NSR: Automatic Transmission service?

Viper Sniper

Viper Sniper

New member
Joined
Sep 1, 2004
Messages
156
Location
Northern Illinois
I've got a 2003 Chevy Silverado with 55,000 miles and it has not yet had the trans serviced. Should I have it drained and filled clean the screen and install new filter $50. Flush it first and then drop pan and clean screen and change filter $150. Or just keep driving it and never change the trans fluid? I talked to a Chevy mechanic today that said I should just leave it alone and drive it. He said that flushing it can stir up crap in the pan and if it gets by the filter cause problems, draining will only change 6 quarts and the fresh fluid will have increased solvents which can cause some of the varnish build up to break loose and cause problems. He said he has personally driven and towed with a Suburban that had 190,000 miles and never was serviced w/o a problem. I plan on keeping this truck a long time so I'm not sure what to do?
 
drop the pan, install a new filter and refill. then every year drain the pan (there is a 10mm hex plug on the pan) and refill, no need for a new filter sooner than 30-50,000 miles. some flushes are ok, but some can cause problems. 55,000 miles isnt bad at all. draining and refilling wont hurt a thing. if you leave it then you are a LOT more likely to have problems!
 
I'm a believer in fluids! If you understand how an automatic works you'll understand why to change the fluid. I would flush it before changing the filter. Regular flushing prevent build of 'crap' that causes other problems down the road.
 
yea and there was a guy in my shop that said he never change the engine oil for over 100,000 miles just change the filter every 10,000, BUT not me.
I would flush the tranny cost around here is @ $80 flush & filter @ $130
imo most filter/screens are ok and flushing the system with new fluid is the best
 
shortstop20 said:
100,000 miles on the same oil?? That's crazy. :o|
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that's just plain dumb is what it is. Oil loses its detergency as it collects molecules of carbon and other microscopic debris in the engine. Even with changing the filter, a lot of tiny particles are left in oil and it is like having extrememly fine sand paper in there. Why not get clean oil in there that will use its fresh detergents to clean out the deposits and carbon? Is oil THAT expensive?
 
Just drained tranny oil in my 97 pathfinder last night. They said all I needed to do was drain and refill but with me being me I drained it, dropped the pan and cleaned the inside with parts cleaner. I was surprised how much goop was on the magnet inside. Replaced with oem Nissan trans fluid. Fatherinlaw told me i should be expecting my transmision to shi! LaLaLa the bed now in about 3 weeks.
 
Thanks for all the opinions, I agree that it would be better to do something with it now and have peace of mind. It's going in for a drain and fill with new filter in the morning. I think I will do the same thing every 30,000 miles from here on out.
 
Viper Sniper said:
Thanks for all the opinions, I agree that it would be better to do something with it now and have peace of mind. It's going in for a drain and fill with new filter in the morning. I think I will do the same thing every 30,000 miles from here on out.
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good choice! if you maintain it and keep the fluid cool it will last forever!
 
Personally I change Tranny Fluid/Filter every 36,000 or 24,000 if I tow alot. Fluid is cheap, Extra tranny cooler is too. (90% of trannys that are shot are due to excess heat) Anything over 170*f is BAD for a tranny. Also I'm not sure if GM's have a drain plug on the torque converter but My two Fords do and it allows for all but about 1/2 quart of oil to be changed since the converter holds 3-4 quarts.
 
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