Ultimate DIY Transmission Fluid Change

[Dabear95]

All right guys, I have been searching and searching and I have not been able to find all of the little bits of information in one place. I think we need this thread to detail all of the little hints for the guy who wants his "stuff" to last forever. I plan to change my fluid at 25K miles to get the factory fluid with any potential break in grit outta the transmission. I also want to use the best parts and change as much of the fluid as possible. However, I want to keep this do-it-yourself based because I don't want another mechanics hand on my baby…

 

If you can contribute any information on the following, please do so. I will work to verify the information and make a new post detailing the step by step process with pictures when I change my fluid.

 

So, to do this we will need the following:

 

Total Capacity of ATF in the Transmission

Part numbers for Filter Kit and Good Gasket (not a cork gasket)

Tool List required (A heads up would be great and I will build a list of everything I used when I do it)

Any other parts that need replaced? (Clamp on the cooler line for example, if needed)

 

 

Steps… (Please comment if you see anything I am missing...

 

Drain Fluid with the drain plug if I have one (I still need to check)

Drop the Transmission Pan

Change the Filter and Reinstall Pan

Disconnect Upper Transmission Cooler Line (upper right?)

Add a Few Quarts of New Fluid

Have Someone Start the Truck and Drain a Few More Quarts

Add a Few Quarts

Repeat Until Only New Fluid Shows

Check Level, Warm Trans Fluid, and Top Off

 

 

I do not want to debate fluid choice, but if you have a better way of doing this yourself, please let me know.

 

 

Thanks,

Jason

[crazymjb]

I have heard to run it a bit longer to flush the fluid, like 15 miles or something. I'll try to double check on that for you.

 

Mike

[mhraracing]

I just finished changing the Tranny Fluid in my wifes 04 Z-71 Tahoe and went really smooth.

 

First I used a T-40 torx bit to disconnect the throttle cable bracket from the trans housing and then a flat head screwdrver to pop the linkage of the shift lever. Then finangled the linkage up over the front driveshaft to get it out of the way.

 

Then the drain plug was not crazy tight and it came right off with a 1/2" drive 6 point 15mm socket - so I drained the fluid from the pan.

 

Then used a 3/8 drive ratchet and 12" extention with 13mm socket to remove the pan bolts - leave two bolts in oppisite of each other to hold the pan up and remove all the rest.

 

Then dropped the pan. The truck has 50,000 so I was looking for smegma in the pan - but it was really clean - even the magnet. Spayed the inside of the pan with Brake Clean and made it nice and clean.

 

Then Pulled the filter out - just pull straight down and compare with the filter the parts guy gave you....make sure you have the correct one. - I did - so it was up to the little filter neck gasket.....I used a little screw driver and hammer to knock in the side of the o-rign then pulled it right out.

 

Then I used a 3/4 deep socket to tap in the new Filter neck seal - flush to the housing.

 

Then slid the new filter up into the o-ring - then put the new gasket on the pan and button it back up.

 

To fill it - I put in 5 quarts of ATF and it was right on the money.

 

Thanks to all you guys on this board - I did some seaching and reading and it made this change really easy - if I didnt read about the linkage bolts - I probably would be covered with ATF.

[Ben]

about +12 quarts for a 4L60E and about +16 quarts for a 4L80E.

"about" because it gets diluted with old, dirty ATF, so more to

get it all out.

 

Use a length of plastic hose on the line from the tranny into

a large catch bucket. I use milk jugs or wash detergent soap jugs.

 

I use a ATF funnel to pour in the ATF fluid.

 

DO NOT allow it to go dry, or empty the torque converter !

[C & A s Dad]

Dabear, I did basically what you did and found the step by step instructions on Amsoil's website. I pumped mine into a clear glass jar so I could compare it to some new fluid I had in a clear glass jar as well. This helped me tell when I had removed all the old stuff. It took me about 16 qts to flush it all out.