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Transmission Flush and New Filter


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Posted

Well, since I'm so dang paranoid about maintenance, I went and had my transmission completely flushed and the filter changed on Monday of this week, along with a flush of the cooling system (I don't have a place to do it without killing a bunch of grass).

 

Anyways, I got there in time to see the old fluid (46K miles driven) and it looked pretty nasty. No burn smell or anything, but it was fairly brown. I rarely tow, and don't drive too crazily... so if anyone thought about doing this, I'd recommend it. The only thing I didn't like was the price... but since I probably won't change either again for a long time, I guess it's ok. It was $304.00 with tax (cooling system and tranny), along with a 12month/12,000mi. warranty on the transmission.

 

One thing I did think was weird though, is that they added about 1/2 a quart too much transmission fluid. I checked it yesterday afternoon after my commute, and brought it by to show the service writer. He brought out a mechanic supervisor, and before he even looked he said they add about 1/2 more than the dipstick says, which is normal and should make the transmission act even better. After checking it, he said the same thing and sent me on my way... I know the 4L60 has a vent tube and all, but will that hurt anything? Or at the very least, does that sound strange to any of you guys? Just curious if anyone knows, or have heard something similar...

 

Thanks! :thumbs:

Posted
Well, since I'm so dang paranoid about maintenance, I went and had my transmission completely flushed and the filter changed on Monday of this week, along with a flush of the cooling system (I don't have a place to do it without killing a bunch of grass).

 

Anyways, I got there in time to see the old fluid (46K miles driven) and it looked pretty nasty. No burn smell or anything, but it was fairly brown. I rarely tow, and don't drive too crazily... so if anyone thought about doing this, I'd recommend it. The only thing I didn't like was the price... but since I probably won't change either again for a long time, I guess it's ok. It was $304.00 with tax (cooling system and tranny), along with a 12month/12,000mi. warranty on the transmission.

 

One thing I did think was weird though, is that they added about 1/2 a quart too much transmission fluid. I checked it yesterday afternoon after my commute, and brought it by to show the service writer. He brought out a mechanic supervisor, and before he even looked he said they add about 1/2 more than the dipstick says, which is normal and should make the transmission act even better. After checking it, he said the same thing and sent me on my way... I know the 4L60 has a vent tube and all, but will that hurt anything? Or at the very least, does that sound strange to any of you guys? Just curious if anyone knows, or have heard something similar...

 

Thanks!  :thumbs:

 

 

 

 

 

Two things, when tranny fluid is brown that indicates that it is being slowly cooked or overheated and is not a healthy sign to have as it should be bright to deep red in color at all times, never brown. When it is really cooked it can smell like peanut butter too sometimes. To prevent this from happening again you need to add a aux tranny cooler because it appears your tranny is runnin hot in use and stock cooling is not that great anyway. Also, it is better to slighty underfill than overfill the tranny but if it is not by much you should be okay. Check it when it is level and hot.

Posted
Two things, when tranny fluid is brown that indicates that it is being slowly cooked or overheated and is not a healthy sign to have as it should be bright to deep red in color at all times, never brown. When it is really cooked it can smell like peanut butter too sometimes. To prevent this from happening again you need to add a aux tranny cooler because it appears your tranny is runnin hot in use and stock cooling is not that great anyway.  Also, it is better to slighty underfill than overfill the tranny but if it is not by much you should be okay. Check it when it is level and hot.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I got it good and hot with about 40 miles of interstate, level parking spot, and even did the "leave it in each gear for 5 seconds" like the owner's manual says. In fact, I did it a couple of times, to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong.

 

That's good about the color, it was more like a dark red, sort of brownish and it smelled normal. I put in an OEM aux. tranny cooler at about 10K miles, so I am hoping it just got nasty before then.

 

That's what I was thinking too about the fluid level, on my old 89's 700R4 I always kept it in the crosshatch... I was more worried about overfilling it that anything. It ended up dying at about 140K anyways, as I never had a decent cooler on it and towed pretty often too.

