:)

[Cowpie]

I had a complete transmission fluid change and filter done at about 5000 miles. I did the transfer and diffs at around 3000 miles and first engine oil change at 1000 miles, along with installing a Fumoto drain valve instead of the plug in the engine oil pan. I always change out the factory fill on drivetrain early on. Is is necessary? Probably not. But looking at magnetic drain plugs from transfer and diffs and the metal shavings on them was ample evidence for me that wasn't a bad idea. Same experience with my previous pickup.

[bersh]

Just curious at what mileage I should have my tranny flushed? 16,400miles on it right now.. Pulls a trailer on a daily basis and plows snow in the Winter.

Thanks!

Not too many places actually "flush" trannys anymore, and if they do I'd avoid it. The most common newer systems hook up inline with the tranny cooler and use the oil pump in the transmission to push new fluid into the system as it pushes the old fluid out. The nice thing with this is the fluid is being pushed/replaced at the same rate, direction, and pressure as the fluid normally travels. If you have this done, eat the cost of the extra fluid needed and have them drop the pan and change the filter after the fluid exchange is done. Some garages have a slightly better system where the pan is dropped, the filter is removed, and the machine is hooked up to the fluid inlet/pump intake. This is usually a little more expensive, but it works very well. In either case, make sure they are using the correct fluid. Most places use a generic fluid and add additives after the fact to try and match specific manufacturers requirements. This generic fluid usually isn't synthetic. It might not matter much if you're getting the fluid changed regularly, but I prefer to use the correct stuff. There are numerous videos online showing how to perform the exchange on your own, and you can then use whatever fluid you want and probably save a few bucks in the process.

 

Given your mileage and how you use the truck, it's probably not a bad idea to change the fluid to get rid of any break-in debris stuck in the filter and on the magnet. I've learned first hand what plowing does to the fluid and I change mine out in my plow truck every year regardless of mileage.

[Cowpie]

^^^ What he said!

[rjkinpa]

yea never do a flush did one years back transmission was never the same. Usually i just use a extractor to suck out like 5 or 6 quarts of transmission fluid and fill with fresh just to refresh the fluid ever so often..

[bersh]

yea never do a flush did one years back transmission was never the same. Usually i just use a extractor to suck out like 5 or 6 quarts of transmission fluid and fill with fresh just to refresh the fluid ever so often..

Even with this you still should drop the pan and change the filter periodically. At least sucking the fluid out first will save a lot of the mess when you drop the pan.

[Cowpie]

Yeah, I have always been a filter change along with a fluid change kind of guy. Most of the fluids now are pretty good, and can go a long time, but debris in fluid can really mess with an automatic trans. That is my primary motivation for doing a fluid and filter change early on, usually within the first 5000 miles, then doing it on a schedule that suits me after that. I want to assure that I have nice clean fluid in there. I doubt I will ever take trans fluid to the edge of it's useful life, strictly from a fluid breakdown standpoint. I am not into that game. It isn't that expensive to do.

[SMiller]

What "I" do...

 

 

Every oil change I pull the trans plug and refill with 4qts fluid. Every 75,000 miles I drop the pan and change the filter (and the fluid that comes out).

 

Changing the fluid does not drain the torque converter which is another 4qts, this is the reason for drain and refills, only way to actually move fluid.