Trans. Fluid Change

[01z71]

I'm trying to decide what to do and thought I'd get some input. I had the trans. fluid flushed & filter changed aT 30k miles. I'm at 33k now and I want to go synthetic. I want to try the Redline Auto Trans. Fluid. Anyone have any experience with this stuff in their trucks. This truck does not tow but I really want it to last. Thanks.

[Ben]

If you really want it to last...do more than just pan drop and filter change with 4-5 quarts of fluid.

 

Flush all 12-14 quarts out of the system and put in new along with new filter. Hope that is what they did at 30K miles, but most I've seen is just pan drop & filter change.

 

Since don't tow, do this according to your owner manual's schedule.

 

I like Mobil 1 synthetic, though they are all about same to me.

[seadoons]

Interestingly enough, when I had mine done at 30k, they did the actual flush, where they hook up the hoses underneath the hood and pump the old stuff out and pump new stuff in. In order to change the filter, it requires you to drop the pan. I questioned why they didn't do that, and they said if you get it flushed every 30k, you don't have to do the filter until 90k or 100k. Anybody else agree/disagree with this concept?

[timk49]

I disagree. I have read the bullitin about fllushing without an oil change and owners experiencing a higher than normal trans failure afterwards. If you are gonna do it do iot right flush and filter.

[bigtruck21]

I read somewhere that flushing causes all bits of metal to push into the filter and the force of it can actually blow through a cheap cardboard filter. So you end up with a clogged one or one with leaks. Not good. They just told you that to save the hastle of taking the pan off. If you do something, do it right.

[scooter70]

What is it costing to do a flush and fill? Have it done at the dealer or somewhere else? I just hit 50k (it had 26k when I bought it) and I haven't changed it yet.

[Black02Silverado]

I took mine to the dealer and had them flush the tranny. All they do is hook up a bladder to the cooler lines and what happens is the old fluid is pumped out of the tranny to the top of the bladder and in a seperate bladder filled with the fresh fluid is pumped back into the tranny throught the return cooler line. All the pummping is done by the tranny it's self. No extra pressure from another pump, it is all done by the pump inside your tranny. I took in my own fluid and the flush with filter and change was around $120. If you have been able to keep the filter and pan fluid changed at regular 30k intervals then a flush really isn't needed due to the fact that you are keeping it fresh every 30k, at least that is my opinion.

 

As for synthetic you can't go wrong. It is a buyers market out there on that and they are all good. Your choice of Mobil, Redline, Royal Purple and Amsoil are all quality synthetics. Not sure on the price of the others but the Amsoil ATF runs $7.80 a quart or $74.25 for 2.5 gallons (10qts). My 02 took 16qts to do the flush. The advantage to synthetic is better tolerance to the heat and better flow in colder climates.

 

If you do the pan and filter change every 30k and don't really tow or haul much then regular ATF will do just fine.

[scooter70]

I took mine to the dealer and had them flush the tranny. All they do is hook up a bladder to the cooler lines and what happens is the old fluid is pumped out of the tranny to the top of the bladder and in a seperate bladder filled with the fresh fluid is pumped back into the tranny throught the return cooler line. All the pummping is done by the tranny it's self. No extra pressure from another pump, it is all done by the pump inside your tranny. I took in my own fluid and the flush with filter and change was around $120. If you have been able to keep the filter and pan fluid changed at regular 30k intervals then a flush really isn't needed due to the fact that you are keeping it fresh every 30k, at least that is my opinion.

 

As for synthetic you can't go wrong. It is a buyers market out there on that and they are all good. Your choice of Mobil, Redline, Royal Purple and Amsoil are all quality synthetics. Not sure on the price of the others but the Amsoil ATF runs $7.80 a quart or $74.25 for 2.5 gallons (10qts). My 02 took 16qts to do the flush. The advantage to synthetic is better tolerance to the heat and better flow in colder climates.

 

If you do the pan and filter change every 30k and don't really tow or haul much then regular ATF will do just fine.

