Transmission Fluid Change

[Hexa Fox]

Hey guys looking for all the advice I can get. I have done a fair bit of research already. However, I am going to change the transmission fluid in my 2007 (New Body) Silverado. If it matters it is a 4.8 V8, 4x4, regular cab and long bed.

 

1.) I do not know exactly what filter kit I need. I went by Advanced Auto Parts and the guy told me you usually count the bolts on the pan but he said for this specific model there are two different ones. I called General Motors and talked to what I am guessing is a foreigner that lives in another country. I gave him my VIN and he could not tell me what I needed to know. Does anyone happen to know which one I need?

 

2.) My truck has 95,000 on it and to be honest he oil does not look good. When I pull the dipstick out and wipe it off it is pretty black/burnt but there is definitely still a little red to it. I was told that if it was in really bad shape not to change it because I know I can risk damage. I know this is true but not sure if it has been neglected to that point. It is sort of weird that I can still see red meaning someone might have dropped the pan at one point and added oil in. I bought the truck used.

 

To try and keep this short I will say I am pretty well researched from YouTube and other forums. However, any advice from people that have a similar truck to mine would be greatly appreciated. For instance, I know that I am going to have to drop the exhaust to remove the pan. 

 

Just so you guys know I plan to remove the transmission in line to the radiator and let it pump out as much as it wants. After it stops I am going to put it back together, drop the exhaust, drop the pan, replace the filter and gasket, then put it back together. Also when I go to get a plastic hose to guide the old oil out does anyone know what size hose is a good fit for my truck? Also where can I buy it, my local auto parts store? I appreciate any help in advance. 

[Black02Silverado]

You should be able to go to the local GM dealer with your VIN and see what transmission you have.  I would think it would only be one since you have the 4.8.  If not sure you can always get both filter kits and then take the one that you didn't use back.

 

It is a good thing to change out the fluid.  You are under that magical 100k mile mark, not by much but you are.  I think changing out the filter and fluid will do a world of good.  I have done it on several high mileage vehicles with super dark fluid with great results.

 

As for the hose size.  Not sure on that one.  Search on here.  Or maybe someone will know where a thread is on this.  If all else fails, you can usually put on an extra larg hose to direct the fluid flow from the transmission line.  That is what I did my first time exchanging the fluid.

 

Sorry I couldn't be more help and good luck.

[txab]

You either have a deep pan or shallow pan. Shallow pan is flat. Deep pan is not.

 

Deep:

 

[MaverickZ71]

Google AC Delco.com and then look at their online parts catalog.  You can put in your year/make/model/engine or your VIN and it will tell you the specific part numbers that you can order online or take to your dealer or local auto parts place.  If you don't want the recommended OEM AC Delco parts, you can go to Fram.com or whatever brand you want and use the AC Delco part number for cross-reference to get the part number you need.  

[carkhz316]

OP: You have a deep pan 4L60/65. I don't know why the parts lookup list deep or shallow pans for everything when it was a year cutoff (98) for the deep pan to become standard in almost every vehicle equipped with a 4L60/65/70. Also, it'll take around 6-7 qts, give or take with a pan drop/ filter change.

[Hexa Fox]

10 hours ago, carkhz316 said:

OP: You have a deep pan 4L60/65. I don't know why the parts lookup list deep or shallow pans for everything when it was a year cutoff (98) for the deep pan to become standard in almost every vehicle equipped with a 4L60/65/70. Also, it'll take around 6-7 qts, give or take with a pan drop/ filter change.

Thanks for all the responses and this confirms what I originally thought. I know my pan is not "flat" it definitely has some depth to it. Also I hoped on getting out around 2/3's of the fluid which comes out to roughly 8 quarts. However, I already went to Advanced Auto Parts and the guy there told me that he was nearly certain that he knew the kit he sold me was correct. I usually always try to use OEM stuff so I bought ACDelco TF289 (25174487). 

 

I also usually divert away from 'magical products' but I am going to purchase a Lucas Transmission Fluid Cleaner as well. The guy in Advanced Auto Parts swears by it and so does Scotty Kilmer on YouTube. Not sure what you guys think of putting this in with my new transmission fluid but people seem to love it. You are welcome to weigh in. 

 

I really appreciate all the help people!

[Hexa Fox]

13 hours ago, Black02Silverado said:

You should be able to go to the local GM dealer with your VIN and see what transmission you have.  I would think it would only be one since you have the 4.8.  If not sure you can always get both filter kits and then take the one that you didn't use back.

 

It is a good thing to change out the fluid.  You are under that magical 100k mile mark, not by much but you are.  I think changing out the filter and fluid will do a world of good.  I have done it on several high mileage vehicles with super dark fluid with great results.

 

As for the hose size.  Not sure on that one.  Search on here.  Or maybe someone will know where a thread is on this.  If all else fails, you can usually put on an extra larg hose to direct the fluid flow from the transmission line.  That is what I did my first time exchanging the fluid.

 

Sorry I couldn't be more help and good luck.

They did not really have anything at Advanced Auto Parts so I am going to go get some from Home Depot. I think I will just drive the plastic hose straight down into a bucket or something to encourage it to go down and not back toward the in line. 

 

Forgot to mention that I remember my pan looking pretty bad. So I plan on sanding and painting it with some rust converter and possibly another layer of something else. I am sure it is unnecessary but why not? Obviously I will only be painting the outside of it.  

[Black02Silverado]

6 hours ago, Hexa Fox said:

Thanks for all the responses and this confirms what I originally thought. I know my pan is not "flat" it definitely has some depth to it. Also I hoped on getting out around 2/3's of the fluid which comes out to roughly 8 quarts. However, I already went to Advanced Auto Parts and the guy there told me that he was nearly certain that he knew the kit he sold me was correct. I usually always try to use OEM stuff so I bought ACDelco TF289 (25174487). 

