Transmission overfill

[devzw3]

Hello everyone, new member here. Not new to gm trucks themselves, but I did just finally get back into them with my 03 GMC Z71.

 

Well I have what I feel is a slight issue and I would like to see about fixing it. The truck has close to 200K on the dash but it runs very well. Engine is smooth as can be. I was told that the transmission was rebuilt and to be honest it does have ok colored and scented fluid (not brown or burned) so I'm guessing at some point some work or a filter was changed.

 

Now here is my issue, with most daily driving, the truck shifts smooth and fine. It does shift a little speratic at times when deciding to either gear down or stay in gear but no slippage. Well when I was in a good amount of highway dead and stop traffic the other day, I felt like the shifts were a little more rough. More like you can feel a definite click into gear. But after all the traffic everything went smooth again.

 

I checked the fluid (idle, parked, and hot) thinking maybe it's a little low and it looks to be WAY over filled. (I'll try to get a pick posted)

 

Easy as just draining out a quart or so right? No.... I don't have a drain bolt. Literally. I can't find one. That spot where I should have that one bolt that never comes loose doesn't have a bolt. It's just an indent in the pan with no drain spot.

 

All I want to do is take out a quart or so from the transmission and REALLY don't want to drop the whole pan for this.

 

Here is what I was thinking and wondered what you guys thought about this... do you think I could take off one of my cooler lines from the radiator and start the truck up for a second with the help of a friend and pump out roughly a quart then reconnect the hose and call it a day? Seems like the only way other than dropping the pan. Or will that do damage/be an even harder job to perform?

 

Thank you for any feedback. If the transmission is going out either way, I'm just planning on doing a rebuild of my own (meaning take it somewhere but at least I would know for sure it got done)

[devzw3]

[Z45]

Get one of these suction hand pumps, you will need to go to hardware store and buy longer plastic tubing as well, approx the length the dipstick +. Just be sure you are on a level surface when checking ATF and do it multiple times to be sure of the level before removing fluid. I suggest you find a clean container in case you need to put some back in.

 

[Black02Silverado]

You can get what Mike posted or one like this. It works great and I use it to drain oil from my lawn mower as well as power steering and brake fluid.

 

Taking the line off isn't all that hard and if you pull to much out you can always put back in easily.

[muddkatt]

If it was me, I would drop the pan and change the filter and refill with new synthetic fluid to the proper level.

[NBSFan]

There's normally no tranny fluid drain bolt on 4L60E's but it can be modded for 1. The easiest method for removing trans fluid is via pumping it out the dip stick tube.

 

Drive the truck for 15 minutes to get the motor & tranny to normal operation temps

Park the truck on even level ground

Set your parking brake

Check the trans fluid via the dipstick and note the fluid level before inserting the dip stick back in the tube

Check the trans fluid a 2nd time noting the fluid level to confirm fluid level

If it's overfilled use the pump/tube method to remove the trans fluid pumping it in a clean container removing 1/2-1 quart at a time.

 

I always check fluid levels 2 times to confirm the 1st level check.

There's normally no tranny fluid drain bolt on 4L60E's but it can be modded for 1. The easiest method for removing trans fluid is via pumping it out the dip stick tube.

 

Drive the truck for 15 minutes to get the motor & tranny to normal operation temps

Park the truck on even level ground

Set your parking brake

Check the trans fluid via the dipstick and note the fluid level before inserting the dip stick back in the tube

Check the trans fluid a 2nd time noting the fluid level to confirm fluid level

If it's overfilled use the pump/tube method to remove the trans fluid pumping it in a clean container removing 1/2-1 quart at a time.

 

I always check fluid levels 2 times to confirm the 1st level check.

There's normally no tranny fluid drain bolt on 4L60E's but it can be modded for 1. The easiest method for removing trans fluid is via pumping it out the dip stick tube.

 

Drive the truck for 15 minutes to get the motor & tranny to normal operation temps

Park the truck on even level ground

Set your parking brake

Check the trans fluid via the dipstick and note the fluid level before inserting the dip stick back in the tube

Check the trans fluid a 2nd time noting the fluid level to confirm fluid level

If it's overfilled use the pump/tube method to remove the trans fluid pumping it in a clean container removing 1/2-1 quart at a time.

 

I always check fluid levels 2 times to confirm the 1st level check.

[It's Tim]

That fluid looks trashed just change it.

[sefiroxx]

Yep, looks trashed. Change it. You can pull the line to the radiator, put a hose from it to a bucket, start run and be prepared to keep adding new fluid. Once new fluid starts pumping out, shut motor off. Go thru normal rest and warm measurements to get a good reading and adjust accordingly

 

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