Fluid change required?

[bronco351]

I drove my truck in for an oil change today. They found a transmission leak, and fixed it under warranty. They told me that the transmission fluid was discoloured due to the leak, and 4x4 fluid (i'm assuming they mean transfer case) was also discoloured and should be changed. I nearly died at the $600+ estimated cost (it was "on special" too, right....). I figured that i would spend the $100ish and 1-2 hours to do it myself. Looked at the manual to see what type of fluid I needed, and the manual says that these fluids should be replaced around 156,000km. I'm currently at 51,000km. My father in law worked for years at a tire shop, and says that the transmission shouldn't be flushed prematurely as it can cause damage. I have heard that before from several people. I'm worried that GM will void my warranty for not performing required maintenance.

 

What say the masses? Doesn't hurt or follow the manual?

[hurricanoday]

They fixed the leak but didn't change the fluid? If you are worried about your warranty I would follow the book and/or dealer recommendations and have the dealer do it.

[Gary13]

I guess the other question, was that 600 bucks including a pan gasket and filter? How do they get off charging 600 for 120 dollars of fluids?

[Rawyzf]

If the leak caused discoloration, they better replace the fluid as well.

 

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[SouthpawHD]

If the leak was fixed under warranty, wouldn't one assume that since the fluid discoloration was caused by the leak (again, a warranty item) that the fluid change should be covered under warranty?

 

One problem created another problem, it should ALL be covered under warranty in my book!

[redwngr]

If the fluid isn't changed it won't be possible to use the fluid color to determine if the problem repeats.

[Nathan79]

Changing fluid early doesn't cause problems, just the opposite.

[glcbn]

Did you asked about the discoloration? What the heck did they mean by discolored fluid. Burnt? Unreal that they didn't change out the fluid.

[TJay74]

The 6L80E are a 100k mile service interval unless under the most harsh usage conditions. There is no way a transmission fluid leak would cause the fluid to get dark unless it caused the fluid level to go low enough that the transmission was burning up, in that case you would know it. I would challenge the dealer on that, if in their professional opinion the leak caused the fluid to go dark then the fluid change would be covered under warranty.

 

Sounds like the dealer is doing nothing more than trying to get you to pay for a un-needed fluid change. No way I would change the fluid just to change it, there absolutely no reason to on the 6L80E.

[txab]

Send a sample off to have it tested

[newdude]

The leak didn't cause any "discoloration" of the fluid...they were just up-selling you services sooner than GM recommends. A little bit of customer pay service while they were in there doing warranty work. If they had dropped the pan at all to fix the leak, then you already have 6 fresh new quarts of Dex6 in your transmission.

 

What was leaking on the transmission in the first place?

[bronco351]

The leak was in a line going to the transmission cooler.

[redwngr]

The leak was in a line going to the transmission cooler.

If that's the case, just top it off, and change it at the mileage indicated in the manual.

[FL335i]

^Bingo advice above. Check the level after the trans temp is 190F+ and park it on level ground. Go through the gears and then check it in Park idling. Especially after the dealer touched it/repaired a leak.

[Cowpie]

My 2013 1500, I changed all the drive train fluids at around 5000 miles. The xfer case fluid looked horrible and there was enough metal filings on the magnetic plug as if my cat had stuck his tail in a light socket. Same for my 2015 2500, but not nearly as bad. I even redid the 1500 xfer at 10,000 miles to make sure, and fluid looked good and hardly any wear metals on the plug. I have been on a early factory fluid change out regimen for several decades, so this was not unique to these two pickups. After initial change outs, I go to the 50K mile service interval on drive train. No definitive proof that it makes a major difference, but I have not had a drive train related problem since my 1966 Chevy C-10. Probably just dumb luck.