Transmission Fluid Advice

[300 Blackout]

There’s a lot of options for trans fluid. Any new DEXRON VI fluid will be an improvement over used fluid. There are also fluids out there that aren’t certified/licensed as DEXRON VI but are more than capable of great performance in our transmissions. I have the 6L80 also and I used Amsoil Signature Series Fuel-Efficient ATF. I bought four gallons since I also changed my transfer case fluid (do that too if you haven’t already) and wanted to have extra on hand.

I didn’t do any reprogramming of my trans after the fluid change, but I did disconnect my battery negative for other reasons which may have forced the trans control module to relearn it’s settings. Either way, over 1,000 miles and the trans couldn’t be happier. Shifts great, stays cool and is still nice and quiet.

It’s a lot of work but well worth it for the longevity of the truck.

[Eddie 70]

I pulled all I could pull out the dipstick tube at 70k miles, to avoid taking a bath in trans fluid. Dropped the pan and changed the filter. Cleaned the magnet and replaced the filter. I have since pulled 4 quarts every 15k miles out the dipstick tube. The fluid looks much better now. I am at 109k miles and I hope for another 4 or 5 years out of the truck.

[gone_fishing]

I have been using Valvoline MaxLife ATF in my Sierra. I have been using a suction pump with a hose down the dipstick tube to extract the fluid. I can usually get between 3-4 quarts. I'll do this 3 times usually a week apart. I did the first one around 60,000 miles. Did it again around 100,000 then did a pan drop and new filter around 130,000. Now at 153,000 with no transmission issues. Plan to do another 3x drain/fill this fall.

[RE1]

18 hours ago, Eddie 70 said:

I pulled all I could pull out the dipstick tube at 70k miles, to avoid taking a bath in trans fluid. Dropped the pan and changed the filter. Cleaned the magnet and replaced the filter. I have since pulled 4 quarts every 15k miles out the dipstick tube. The fluid looks much better now. I am at 109k miles and I hope for another 4 or 5 years out of the truck.

Nice.

 

I think I found that pump on amazon. Does the hose that comes with it fit down the dipstick tube or did you have to use something else?

[Grumpy Bear]

18 hours ago, Eddie 70 said:

I am at 109k miles and I hope for another 4 or 5 years out of the truck.

Curious Eddie. How many miles do you feel is a 'normal' life span for a vehicle? 

[RE1]

2 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Curious Eddie. How many miles do you feel is a 'normal' life span for a vehicle? 

 Grumpy:

 

How many miles would you say is lifespan for these trucks if properly maintained? I’m at 95k miles with my 2014 GMC and have decided to keep it “till the wheels fall off”. With the number of small problems that it has had, I just don’t know if that will be at 100k or 250k miles. 

[diyer2]

I to remove trans fluid through the dip stick tube.

I use this 

Buy it here

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AJR8E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pump it up

Open valve

Pour out old fluid

Works great

[paumat]

How much can you get out through the dipstick tube?  4 of the 13 quarts?

[diyer2]

9 minutes ago, paumat said:

How much can you get out through the dipstick tube?  4 of the 13 quarts?

I get 4.5 quarts out of my 2012 6 speed . 6l80

6 quarts with a pan drop and filter change.

I use Castrol Transmax fluid if you're interested.

[16LT4]

Here’s what I did on my ‘16 at 72k (and do on my entire fleet): pulled the pan, drilled a hole with a stepped bit in the pan, and took a cut off wheel and castled a nut. I then welded it castle-side down to the inside of the pan (so fluid could completely drain and not leave a 1/4” of fluid/debris remaining behind). I had a spare Colorado drain plug that I cut the end off that would extend past the welded nut, that has rubber gasket. The first pan drop at ~72k took a while due to the improvement, but the two subsequent drain/fills after ~500 miles each took 15 minutes. After than, ill drain/fill every year. The trans had NONE of the issues my ‘17 did, but after the drains, it drives amazing, to the point where I’d doubt there was ever an issue anywhere with any 6 speed.

 

On my last fill, I added a bottle of Lubeguard Red. I’ve always used it in my transmissions, including my ‘04 F150 who had its first fluid change at 150k miles, and it cleaned up any TC shudder or odd shifts every time. If that doesn’t work, they make a bottle specifically for the TC shudder these trucks can exhibit. If the dealer comes up short, spend $15 for a bottle and make the problem go away. 