 

Hell, I might just drain out enough to get the fluid level in the crosshatch tonight, if not it will probably bug the hell out of me until it's right...

 

Thanks man! :thumbs:

Posted

Hey fastdrvr..i have a 03 Sierra with the 4.8L. did you notice any difference with that OEM tranny cooler? did you install it yourself? this is something i want to do in the very near future for my truck as well as flush the fluid and get a tranny replaced. is hilly here in central Maine and the tranny shifts a bit. I checked the fluid every time i fill up and is still a nice red color and smells fine.

I m just trying to get recommendations on which one to get.

hard to install?

i have a lot of space under my 87 K20 for that cooler i put in..that was a snap.

anyhoo, thanks.

Lee

Posted

Yea,Here we would have charged you around $180.00 for both the tranny and coolant flushes,of course you did have them change the filter also which isn't part of our normal tranny flush,but I wouldn't think of doing a tranny flush and not changing the filter,thats just plain stupid and asking for trouble in my opinion.

Cheekster96, I would add the OEM tranny cooler,ask your dealer for GM part #12497071 which lists for $91.00,It gives you everything you need.

Posted
Hey fastdrvr..i have a 03 Sierra with the 4.8L.  did you notice any difference with that OEM tranny cooler?  did you install it yourself?  this is something i want to do in the very near future for my truck as well as flush the fluid and get a tranny replaced.  is hilly here in central Maine and the tranny shifts a bit.  I checked the fluid every time i fill up and is still a nice red color and smells fine.

I m just trying to get recommendations on which one to get. 

hard to install?

i have a lot of space under my 87 K20 for that cooler i put in..that was a snap.

anyhoo, thanks.

Lee

 

 

 

 

Hey Lee,

I never did really notice any difference with the tranny cooler, as I don't tow much or anything, I just wanted it more for insurance I guess.

 

The install was hard as hell to me, and took about four hours. The hardest part was the line that runs from the cooler to the transmission. Getting my big clumsy hands to where the fitting was on the transmission was a nightmare. I'd wished I'd gone with one of the B&M coolers that some of the guys here used... Also, check that part number for the GM kit on GMPartsDirect.com, it's a good bit cheaper there I think.

 

Good luck!

Will

Posted
Yea,Here we would have charged you around $180.00 for both the tranny and coolant flushes,of course you did have them change the filter also which isn't part of our normal tranny flush,but I wouldn't think of doing a tranny flush and not changing the filter,thats just plain stupid and asking for trouble in my opinion.

Cheekster96, I would add the OEM tranny cooler,ask your dealer for GM part #12497071 which lists for $91.00,It gives you everything you need.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I figured it would be expensive going in there... The service writer looked at me funny when I told her I wanted the filter changed too. So I asked to speak with a tech, he said no problem, it would just add more labor to drop the pan, and more money for the filter kit and some conditioner of some sort.

 

I think the prices were as follows, they had some sort of package deals:

 

The highest level tranny package, $199:

Complete fluid flush, 16 quarts of fluid

1 pint of conditioner

Replace filter, pan gasket

 

The other tranny flush package was like $139

Just flushed the fluid, and added the conditioner, no filter.

 

Flushing the Dexcool, $89:

Drain and refill, pressure test, and air removal.

 

I think they did a good job, but if I hadn't wanted the fluid flushed I would have done it all myself... I just wanted all the old fluid out.

 

Anyways, thanks for the replies guys!

Posted
Hey fastdrvr..i have a 03 Sierra with the 4.8L.  did you notice any difference with that OEM tranny cooler?  did you install it yourself?  this is something i want to do in the very near future for my truck as well as flush the fluid and get a tranny replaced.  is hilly here in central Maine and the tranny shifts a bit.  I checked the fluid every time i fill up and is still a nice red color and smells fine.

I m just trying to get recommendations on which one to get. 

hard to install?

i have a lot of space under my 87 K20 for that cooler i put in..that was a snap.

anyhoo, thanks.

