4l80e With 110k And Unknown Maint History

[TravisAZ]

Vehicle is a 2001 yukon xl 2500 4x4 with the 8.1 and a 4L80E. Ive had it a couple of weeks.

 

The truck itself is super clean and seems well cared for, BUT, I have zero idea what the maintenance history was. Plugs seem to be original @ 110k which kinda worries me.

 

I was towing ~7k lbs up a pretty huge grade in the July heat in Arizona last week, and the trans temps did spike over 200 (probably 210ish) for a few minutes. Trans temps in 115 degree heat seem to average around 180 by the gauge in a mix of freeway/stop and go driving, which seems a bit hot.

 

SO, I drained 4 qts of fluid out of her to get an idea of what I was dealing with. Fluid is dark, but not burned, and no burnt smell. A 12 oz clear plastic bottle lets 0 light through, even around the edges when tilted at an angle. New fluid in the same bottle lets light through the entire range.

 

Of course I have heard the intrawebs rumors that replacing all of the fliuid in a higher mileage transmission could result in bad things due to viscotity change and the cleaning agents releasing all of the gunk in the trans. I would, however, like to eventually switch to dexron VI.

 

My question is, what approach would you take in this situation? Drop pan, change filter, replace 4 quarts once a month for a few months and then do a total 'flush' and switch over to Dex VI? Thats my current plan unless someone here can convince me otherwise?

[gmtech4]

***k off with the stealership crap,

[oldscsc]

***k off with the stealership crap,

 

Congrats, you work at a stealership. You're not gonna change people's views so instead of making the everyone on the forum look like a dick, just shhhhh

 

I'm far from an expert but I'd try a filter and fluid change first. If that doesn't solve your problems I'd start saving up money (if you know it really is the trans).

[txab]

If it makes you feel better, just change 4-5 qts at a time via pan drop. I'd put a drain plug in it myself. If you find a huge amount of metal in your pan, I'd be concerned. But if you're not having any issues right now, you're probably in pretty good shape. The 4L80 is pretty stout.

 

110k on the plugs is no reason for worry.

 

You should do a complete service from front to back. Unless you can verify certain services were performed.

 

Diffs

Transfer case

Brake fluid

Power steering fluid

Trans fluid/filter

Coolant, hoses & belts

Fuel filter

Plugs/wire

Check brakes all around

Check ball joints, u-joints, idler arm, pittman arm

Check wheel bearings, cv boots and joints

Check shocks

 

And the most important one.....

 

Blinker fluid

[jro909]

***k off with the stealership crap,

 

Congrats, you work at a stealership. You're not gonna change people's views so instead of making the everyone on the forum look like a dick, just shhhhh

 

I'm far from an expert but I'd try a filter and fluid change first. If that doesn't solve your problems I'd start saving up money (if you know it really is the trans).

 

 

 

i'm pro DEALERship, you guys that call them stealerships are some of the guys that start pulling wires and bolts trying to fix your own problems then get on here and post "uh how do i fix this" threads...they are far from stealerships, they are payed a premium to be experts in repair and diagnoses of GM vehicles, just like a plumber or a appliance repairman..do you label them stealerplumbers or whatever? get off your high horse and realise that you are paying for quality parts and a technician trained to fix your vehicle to the best it can be....i use to label them stealerships then i actually started using one regularly for my truck and guess what? i'm not getting robbed, i'm not getting treated like a walking wallet...i pay the extra few dollars to know my truck was serviced/fixed right...technicians are just like everybody else, doing the best job they can to bring the customer back and to make a buck to live...

[txab]

[minibike132]

 

 

+1

[jro909]

 

 

i'm not trying to start a pissing match..but the label "stealership" needs to be thrown in the trash, they are not the slick backed hair brown suit and tie dealers of yester years, that just want to suck your money out of you...they want your business yes, but they also want a customer that will keep coming back and bringing more and more business...

[TravisAZ]

Ok, let's address the stealership thing.

 

First off, I love the techs, but I hate the business model. I know the techs are generally good, honest hard working guys who want to provide a quality job to the customer. Tha is where the warm and fuzzies end for me. My last 3 trips to dealership have been anything but plesant, fair, or a good value fo the services provided - and that was a gm, a ford, and a Chrysler dealer.

 

Sorry guys, but a rotten apple spoils the whole bunch, and I am yet to have a good experience at a dealership, except for when my infinity was under warranty.

 

Sorry if I offended anyone, but it's my personal experience. If someone can recomend one in Phoenix az, I'd love to give someone a shot a converting me over.

[gmtech4]

***k off with the stealership crap,

 

Congrats, you work at a stealership. You're not gonna change people's views so instead of making the everyone on the forum look like a dick, just shhhhh

 

I'm far from an expert but I'd try a filter and fluid change first. If that doesn't solve your problems I'd start saving up money (if you know it really is the trans).

 

 

 

hey Scott, you know nothing about me and how things work in the dealer environment on a flat rate pay basis and i can't understand your post even after an edit by you ,maybe you are the troll sir .

 

My experience as a transmission/drive line specialist for many years would like to tell you that if a transmission is giving a driveability concern,changing the oil and filter cannot fix it !!

 

you have a good day.

[desrtrat]

I was towing ~7k lbs up a pretty huge grade in the July heat in Arizona last week, and the trans temps did spike over 200 (probably 210ish) for a few minutes. Trans temps in 115 degree heat seem to average around 180 by the gauge in a mix of freeway/stop and go driving, which seems a bit hot.

180* trans temp in 115* day is not bad. hitting 210* for a short time is a little high, but not life threating.. pulling a grade i would expect a little higher temp. remember your trans fluid also goes thru the radiator also. so when engine temps increase pulling the grade your trans temp will also climb also. i would do a service on the trans, filter refill with fluid. also i would put on a HD trans cooler rated at 30-40,000 GVWR. that will help keep your trans temp down..

 

hope this helps..

 

good luck