Transmission Fluid options?

[2017Silverado22]

Anyone have any recommendations for a better trans fluid than what comes from the factory? Is there anything else out there that is a better option? My 2017 Silverado has the downshift clunk when it downshift about 50% of the time. Never an up shift clunk, always down and usually when braking harder. What I’ve noticed is that it don’t do it until the trans gets above say 160 degrees. When I first jump in it, it shifts smooth as silk for the first 30 miles or so until the tranny gets hot. After that point, the downshift clunk 50% of the time begins. Never had tranny fluid messed with. 49k miles currently. Any advice appreciated.

[Grumpy Bear]

10 minutes ago, 2017Silverado22 said:

Anyone have any recommendations for a better trans fluid than what comes from the factory? Is there anything else out there that is a better option? My 2017 Silverado has the downshift clunk when it downshift about 50% of the time. Never an up shift clunk, always down and usually when braking harder. What I’ve noticed is that it don’t do it until the trans gets above say 160 degrees. When I first jump in it, it shifts smooth as silk for the first 30 miles or so until the tranny gets hot. After that point, the downshift clunk 50% of the time begins. Never had tranny fluid messed with. 49k miles currently. Any advice appreciated.

Sounds like drive line backlash is a bit on the loose side. 

 

That said need a bit more information for a fluid recommendation. Like which transmission? 

[Black02Silverado]

More information would be helpful.

 

With that mileage, now would be a good time to drop the pan and change the filter and replace the fluid.  The new Mobil that the dealers are using is supposed to solve issues that are happening with the 8sp transmissions.

 

If you want a quality fluid.  AMSOIL's transmission fluid, their  ATL is great.  I have been running it in my 2002 now for over 100k miles.  Had a used fluid analysis done and it came back good.

 

The issues you are having might be covered under warranty and so for that it is worth a try to have the dealer do a fluid exchange since it would be at no cost to you.

[2017Silverado22]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Sounds like drive line backlash is a bit on the loose side. 

 

That said need a bit more information for a fluid recommendation. Like which transmission? 

6L80 is the transmission

[2017Silverado22]

55 minutes ago, Black02Silverado said:

More information would be helpful.

 

With that mileage, now would be a good time to drop the pan and change the filter and replace the fluid.  The new Mobil that the dealers are using is supposed to solve issues that are happening with the 8sp transmissions.

 

If you want a quality fluid.  AMSOIL's transmission fluid, their  ATL is great.  I have been running it in my 2002 now for over 100k miles.  Had a used fluid analysis done and it came back good.

 

The issues you are having might be covered under warranty and so for that it is worth a try to have the dealer do a fluid exchange since it would be at no cost to you.

To be honest with you, I’m tired of dealing with dealerships and their “it don’t do it when we drive it “ attitudes. I finally got a tech in it the last time I took it to them and he pretty much said “man I know, I can feel it too and a lot of them do that. There’s nothing we can do about it”. I figure I will either change the fluid and filter myself (If doable) or just pay a shop somewhere to put what transmission fluid I want in it. 

[Grumpy Bear]

1 minute ago, 2017Silverado22 said:

6L80 is the transmission

Red Line D6 is another excellent choice and right on time. You can drop the pan and change the filter or draw it out the dipstick tube. Stock pan holds 6 quarts. If AMSOIL ATL or Red Line D6 is a bit over your budget Valvoline Full Synthetic Dexron VI is a pretty good fluid. 

 

Ever hear the joke where a fella tells his doctor that his arm hurts whenever he lifts it above his head and the doctor says, "Then don't do that?"

 

You mentioned "Never an up shift clunk, always down and usually when braking harder". Yea.....like that....  

 

 

[2017Silverado22]

5 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Red Line D6 is another excellent choice and right on time. You can drop the pan and change the filter or draw it out the dipstick tube. Stock pan holds 6 quarts. If AMSOIL ATL or Red Line D6 is a bit over your budget Valvoline Full Synthetic Dexron VI is a pretty good fluid. 

 

Ever hear the joke where a fella tells his doctor that his arm hurts whenever he lifts it above his head and the doctor says, "Then don't do that?"

 

You mentioned "Never an up shift clunk, always down and usually when braking harder". Yea.....like that....  

 

 

It doesn’t take a very hard brake to make it do it. If you start slowing down 200 yards away from a stop sign and almost glide to a stop without touching the brake very hard, you can almost prevent it from doing it. Normal every day driving you will feel and hear it each time you stop. Again, if the temp is below say 160, you’ll never have it. 

[CamGTP]

Removing the cooler line thermostat will help keep the temps lower too.

[gone_fishing]

I've been using Valvoline MaxLife ATF in my 6 speed. Changed around 60k, 110k, and 150k with the filter at the 110k. Each time I did 3-4 drain/fills by pumping fluid out of the dipstick with a fluid extractor. Transmission shifts great but I've never really had any issues to start with.

[Black02Silverado]

If you can't source AMSOIL's ATL locally, let me know and I can get a quote delivered to your door.  I'll just need your address.  You can send me a PM.

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, CamGTP said:

Removing the cooler line thermostat will help keep the temps lower too.

This is a GREAT idea. Did it on mine and my fluid never goes over 165 F even on a 100 F day. That said it is a 4.3 so the trans cooler is in the cold tank. Still it should drop it quite a bit. Jon A did a full work up on this a few years ago.   

[2017Silverado22]

1 hour ago, Black02Silverado said:

If you can't source AMSOIL's ATL locally, let me know and I can get a quote delivered to your door.  I'll just need your address.  You can send me a PM.

Would the AMSOIL ATL be a better fluid than the Redline mentioned above? As far as locating it, I have every major parts store around. Autozone, O Riley’s, Advance, Napa. Assuming one of those guys carry it?

[2017Silverado22]

34 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

This is a GREAT idea. Did it on mine and my fluid never goes over 165 F even on a 100 F day. That said it is a 4.3 so the trans cooler is in the cold tank. Still it should drop it quite a bit. Jon A did a full work up on this a few years ago.   

Do you have a link for the write up? Was it a newer model?

[Colossus]

Just have it flushed.  No need to waste so much money on drain and fill drain and fill drain and fill. 

[CamGTP]

It should be the same cost. Last time I checked prices I thought the Dexron 6 was $7-8 per quart. So if someone bought 10-12 quarts we are around that $100, which is either the same or less than what a fluid exchange would run at a local shop or dealership.

 

Doing the cooler line method is free or if someone already had a Mighty vac fluid evacuator it would be the same deal. It's more peace of mind to do stuff yourself sometimes, no worry about a shop messing something up. Not that I feel someone could mess up a something as simple as filling fluid through a tube and using a dipstick to check the level.