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Transmission fluid change

M1ck3y

By M1ck3y
in Engines & Drivetrain

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M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
Posted

Is it typical to not replace the filter when doing a trans fluid change?

 

reason I ask is because the shop that installed my headers/exhaust welded a clamp from the ypipe onto the catback. So I wouldn’t be able to drop the ypipe unless I take a grinder to it… 

rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

Posted
Posted

Not sure about your miles on truck, but, IMO, it's a waste of time to drop the pan & replace the filter. I KNOW TGERE ARE SOME THAT DON'T AGREE. But, the transmission filter is nothing more than a screen. It's not like an oil or fuel filter. It's only stops large chunks due to porous media. I have cut open filters with 130k on them & they look fine. They don't filter out clutch material. I just suck out 4-5 quarts thru the trans dip stick tube & refill with a good Dexron 6 ATF on my 6l80e. I do this about every 10k-to 20k & it looks almost new. Main thing is to refresh the additives & remove the suspended clutch material. Don't over think it. You have magnets to collect the ferrous particles & lots of clutch material sticks to pan bottom via surface tension. Let me share this video. 

 

 

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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

Posted
Posted

Also, there are YouTube hacks on how to remove the transmission pans without undoing your exhaust pipes if you so desire to drop the pan & change the filter 

  • Like 1
CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

I still have the OEM filter on my truck from 2016 and 128,000 miles. I've only done just fluid exchanges in the 8 years I've owned the truck. Should I replace it someday, sure but it won't be for a long time yet. I keep the fluid clean and at this point I'm just waiting for the transmission to either shred the torque converter someday or die another way.

  • Like 1
rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

Posted
Posted

I just had my 6l80e tuned via HP Tuning to remove DOD & stop the GM programed torque converter Slip. The TQ has a carbon fiber type ckutch material that allows it to slip, causing wear & heat. The tuning removed all of this, with lock up in 5th & 6th. Also programmed better throttle response. Drives like a different truck. I also did tge pill flip so transmission never goes above 140-150⁰.

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

I've owned HP Tuners since around 2012, I did all of that a few days after buying my truck all those years ago. That's the best way to save the transmission but whoever does the tuning still needs to aware of type of converter these 6 speeds run. You can't set the slip to 0rpm as that will actually wear the converter even more and cause more problems. It's best to lower the slip as low as possible, roughly 5-8rpm instead of the factory settings. Basically reducing the min slip by 50-75%.

  • Like 3
KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

The last trans filter I changed was in my 1974 nova. I was in there anyway installing a B&M shift kit. The rest I’ve just changed the fluid. I’ve never lost a transmission. 

  • Like 1
Black02Silverado Senior Enthusiast

Black02Silverado

Posted
Posted (edited)

We were unlucky and the transmission went at 80k miles on our 2016 Suburban, Even after two complete fluid exchanges and filter changes. Just poor quality parts by GM. Even had the transmission tuned by Black Bear Performance and AFM turned off.  UOA on the transmission fluid came back in perfect condition.

Edited by Black02Silverado
  • Like 2
rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

Posted
Posted
32 minutes ago, Black02Silverado said:

We were unlucky and the transmission went at 80 miles on our 2016 Suburban, Even after two complete fluid exchanges and filter changes. Just poor quality parts by GM. Even had the transmission tuned by Black Bear Performance and AFM turned off.  UOA on the transmission fluid came back in perfect condition.

How many miles on the 2016 suburban? 

PFTX_5.3 Enthusiast

PFTX_5.3

Posted
Posted

I agree with @rav3. I do not replace my transmission filter when I do a fluid exchange. I drop the pan slightly, stick a hose in it, and pump the fluid out. I do, however, give myself enough wiggle room to reach my hand in there and pull the magnet out and clean it off. Since the transmission filter is really only a screen to prevent the pump from picking up large debris and a catastrophic failure, I run an external hydraulic filter. I've had that on for about 15,000 miles, and I just cut it open to see what the pleats look like, and there was no debris inside.

  • Like 2
M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 1/31/2026 at 4:29 PM, Black02Silverado said:

We were unlucky and the transmission went at 80k miles on our 2016 Suburban, Even after two complete fluid exchanges and filter changes. Just poor quality parts by GM. Even had the transmission tuned by Black Bear Performance and AFM turned off.  UOA on the transmission fluid came back in perfect condition.

8l90?

UrbanRage Enthusiast

UrbanRage

Posted
Posted

I'm not sure what the clearance difference is on your custom exhaust is compared to the stock one.  I have a 5.3 w/ 8L90 and I was able to drop the pan without removing the exhaust. It a little bit of a fight, but I got it out. 

diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted

Did my trans filter without dropping the exhaust, not fun.

  • Like 1

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