2006 Impala Tranny Question

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I have a 2006 Impala with the 3.5 engine.Has about 35000 miles. I was wandering if it is possible to put a hose in the dipstick hole and pump out some fluid and replace what i pump out with new to keep the fluid fresh.Also what would be a good mileage to do a pan drop and change the filter.
 
Yes, I do that with my 06 Yukon and can get 2-3 qts out at a time. I replace 2 qts every 10,000 miles. You need to be sure to replace the fluid with DexronVI only and you will have to pay $6 qt at your dealer unless you can find some Pennzoil dexrnVI at autozone but it will be $5. You should drop the pan at 50k. The book says 100k for regular service and 50k for severe. I always did my trucks at 30k but with the fluid replacement will go 50,100,150 etc. I do the differnetials at the same time.
 
It's possible. The 4T65E dipstick tube tends to be kinda twisty/curvy so bottoming out could be a challenge.
grin.gif
When you drop the pan for your first cleanout, you could install a drain plug or get a replacement pan with a plug.
 
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Yes, I do that with my 06 Yukon and can get 2-3 qts out at a time. I replace 2 qts every 10,000 miles. You need to be sure to replace the fluid with DexronVI only and you will have to pay $6 qt at your dealer unless you can find some Pennzoil dexrnVI at autozone but it will be $5. You should drop the pan at 50k. The book says 100k for regular service and 50k for severe. I always did my trucks at 30k but with the fluid replacement will go 50,100,150 etc. I do the differnetials at the same time.



Ive never heard of dexronVI.Glad you said something i would have used Dexron3.Will this fluid be more widely available in about six months cause that will be near the 50k mark and I can just do a pan drop and filter change then.
 
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Yes, I do that with my 06 Yukon and can get 2-3 qts out at a time. I replace 2 qts every 10,000 miles. You need to be sure to replace the fluid with DexronVI only and you will have to pay $6 qt at your dealer unless you can find some Pennzoil dexrnVI at autozone but it will be $5. You should drop the pan at 50k. The book says 100k for regular service and 50k for severe. I always did my trucks at 30k but with the fluid replacement will go 50,100,150 etc. I do the differnetials at the same time.



Ive never heard of dexronVI.Glad you said something i would have used Dexron3.Will this fluid be more widely available in about six months cause that will be near the 50k mark and I can just do a pan drop and filter change then.




I sure hope WalMart starts carrying it because I am getting 6 dollared to death......
mad.gif
 
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It's possible. The 4T65E dipstick tube tends to be kinda twisty/curvy so bottoming out could be a challenge.
grin.gif
When you drop the pan for your first cleanout, you could install a drain plug or get a replacement pan with a plug.




If the extractor tube is too big...re-fit your extractor with plastic refrigerator ice maker water line available at any ACE hardware for under $.20/ft. Cut the tip at an angle so it doesn't hit the pan bottom and zama...you are in business.
wink.gif
 
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If the extractor tube is too big...re-fit your extractor with plastic refrigerator ice maker water line available at any ACE hardware for under $.20/ft. Cut the tip at an angle so it doesn't hit the pan bottom and zama...you are in business.
wink.gif





That's eggzactly what I use. Home cheapo or sLowes sells it in small pre-cut coils for a cpl bucks. Problem is the ATF dipstick tube. Some 4T65E's in some vehicels can have some radical bends to them making it difficult to get the tubing in.

Joel
 
Changing a little fluid every so often is a proven way to keep the transmission in good shape. I do 4 qts with my 4Runner every 15k miles. I use Red Line D4 and it comes out clear bright reddish color each time. No dark brown and no burnt smell. I figure it will never get completely changed but there will always be fresh oil and additives in the transmission.
 
I have 2 GM FWD vehicles and I've always done 30k mile pan drops with a filter change. It is a bit messy but it works. I'm thinking of buying an extractor myself because I now have another vehicle (GM RWD) that I only get 4qts out of 10 out when dropping the pan so in the future I plan to do what KBFXDLI says he does. Replace a few qts more often and then do a pan drop less often at 50k miles. My '94 Grand Prix with the 4T60E has 200k+ on it with zero transmission issues.

If you go to this page you can find the part#'s of the Dex VI fluid for qt, gal, and drum. You can buy them much cheaper at gmpartsdirect online than the dealer, especially if you buy 4 gallons at a time.
 
Is it really nessasary to use DexronVI in this car once its out of warranty.I was checking the transmission fluid this morning and noticed on the dipstick it says use DexronIII.However in the owners manual it says use DexronVI.I mean what makes the 06 model of the 4T65 any different than the 05 model which calls for DexIII.I mean if its a must to use this fluid Ill do it but if I can get the fluid for a 3rd of the price Im all for that too.
 
DexVI is a better fluid. The 05 model of the 4T65E also didn't have to support a bigger engine (3.5 vs 3.4), so perhaps the transmission needed a better fluid to survive under the same service intervals.

Is saving $20 every 30-50k miles really that important to you? That's the price difference between DexIIIH and DexVI.
 
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Could you take your transmission pan to a fabrication shop and have a bung welded/brazed in to add a drain plug?




When I get a vehicle with an automatic, the first thing I do to it is change the fluid ('cause I can only afford used vehicles), and install a drain plug. The easiest way I've found is this: Find an area in the pan with enough clearance above it to allow a bolt to stick up a bit. Drill a 3/8" hole in the pan. Use a die grinder and remove the aluminized coating around the hole, just enough so that a tack weld can stick. Use a die grinder to cut a 1/8" wide X 1/8" deep 'slot' across the face of a 3/8" nut. Install a 3/8" NC X 3/4" bolt into the drilled hole, with a flat washer and the nut (slot down) inside the pan. Tack weld the nut and washer to the pan. Remove the bolt, reinstall with a copper washer. Makes transmission oil changes easy and fun.

I also brazed in a steel pipe bushing once and used a 1/8" pipe plug. It was ugly and more trouble, but worked fine.
 
Use DEXRON-VI, and if you are not doing anything silly with it forget it until at least 75k and even then that's being very careful
 
I'll believe it when the 30k, 50-60k, and 100k used oil analysis start trickling in. Sorry, but unless bypass filtration is used, I wouldn't use ANY ATF or fluid 'for a lifetime'.

If DexronVI is recommended by the onwers manual(2006+), by all means use it. I would not use DexronIII as a substitue, unless it was a full synthetic.

If you have a GM vehicle requiring DexronIII(-2005), there is no need to upgrade to D-VI is you don't want to.

Its funny that the owners manual and dipstick don't match. Its not the 1st time. I guess they had to use the the inventory of ol' dispticks prior to getting to the ones with DVI on it. I'd run down to the dealer for a new dipstick.
 
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