Lee

 

 

 

 

Hey Lee,

I never did really notice any difference with the tranny cooler, as I don't tow much or anything, I just wanted it more for insurance I guess.

 

The install was hard as hell to me, and took about four hours. The hardest part was the line that runs from the cooler to the transmission. Getting my big clumsy hands to where the fitting was on the transmission was a nightmare. I'd wished I'd gone with one of the B&M coolers that some of the guys here used... Also, check that part number for the GM kit on GMPartsDirect.com, it's a good bit cheaper there I think.

 

Good luck!

Will

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just found this thread, this might be a good read: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...topic=40853&hl=

Posted

Hey guys, I've got a question regarding flushes. There's a local Valvoline Instant Oil Change garage that offered to do a complete trans flush on my '00 GMC Sierra 2500, with Valvoline Synthetic trans fluid, for $129.99. I've changed the fluid and filter once at 45k miles. I also tow lightly, but drive 60 miles round trip to work everyday, 90% of it highway. With 70k miles on the truck now, would you recommend it?

Posted
Yea,Here we would have charged you around $180.00 for both the tranny and coolant flushes,of course you did have them change the filter also which isn't part of our normal tranny flush,but I wouldn't think of doing a tranny flush and not changing the filter,thats just plain stupid and asking for trouble in my opinion.

Cheekster96, I would add the OEM tranny cooler,ask your dealer for GM part #12497071 which lists for $91.00,It gives you everything you need.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I figured it would be expensive going in there... The service writer looked at me funny when I told her I wanted the filter changed too. So I asked to speak with a tech, he said no problem, it would just add more labor to drop the pan, and more money for the filter kit and some conditioner of some sort.

 

I think the prices were as follows, they had some sort of package deals:

 

The highest level tranny package, $199:

Complete fluid flush, 16 quarts of fluid

1 pint of conditioner

Replace filter, pan gasket

 

The other tranny flush package was like $139

Just flushed the fluid, and added the conditioner, no filter.

 

Flushing the Dexcool, $89:

Drain and refill, pressure test, and air removal.

 

I think they did a good job, but if I hadn't wanted the fluid flushed I would have done it all myself... I just wanted all the old fluid out.

 

Anyways, thanks for the replies guys!

 

 

 

 

You said they also gave you a 12 month warranty on the tranny, if that is right, then you got to figure that into the price. They are paying something for that insurance policy and passing it on to you with a profit.

Posted
Yea,Here we would have charged you around $180.00 for both the tranny and coolant flushes,of course you did have them change the filter also which isn't part of our normal tranny flush,but I wouldn't think of doing a tranny flush and not changing the filter,thats just plain stupid and asking for trouble in my opinion.

Cheekster96, I would add the OEM tranny cooler,ask your dealer for GM part #12497071 which lists for $91.00,It gives you everything you need.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I figured it would be expensive going in there... The service writer looked at me funny when I told her I wanted the filter changed too. So I asked to speak with a tech, he said no problem, it would just add more labor to drop the pan, and more money for the filter kit and some conditioner of some sort.

 

I think the prices were as follows, they had some sort of package deals:

 

The highest level tranny package, $199:

Complete fluid flush, 16 quarts of fluid

1 pint of conditioner

Replace filter, pan gasket

 

The other tranny flush package was like $139

Just flushed the fluid, and added the conditioner, no filter.

 

Flushing the Dexcool, $89:

Drain and refill, pressure test, and air removal.

 

I think they did a good job, but if I hadn't wanted the fluid flushed I would have done it all myself... I just wanted all the old fluid out.

 

Anyways, thanks for the replies guys!

 

 

 

 

You said they also gave you a 12 month warranty on the tranny, if that is right, then you got to figure that into the price. They are paying something for that insurance policy and passing it on to you with a profit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be interesting to read the fine print on the warranty as to what they cover and what they will pay for and who will repair it too.

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