Thanks Black02Silverado. I just called my dealer and they told me $128+tax including fluid. I asked about changing the filter and the tech told me that the service procedure didn't call for changing the filter. Should I insist that they do it anyway when I bring it in? I'm all for doing it right if you're going to do it.

[woyster_00z71]

Can you flush the fluid yourself? If so, what would the procedure be? Would you flush first, then drop the pan and change the filter/gasket or vice versa? How do you know when all the old fluid is out and all the new fluid is in? 16 qts is alot of fluid...4 gallons in and 4 gallons to dispose of.

 

Has anybody done this themselves or is it something I should let the stealer take care of?

 

B.J.

[MarkD]

Local Tranny shop did mine. The GM filter for the 4l60 is about $40. I would flush then drop the pan.

 

What we did was flush with cheap fluid, drive around the block, flush w/ synthetic, then drop the pan and filter. Most places wont go to this level without prodding.

 

The tranny guys are all about most money for least work. Especially for a 4x4, pan dropping is messy, time consuming, and aggravating. Flushing is pretty simple.

[bigtruck21]

I'd insist on getting the filter replaced. Suposedly you can do it yourself without on of those fluidin/out bladder machines just by disconnecting the tranny cooler lines from the radiator and having a bucket of new fluid for the intake and an empty bucket for the old. With the engine running it's supposed to suck it in itself. There are some intstructions on amsoil's webpage under the transmission fluid.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

Filter change with synthetic, 12 quarts to flush...dealer $195 - 10%

 

I have changed every 15K miles. Done so with past vehicles and never have had tranny problems, not even slipping. This truck fluid only drain and fill no flushing at 3K and now complete at 14.8K. I also do the differential at the same time.

[Black02Silverado]

I took mine to the dealer and had them flush the tranny. All they do is hook up a bladder to the cooler lines and what happens is the old fluid is pumped out of the tranny to the top of the bladder and in a seperate bladder filled with the fresh fluid is pumped back into the tranny throught the return cooler line. All the pummping is done by the tranny it's self. No extra pressure from another pump, it is all done by the pump inside your tranny. I took in my own fluid and the flush with filter and change was around $120.  If you have been able to keep the filter and pan fluid changed at regular 30k intervals then a flush really isn't needed due to the fact that you are keeping it fresh every 30k, at least that is my opinion.

 

As for synthetic you can't go wrong. It is a buyers market out there on that and they are all good. Your choice of Mobil, Redline, Royal Purple and Amsoil are all quality synthetics. Not sure on the price of the others but the Amsoil ATF runs $7.80 a quart or $74.25 for 2.5 gallons (10qts). My 02 took 16qts to do the flush. The advantage to synthetic is better tolerance to the heat and better flow in colder climates. 

 

If you do the pan and filter change every 30k and don't really tow or haul much then regular ATF will do just fine.

Thanks Black02Silverado. I just called my dealer and they told me $128+tax including fluid. I asked about changing the filter and the tech told me that the service procedure didn't call for changing the filter. Should I insist that they do it anyway when I bring it in? I'm all for doing it right if you're going to do it.

Sorry for getting back late, been busy with the kids.

 

I would tell them to do it. I got some slack from my dealer when I took it in and had them install the Amsoil. But they did it. If you have the whole thing done, pan filter change and flush the entire system then your set for the life of the vehicle. Just keep the filter changed at 30k and it will out live you.

[WEFs99]

I think it's a waste of money to do anything more than a Delco filter and Delco fluid every 50k.

[bigtruck21]

to each his own...i'm going to go with the amsoil too. I was wondering about having a bucket full of clean fluid and a bucket for the old and doing without the bladder machine like it says on amsoil's webpage. For using your own fluid black02, the dealer is kind of high just for using their machine. But then again you don't have to mess with it and they did the filter too right? I've gotten stuff in the mail from my dealer saying a flush filter and fluid for $90, but maybe that's a discount.