'04 JBODY transaxle fluid question

[fnbrowning]

I have a 2004 Pontiac Sunfire with the automatic transaxle. I posted this question on a jbody club forum:

quote:

---

I have a '04 Sunfire with the auto transmission. I'm pretty disappointed that the factory has seen to it to remove any method of checking the auto transmission fluid level.

The owners manual does not contain any useful information on the auto transmission. Eight months ago, my R/H drive axle was leaking, and it was fixed under warranty. The dealer had to add some fluid to the trans to make up for the loss. If this had happened OUT of warranty, there would be no way for the owner to check the level!

Now to my question: The dealer said the auto transmission needs to be flushed at 30,000 miles, and the filter changed at 60,000 miles. No info on this in the owner’s manual. Is this info correct?

---

This is an answer I received:

quote:

---

Auto transmission fluid does not just go away. You can check the level of a car with 1 mile on it and the same car at 100,000 should have the same amount of fluid.

I can explain why GM did that for, but first I must explain a few other reasons for it all to make sense.

Trans fluid dipsticks have an ADD and FULL mark, anywhere between ADD and FULL is good. It does not have to be at the full line or at the add line.

Customers and most people are stupid. You have heard how many dumb things people do their cars. A guy in CA this summer drove his car into a lake to cool off the tires.

GM uses very special detergents in their transmission fluid to make it last 100k like the manual says.

Now NAPA sells trans for say .89 quart, and it isnt as good as the GM fluid with the speical detergents.

Now if some idiot pulls out the dipstick seems it between ADD and FULL and goes to NAPA. He will buy the cheapest junk there is to buy. The fluid from NAPA isnt as good as the stuiff GM put in there.

Now we have crappy fluid mxied with GM fluid. Now the trans must be flushed, the special detergents are now wrecked.

But does the owner know that? Nope so he will drive it that way. Till 100k, and then get it flushed.

Well normally manufactures say 30,000 flush it out. But GM says 100k. GM says 100k with their fluid, but this guy had some NAPA and it containmated the whole system. So actually this guy went over three times longer than he should have gone.

Trans will fail eariler, people will get ****** and not buy GMs.

Thats why it was done the way it was.

---

REALITY CHECK - - What do you oil gurus say?

 

[nascarnation]

If NAPA's Dex III meets the Dexron license (and I'd be shocked if NAPA sold a non-licensed counterfeit ATF), it's GM approved, period.
How the GM Petro Canada factory fill and the NAPA compare I don't know, but my guess is they aren't much different.

I'd split the difference and change at 50,000 miles.

 

[brianl703]

There is a way to check the fluid level on that transmission. It's not difficult; you remove a check plug with the engine running and the transmission fluid above 104F (easily determined by feeling the pan; it should feel like it's got a good fever).

In addition, if you remove the check plug without the engine running, 3 quarts come out..so it doubles as a drain plug, useful for doing partial fluid changes without dropping the pan.

See http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=002212 thread for more details. Your JBody has the 4T40E.

As far as the fluid itself goes, any fluid that meets the Dexron III(H) specification will be identical in quality to the factory fill.

By the way, I'm 99.999% sure that your 2004 Sunfire's maintenance schedule says to change the fluid at 60K for severe service, and there is no recommendation for non-severe service.

 

[Hootbro]

quote:

---

There is a way to check the fluid level on that transmission. It's not difficult; you remove a check plug with the engine running and the transmission fluid above 104F (easily determined by feeling the pan; it should feel like it's got a good fever).

---

I have the same transmission on my 01 Cavaliier. What suck about doing the check as you describe, is that the car has to on a level lift to check. Most home mechs like myself do not have that capability. Had my local quickie lube just do a pan drop drain and filter replacement ( me watching of course). Best $50 I spent.

Hootbro

 

[brianl703]

Two ways to to check it without a lift:

1rive the car up on ramps (or place jackstands in the front), use a jack in the rear to raise the car until it's level (as indicated by a carpenter's level on the interior floor). It doesn't have to be perfectly level; close enough is fine.

2ark the car in a level location and squeeze under the front till you can reach the check plug. I can do this, but I'm 6'2" and somewhat skinny. (I can easily reach the oil drain plug and the level check plug is only about 6" away). Driving the car (all 4 wheels) up on some 2x8s or 2x10s will give you an additional 1.5" of clearance which might be all you need to reach the plug.