 

I also usually divert away from 'magical products' but I am going to purchase a Lucas Transmission Fluid Cleaner as well. The guy in Advanced Auto Parts swears by it and so does Scotty Kilmer on YouTube. Not sure what you guys think of putting this in with my new transmission fluid but people seem to love it. You are welcome to weigh in. 

 

I really appreciate all the help people!

I'm not familiar with Lucas products but if you would use AMSOIL's Engine Transmission Flush, you put it in the old fluid, run the vehicle for 15 minutes at idle and then change out the transmission filter and the rest of the transmission fluid.  You don't use it with the new fluid.

[Hexa Fox]

9 hours ago, Black02Silverado said:

I'm not familiar with Lucas products but if you would use AMSOIL's Engine Transmission Flush, you put it in the old fluid, run the vehicle for 15 minutes at idle and then change out the transmission filter and the rest of the transmission fluid.  You don't use it with the new fluid.

Hey Nick,

 

Thank you for the response. You might remember me, I made a similar post about six months ago and never got around to changing the fluid. You gave me a bunch of good advice. However, I am trying to avoid flushing it to avoid problems. I might go back and do what you said on my next change in about 50,000 miles. Which is to drop the pan and put in about 5 quarts. Then keep pumping fluid out of the return line and adding new fluid until you begin to see pink. I love the idea, because it will probably pull the fluid from the torque converter. My plan will probably not get all of it out but I am fine with it as long as I get 2/3 of it. 

[Black02Silverado]

9 minutes ago, Hexa Fox said:

Hey Nick,

 

Thank you for the response. You might remember me, I made a similar post about six months ago and never got around to changing the fluid. You gave me a bunch of good advice. However, I am trying to avoid flushing it to avoid problems. I might go back and do what you said on my next change in about 50,000 miles. Which is to drop the pan and put in about 5 quarts. Then keep pumping fluid out of the return line and adding new fluid until you begin to see pink. I love the idea, because it will probably pull the fluid from the torque converter. My plan will probably not get all of it out but I am fine with it as long as I get 2/3 of it. 

Jordan,

That sounds like a good plan.  Might not have done it back then but at least you are on top of it now.  Take care of your ride and it will take care of you. 

[Hexa Fox]

I guess we got something done today. My father and I took off the return line to the transmission radiator and put plastic tubing over the actual line that goes into the radiator. When I turned the truck on it came pumping out of the radiator and coated the engine compartment pretty well. I was pretty sure that the oil would be pumped through the return line that actually goes into the transmission. Anyway no big deal, swapped the hose over the to the port of the radiator and started pumping again. 

 

However, I would say that all together so far we have gotten on no more than four quarts. We got it pan off, it looks like you can get it off without taking the exhaust off, but just like everyone else we are going to have to remove the exhaust, I should have just known from all the videos I have watched. Anyway it is very light and know there is not more than a quart in there. 

 

So my question is, where is all the oil at? I also have drove the truck up some ramps to get clearance, so the front end is definitely a couple feet higher than the back end. Could that have something to do with it? Anyway I now plan to change out the filter and put the four quarts back into the pan to replace it. I bought some "Right Stuff" to seal the gasket to the pan and body as well. Then going to try to pump some more out. The oil is definitely pretty nasty. 

[txab]

You do understand you only pump out a few qts at a time and then refill with fresh. Then repeat the procedure until fluid comes out clean. That's why you start with pan drop and filter first, then exchange the rest using the above method. If you pump until no more comes out you're only burning up your tranny pump since you run it dry.

 

You should be able to remove pan by loosening or removing the rear transmission mount bolt and jacking it up slightly. You may also need to remove or bend out of the way, the shifter mech. assembly. Plenty of threads on here cover all these procedures in depth

[Hexa Fox]

49 minutes ago, txab said:

You do understand you only pump out a few qts at a time and then refill with fresh. Then repeat the procedure until fluid comes out clean. That's why you start with pan drop and filter first, then exchange the rest using the above method. If you pump until no more comes out you're only burning up your tranny pump since you run it dry.

 

You should be able to remove pan by loosening or removing the rear transmission mount bolt and jacking it up slightly. You may also need to remove or bend out of the way, the shifter mech. assembly. Plenty of threads on here cover all these procedures in depth

Yeah I have seen all that. I was under the impression that I could get a considerable amount out just by pumping it out once and dropping the pan. I ran the truck for about thirty seconds each time and all together the truck probably ran between 2-3 minutes maximum. I am definitely planning on adding fluid to the pan now. 

[txab]

You're only going to get the amount in the pan that is above or up to the filter. After that you're sucking air. Tranny pumps don't pump air very well. Again you don't want to run things dry in a tranny

[Hexa Fox]

5 hours ago, txab said:

You're only going to get the amount in the pan that is above or up to the filter. After that you're sucking air. Tranny pumps don't pump air very well. Again you don't want to run things dry in a tranny

Thanks for the advice, I was aware that air can burn a transmission up fast. That is why we only ran it in thirty second increments and only two or three times. I had a doctors appointment today and came home with a headache so my truck is still in pieces in my yard. My father said he tried getting the exhaust bolts off and they would not budge. I am going to use my heat gun and spray some Deep Creep on them tomorrow and try to change that, might use my little butane torch instead if I can get it close enough. 

 

This is the first time I have ever done a transmission change, and believe I saw the end of the dipstick down there. Is that right? I always imagined that is the only place it could measure the transmission fluid? 

 

Generally speaking, I can put the pan back on dry and just put the Dexron VI in through the top engine compartment and it will end up in the pan anyway right? No need to put the fluid into the pan and try to get it back on?