Trans Fluid -- which method?

[firecadet613]

Going to change the trans fluid in my Blazer soon.  Looks like it had a fluid change at 79000 miles, fluid was brand new when I bought it at 79404.  Has 97000 on it now.  Should I drop the pan and change the filter, or just get the flush at the dealership?

 

Joe

[Dihappy]

Flushing is the best way, however all i did was changed the fluid 3 times; a week apart each time .

 

Also changed the filter, but dont expect it to come completely off

[Black02Silverado]

Wouldn't hurt to change the filter and clean off the magnet also. Keeping the magnet clean helps with keeping the ferious metals at least from floating around in the fluid. It acts like a second filter.

 

You can go with the flush at the dealer or just do it yourself. It is easy. Just find the return line from your cooler or radiator and disconnect it. Put a small extension hose on the end of it and direct it into a bucket. Oh before I forget, do this after you already pulled the pan down and cleaned it up, installed a new filter and put the pan back up. Then fill the pan up with fluid. Need two people for this. Start it up and have one  watch the fluid going into the bucket and the other pouring AFT fluid in the tranny. Just keep a constant flow in as what comes out. You know when to stop by the color change coming out of the return line. If it a bright red now but you still want to flush it then you can go by the amount that comes out. Find out what the total capacity is of your tranny and what just a pan drop and flter change amount is and split the difference. Heck even if you just flush out 6 Qts it will be a majority of the fluid and better than just a pan drop. It would keep ya from dropping it again in a short time to change out the mixed old and new.

 

While your at it install a drain plug in the pan. Makes the next drop a whole lot eaiser.

 

Make a suggestion, if you run Amsoils ATF, it will help your tranny run cooler. Not to mention extend your drain intervals of your manufactures recommendations 2 times. so if the book calls for 15k fluid changes then you can go 30k. It helps on economy, less time spent worring about when to change and a cooler running tranny.  Just a suggestion.

 

You can check out the whole line of Amsoil products Click here

 

 

[firecadet613]

Think I'm gonna end up just doing it myself.  It's a 95 Blazer, I've heard I have to take the crossmember off, does anyone know if I can do it without taking it off?  I've also heard in the 4L60-E there is a $50 valve body or something that some guys are replacing when they do a filter change.  Should I do this also?

 

Joe

[CMNTMXR81]

Yes, on S-10 chassis's, you'll have to move the crossmember on the rear side of the pan in order to wedge it out and drop it.  The cross over pipe from the driver's side exhaust is in the way on the front side of the pan.

 

You don't need to completely remove the cross member.  I loosen the bolts on the driver's side and then remove the bolts on the passenger side completely.  This allows the cross member to swing a little (supported by a jack of course).

 

I'm personally not a fan of Amsoil products.

[firecadet613]

Any chance you think I can drop the pan without removing the crossmember?  Last time I had it up on the lift it looked like I had about enough clearance to remove the bolts and possibly the pan.

[CMNTMXR81]

You'll be able to remove all the bolts, and drop it an inch or two (which will allow the majority of the fluid to drain).  That's all.  It'll simply rest on the exhaust crossover and crossmember as there isn't enough room to wiggle it out.

[Jsledder]

Moving the crossmember is not a big deal, take out the bolts and slide it back just a couple inches to get the pan down, make sure you get a jack under there and support the transmission/transfer case before you try sliding out the crossmember.  

You can also flush the transmission yourself and don't need to pay a dealer 70-100.00.  It's been a couple years so bear with me here..... take off the top??? line and put a chunk of hose on the end of it and put it in a bucket and put a hose fitting on the radiator and run a hose from there to the same bucket and make sure it's full of fluid and run it and add fluid until you get the new fluid coming through, you'll be able to tell the difference.  It's easier if you have an assistant to dump in the fluid while your holding the hoses.  You might want to check with someone about which line to use but I'm pretty sure it's the top one.

 

And I AM a fan of Amsoil products, and would recommend it, I have it in my truck from front dif to rear dif, even the grease fittings get Amsoil products.

 

[CMNTMXR81]

See thread above by Black02Silverado.

 

I don't have a problem with Amsoil products quality wise.  Several of my friends have used them.  My problem more or less revolves around cost.  I finally drilled this into their heads after they realized that every oil change every 2-3k was costing them more than it should vs. simply going Mobil 1.  Yet, the difference in protection between the two was virtually non-existent to the common user.  Perhaps to an engineer it's important, not to me or them.

 

Same holds true with transmission fluid.  Since I drain, flush replace filter and refill every 30,000 miles, I'll save a few bucks and stick with Mobil 1 or other high qaulity mainstream fluid.

 

Hey, but to each their own, if spending that extra money gives you piece of mind, so be it.  The money I save will go towards my Supercharger and heads and cam on my 496.  Different priorities.

[Jsledder]

Anyone that changes ANY synthetic oil every 2-3k is wasting money.  Amsoil claims 25k on the oil and the filter half way through, personally I change my filter at 6 and my oil at 12, unless I do alot of town driving or the oil starts getting black.  I was skeptic on it at first and was watching my plugs and the oil I was draining and after talking with alot of people that are using it to the full potential and have a couple hundred thousand miles on their motors than I'm not bothered by it at all.

