Tranny Fluid Change Completed

[CapitalTruck]

Just did the tranny fluid in my 2013 with a 4L60E. It had 36k on the odo. The fluid seemed to be in pretty good shape. After taking out the filter I removed that stupid little seal. It had been just long enough that I had forgotten how much of a PIA it is and why last time (on my GMT-800) I just left the seal in place and reused the old one (after previously going through that seal removal b/s). If anybody does this job I would strongly recommend just leaving the seal in place as opposed to dealing with removal of the old one. There is a much greater chance of you doing damage to your tranny through replacing that thing then just leaving the old one in there. Also, when refilling don't put in the whole approximate 5 quart refill amount of fluid. Put in like 4.5 quarts and test drive until hot, then check tranny fluid level. I had to suck a little out of the tranny because the entire 5 was too much.

 

Glad to have been on this board for so many years. When having trouble reaching the star shaped screws on top of the shift cable bracket I knew right away to disconnect the front driveshaft and move it out of the way. I remember somebody having written about that once.

 

This is the type of job that seems simple, yet I feel so much better about it doing it myself as opposed to risking it taking it somewhere.

 

FYI, used OEM Delco Dexron VI fluid and ACDelco Filter kit. The ACDelco filter kit I got for this job had a nice rubber gasket. The ACDelco filter kit I bought a couple of years ago came with a cork gasket that seemed less sound than the factory one.

[Sox Fan]

Good to hear it went well, but why so soon on the transmission service?

[CapitalTruck]

I have found that 25k-30k transmission service intervals = long life. When doing pan/filter you're only changing out 5 qts at a time (out of a total of about 12), so service at this interval ensures that there is always some fresh stuff getting added to the mix. 100k is just absolutely too long. Additionally, I think that the "flushes" or complete fluid exchanges are also trouble. The service/shop manuals call for pan/filter service for a reason. Doesn't introduce too much high detergent oil into the system at once, allows for cleaning of pan magnets, and allows for filter changes.

[Carder09]

I had no trouble, nor damage, when I did my GM 800 a while.back. just takes a flat tip and a small hammer, outboard edge in, with it angled and no issues. But of the seal works, then leave it I guess.

[Black02Silverado]

Good to hear you got it done. I agree with the seal, I have reused it as well with no issues. Especially since you did it so early. To me changing out the fluid every 40k is a good way to extend your transmissions life. I just don't see letting it go to 100k. For what it cost it is a no brainer. Especially every 40k is for most every 2.5 years on average I would think.

[02suburbanZ71]

I called my dealer requesting drop pan, filter, fluid. They said they would only flush mine. Said no thanks and hung up the phone. They wanted 230 bucks and that wasnt even with cost of the filter

[CapitalTruck]

I had no trouble, nor damage, when I did my GM 800 a while.back. just takes a flat tip and a small hammer, outboard edge in, with it angled and no issues. But of the seal works, then leave it I guess.

True, but I think the metal down there is pretty soft. That's what I did too.

[mymaggiebell]

i have always used the 50000 km rule of thumb for tranny services. i figured they are put under a lot of stress and it is cheap insurance. in fact i just starting to research fluids as i am getting to the point of needing another service. anyone use the amsoil fluids for this??

[CapitalTruck]

I used ACDelco Dexron VI as it is synthetic. It's also backwards compatible (for Dexron III, etc.)

[intheburbs]

Dexron VI is rated for a 100,000-mile service life for normal service. It's a significant bump in capabilities over Dexron III. If it makes you feel better, then by all means do it. But it's in all likelihood completely unnecessary for a '13 with only 36K on it.

 

Pull your transmission dipstick - smell the fluid, compare it in color to new fluid. If it smells burned, or is brown or black as opposed to bright red, then it's due for a change.

 

Even though the fluid still looked/smelled ok, I just did my 08 Burb with 125K on the clock. Mainly because I'd just beaten the snot out of it pulling my 6500-lb trailer through the Rockies. Total weight was ~14,500 lbs. Saw the trans temps reach 235° several times.

[Z45]

I used ACDelco Dexron VI as it is synthetic. It's also backwards compatible (for Dexron III, etc.)

DEXRON-VI is not synthetic. It is made from a blend of Group II and Group III base oils plus the additives package.

[Carder09]

True, but I think the metal down there is pretty soft. That's what I did too.

It's actually very soft lol, there was some crud on the metal and I took a scribe to scrape it off and it dug into the metal a wee bit. It wasn't anything that was going to affect the tranny but it was surprising.

[CapitalTruck]

DEXRON-VI is not synthetic. It is made from a blend of Group II and Group III base oils plus the additives package.

I stand corrected. Major research has indicated that it's a synthetic blend. If I wanted to go to full synthetic I would probably use this:

http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/dexron_vi.pdf

 

However, just to keep things on the up and up, I'll probably continue to use ACDelco Dexron VI

[dolphinsleb]

I changed my 11 tahoe tranny fluid at 50k, still was pretty clean, had a local mechanic do it, cost me $192 to drop the pan, install new filter and gasket, fill it up, and traded the damn truck 2 months later, what a waste of money that was, oh well, could take the 14 mpg overall anymore on the 2wd tahoe

[CapitalTruck]

Dexron VI is rated for a 100,000-mile service life for normal service. It's a significant bump in capabilities over Dexron III. If it makes you feel better, then by all means do it. But it's in all likelihood completely unnecessary for a '13 with only 36K on it.

 

Pull your transmission dipstick - smell the fluid, compare it in color to new fluid. If it smells burned, or is brown or black as opposed to bright red, then it's due for a change.

 

Even though the fluid still looked/smelled ok, I just did my 08 Burb with 125K on the clock. Mainly because I'd just beaten the snot out of it pulling my 6500-lb trailer through the Rockies. Total weight was ~14,500 lbs. Saw the trans temps reach 235° several times.

You got a tranny cooler on that thing?