 

It took ~6 qts + 10 oz LG red of Castrol Transmax the last time. I do love the Redline stuff, it’s all I use in my X3. 

[Grumpy Bear]

6 hours ago, RE1 said:

 Grumpy:

 

How many miles would you say is lifespan for these trucks if properly maintained? I’m at 95k miles with my 2014 GMC and have decided to keep it “till the wheels fall off”. With the number of small problems that it has had, I just don’t know if that will be at 100k or 250k miles. 

Maybe I should take a poll for this question.

 

If properly maintained means allot of different things to different people doesn't it? Defined buy my version of properly maintained a very VERY long time. Defined by GM's idea of properly maintained....yea....that's a crap shoot. They are not unhappy with selling you a truck every 3 to 5 years. And that's the problem. I explained it to another forum member in a PM that this relationship we have with manufactures is much like playing checkers. 

 

Manufactures like to play their checker (Design and manufacture it) then tell you what move to make with your checker (how to maintain it). You good with that? I use to be when they actually cared. No so much anymore....

 

Give you a real world example. Stihl 2 cycle products. Blowers, trimmers etc. If you own one you've been told that, 'because of todays fuels you must run Stihl Moto fuel for trouble free service". This a partially true statement. You must run their TYPE of fuel but it isn't because the gas in the US is bad and that is important. Gasoline is a chemically defined fluid that is Federally Regulated in this country. BUT....US fuel by and large contains Ethanol. Ethanol does NOT make gas 'gum up'. Ethanol is a solvent that attacks very specific materials. Not a secret is it? Stihl deliberately decided to use those specific alcohol sensitive materials to build the carburetor diaphragms from. This CREATES a problem. They then CREATE the cure. Canned Alcohol free fuel in a 50:1 premix and sell it at a 1,000% mark up CREATING a revenue stream of unholy proportion. 

 

$32 a gallon!!!

 

Briggs & Stratton has a series of carburetors on 4 cycle machines that ALSO utilizes a diaphragm (the part that fails in Stihl equipment) that will last decades in ethanol based fuels. Just made of a different material. Brigs & Stratton is now on a "never have to change your oil" kick.  

[Eddie 70]

9 hours ago, RE1 said:

Nice.

 

I think I found that pump on amazon. Does the hose that comes with it fit down the dipstick tube or did you have to use something else?

The tube that comes with the pump is silicone type material and will stick to the sides of the tube before you ever got it down far enough to pull fluid. I bought some of the tubing similar to the type that is the hard line going to your refrigerator except in a larger diameter that just fits snugly inside the pump tubing. The tubing I bought is stiff and can be pushed to the bottom of the pan without much resistance.

[Eddie 70]

9 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Curious Eddie. How many miles do you feel is a 'normal' life span for a vehicle? 

I normally don't keep vehicles very long. Normal life for me has been about 3 years, over my working years. I am getting closer to what I want to be my retirement age to be and another 4 or 5 years should get me there. I have probably had 20+ vehicles. (Way too many and a lot of lost money, but I enjoyed every vehicle)

In May of 2018, I bought a little Honda to make the 41 mile, each way commute to work. At the time, May 25th 2018, my truck had 104,646 on it. As of July 12th 2019, my truck 108,804. This is coming from my aCar app that I use to track mileage. If those numbers keep up, the truck should make it pretty easily to retirement. The little Honda has been getting 42+MPG and cost $4000. It might pay for itself.

[RE1]

19 minutes ago, Eddie 70 said:

The tube that comes with the pump is silicone type material and will stick to the sides of the tube before you ever got it down far enough to pull fluid. I bought some of the tubing similar to the type that is the hard line going to your refrigerator except in a larger diameter that just fits snugly inside the pump tubing. The tubing I bought is stiff and can be pushed to the bottom of the pan without much resistance.

Awesome man. Thanks. 

[royalkangaroo]

The tube that comes with the pump is silicone type material and will stick to the sides of the tube before you ever got it down far enough to pull fluid. I bought some of the tubing similar to the type that is the hard line going to your refrigerator except in a larger diameter that just fits snugly inside the pump tubing. The tubing I bought is stiff and can be pushed to the bottom of the pan without much resistance.

What size/material tubing are you guys using?

I have the AMSOIL hand pump to pump fluid from quart and gallon bottles. Would this work with a long section of tubing down the transmission fill tube?


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