Tranny Flush or Drop Pan?

[Tweeter400]

My truck is pushing the 50,000mi mark and planning some maintance. I am getting mixed info on what to do. Do I have the pan dropped and filter replaced or flushed. Everyone says something different. What are you guys having done at 50K??

 

Thanks!

 

[foghorn23]

I bought my 01 Silverado used with 20K miles on it and was told the previous owner pulled a travel trailer. I felt like a transmission fluid change would be a smart move, but wondered the same thing you are. My decision was made by my local dealer who was doing flushes and that was backed by a transmission failure warranty. I decided to go with the flush and don't feel I made a mistake. I received a written warranty in the mail about a month after my service. If I had to do it again I'd do the flush.

 

Best of luck with what ever your decision is.

 

Vroten

[FlashJim]

I'm at 85K or so and I'm about to change the filter and swap in a higher capacity pan. Next time I'll have it flushed.

[ranger952]

From what I hear, a flush would be good to do. Former posts have directions on this.

Dropping the pan does not get near enough of the old fluid out. I guess up to 60-70% of the old fluid remains on just dropping the pan. So, flush it and get all of the old fluid out.

[FlashJim]

How much was the flush? Around $200?

[foghorn23]

If I remember I believe mine was in the $140 range. And that was at the stealership. Overall I didn't think the price was that bad.

 

Vroten

[Mule]

posted before:

 

You need to get ALL the old stuff out. Some tranny flush machines will give a reading of the filter blockage, too, before digging in to replace it. Five years ago, I dropped the pan, replaced the filter, then did a flush with ATF, then replaced the filter again. Expensive, but got all of the old stuff out and started with all synthetic and a clean filter.

[JBZ71]

Best to get all the old stuff outta there..

[Markeaux]

BOTH!

[99GMCZ71]

My truck has a drain plug on the transmission pan. So assuming you do too, you could drain the fluid, add and then drop the pan and change the filter and atf again. Does anybody know if the torque converter has a drain plug? I know older cars use to have one!

[o4yukonxl]

I had my tranny flushed at 115K and at 178K the fluid is still fine. Cost was $105.

[DJinCO]

Drop the pan, power flush, change filter, replace pan, fill up with ATF. I did this a 35,000 miles and went to 100% synthetic.

 

The dealer was just going to flush with NO filter change and no dropped pan. The flush and fill was $120 with me providing 5 gallons of Amsoil ATF.

 

Cheers, Doug

[Ben]

Auto tranny fluid can go bad in less than 1,000 miles if abused (held at stall with large throttle setting for long peroids of time...like towing)

 

Pan drop and filter only gets 4-5 quarts fresh fluid.

 

Whole tranny system has 12-16 quarts capacity (4L60E - 4L80E) and transfusion will get most of it out.

 

I DIY all the time. Takes about 1-2 hours.

[timk49]

I've got a 2003 2500 HD 4x4

I tow a travel trailer with some of the towing taaking place over the mountains. Am couple weeks ago , at 31,500 mles I had the fluid flushed by a shop that had a good flushing machine. They garunteed me that all the old fluid would be circulated out. I watched as the attendant filled one side of the machine with new bright red synthetic trans fluid He used 22 quarts Castrol dexronIII synthetic.

once the machine began pumping the fluid throug the trans lines I could see the dirty fluid draining out. The old fluid was dark dirty red. after about 15 quarts had circulated the suction side stream was beginning to look much cleaner. by the time all 22 quarts had been pumped through the suction side look clean bright red.

 

The cost for fluid and labor was $135.00. I don't think I will wait as long to flush it the next time.

 

As I understand it the newer transmissions only have a screen not a filter. I think it would be a waste to drop the pan.

 

Next month I'm going to have the front and rear diffs drained and refilled with synthetic oil and the transfer case as well.

[97whitez71]

I think it depends on what you do with your truck. If you do a lot of towing or city driving, start-stop, then a flush wouldn't be a bad idea. If you mostly drive highway I would think dropping the pan and changing filter would be fine. With that said, I didn't do anything to mine until 100,000 miles. Other than a four wheeler trailer I don't pull heavy loads and do mostly highway driving. I dropped the pan and changed filter. No problems here with 115,000 miles. I thought about a flush but all mechanics said that they didn't change the filter. Everybody is going to have their own opinions. Do what you feel comfortable with. My 2 cents.