If it didn't work they couldn't guarantee it like they do and they wouldn't have so many satisfied and loyal users.  All of the people that knock it are people that have never used it.  If you use the products the way they are supposed to be used and designed to be used you will save yourself money all the way around.

 

Should have read silverado's thread first I guess, he's obviously done the flush also and is also another satisfied Amsoil user.

 

Send me your bills for a year of oil changes at 3k and I'll send you my bill for the same year with extended drains, not to mention the protection I'm getting inside the motor with the 100% synthetic.  And that can be proven by the Wissota guys and Pro Stock cars I sponsor and have seen bearings that have been run a season on this oil, not to mention the dyno results that have put some engine builders into using Amsoil.  The proof is seen by using it not by being skeptical.

 

And that's my opinion and we are each entitled to our own and let's not start and argument over oil becuase that could take awhile.

[CMNTMXR81]

I don't think it's a waste!  Especially when I drain it and it pours out like water and definetely not in the same state of viscosity as when I poured it in!  I guess I'm a little anal retentive when it comes to P.M. too, but that's just me.  I don't care what a manufacturer says, no oil would stay in my crankcase 25,000 miles.

 

So, on a 3,000hp drag car, Amsoil is dyno proven?  How much power gain did you get?  That gain percentage when applied to Joe's 200HP L35 Vortec V6 would amount to chicken sh*t?

 

As to who's bills, I think I detailed this in a post in the HD section awhile back but I'm too lazy to go look for it.

 

I'm not necessarily arguing, just stating different priorities for different people.  Knowing Joe, his pro stock blazer won't be affected much by using something less than Amsoil.

 

I too can post pics of my tear down on my engine using lowly Mobil 1.  Well now that I think of it, that Mobil 1 was only in there for 3,000 miles.  The prior 5,000 of it's life was run on regular ol' Valvoline 5W-30 *GASP* "dino" oil.  The builder thought I was bringing him a new crate motor it was that pretty inside.

[Jsledder]

Don't know of many Pro-Stocks that are 3,000hp and I wasn't saying he's going to get a Pro-Stock affect if he changes, just pointing out there are people that use it and test it and have had success with it keeping their motors healthy, and yes that rolls over to the same with a 130hp every day car.

 

I can see where your going with this and I'll let you chime in next and get the last word.

[CMNTMXR81]

I have healthy looking motors too, and I did it with a lesser oil.

 

I know what you're driving at.  In theory it is logical, in practicality, for me and in Joe's case, it isn't.

 

Once again, I have nothing against the performance of Amsoil, just not the cost of it vs. the benefits I'd see in my daily driver(s) and not my Top Fuel Dragster I have sitting out back under a tarp.

 

You're begining to sound like the Zaino and Borla zombies!  God forbid anyone have a difference of opinion against them!  

[99silveradoz71]

Just a matter of what your view is...there are those who use an alleged better product for increased intervals and supposed less worries and to save some cash, and then there are those who will use the same or equivalent product and still use regular intervals and such for their own peace of mind.  To each their own- it's your ride anyway  

[Black02Silverado]

OK, now don't yell at me. Just curious about this one. Has anyone every heard and seen actual facts stating physical evidence of anyone having problems with using ANY synthetic oil?

 

That goes for the ones that are doing the extended drains? We all hear each others praise on their favorite product, which is great. I feel if you are happy then cool that is all that matters. We all like to boast now and then. I guess it is that human factor of feeling good and wanting to get one up on the Joneses.

 

But I was just curious on the negative side. Nobody likes to tell their problems and make them seem like they made the wrong decision?

 

It would be cool to see if someone did what the manufacture said to do and had a problem and then the manufacture came back to either stiff them or live up to their word.

 

Why do we change oil at 3k? Just because the manufacture told us too?  Why not change it every 1k and feel better. 3K might be way to long.

 

As far as expense, some things you get what you pay for and some you don't. But price has some degree of quality, at least I feel that way. Some one has to pay for all the R&D. I'm sure Redline, Amsoil, Royal Purple and others have spent a ton on R&D, the last thing they want it a bad rap, cause someone did what they recommended and then spread the word that their product was  CRAP.

 

Price of oil? I get Amsoil at $4.50 a quart and Mobil is the same at Wal-Mart, some times high some times low depends on their mood I guess.  Sure I have to pay $20 a year to get it at wholesale price but then I don't smoke, drink, hunt or fish so I feel that extra cash is like belonging to Sam's club and I get the benefits when I order. I spend my money on my vehicles, (even with the wife yelling at me some times) I feel if she can buy all those million pairs of shoes I can by stuff form my vehicles.

 

Check out this site,Bobstheoilguy

There is a ton of information on it from people all over the globe and they all use different stuff and are happy. There is even evidence of their oil analysis.

 

We can learn from others I guess. There are people out there that have 300k on dino oil and are happy. Cool!  

 

Technology is changing. I guess that is why we no longer listen to 8 tracks, cause now we have CD's and those are getting outdated.

 

Some synthetic oil users are pushy and some are not. May be it is because they just want to let you in on a good thing, because it works for them, saving time, money, and the enviroment, better economy, yadda yadda yadda.  At least they feel that way.

 

Ok where was I?  Oh yeah so has anyone had any experience on the negative side? That would be some interesting reading.

 

This forum is great and I have learned a ton and want to thank all that have made it so. :thumb: