4L60E, 158K, first trans service

[stevejones]

Well, wish me luck.

I picked up a 2000 OBS Tahoe this past spring. Finally got around to the trans service today. Since I discovered "American Axle" was printed on the rear diff gasket when I did that service earlier; I think it's a fair assumption the trans has never been done, as well.

Dropped the pan, replaced the filter. Added 4 quarts of older DexIII I have on the shelf, let it co-mingle with the remaining fluid. Set up for passive exchange...

11 quarts of SuperTech DexVI, 3/8" plastic barbed fitting of the wrong thread, and a length of vinyl hose. Disconnect the top cooling line, half-assed screw in the fitting & slip on the hose.

I pumped out a couple quarts at a time, then replaced with fresh fluid. Process went well, and I think I got most of the old fluid out. Truck shifted great on the test drive. Time will tell if this was the right move or not on this tranny....

 

[beast3300]

I think you did good.

 

[Chris142]

I just did my gf's 04 Tahoe this morning. I started by removing the upper trans cooler fitting. I put a hose on the line and pointed it at a bucket.

Little did I know that the trans cooler on this one goes in at the bottom...........I had a huge mess!

It only pumps out 3 qts of fluid this way so I filled it and did it 2 more times.

 

[stevejones]

Same setup as mine. The barbed fitting I used was screwed into the rad, not the line.

I wasn't sure which way the flow was, too...so I slipped a hose over the cooler line & pointed it to the bucket, as well.

 

[Smokefan1977]

Nice job, I wouldn't let that ST go another 150k though. Did you replace the filter?

 

[4x4chevydude]

Well that was the best way to do it and only time will tell but either way When it goes it probably would have gone the 4l60e isnt known to withstand harsh conditions...beef it up to the 4l80e when it dies.

 

[stevejones]

Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
Nice job, I wouldn't let that ST go another 150k though. Did you replace the filter?
Yes, new filter. My plan is 50K or trans rebuild, whichever comes first

. This is a 4th vehicle, so there's not a whole lot of miles accumulating.

 

[oilboy123]

I do it a couple of qts at a time as well. I think you did as good as you possibly can on it.

 

[marc1]

How was the old oil? I have had 2 4L60E transmissions (and currently have one) and they have been very reliable but I change every 50k so I am wondering how the oil was after 158k.

 

[stevejones]

The oil was pretty black. Did not smell burned & trans shifted pretty good, considering.

 

[Chris142]

My gf's oil was dark red @ 110k and it was the factory fill.

 

[marc1]

My new truck is a 2006 with 25k on it and is factory filled with Dex VI... I am wondering maybe I should go out to 80k instead of my usual 50k. I tow 7000# only once in a blue moon but I do see 75% stop and go city hence my going with the severe service interval always.

Thanks for your replies on the oil condition.

 

[stevejones]

Wow. That's some low miles on your '06. I'd stick to a 50K interval; but equally important I think is how you drive it. If the vehicle sits for long periods of time, I'd give it a decent warm-up before taking off, cycling the trans thru the gears a few seconds to get fluid circulating....just my $0.02....

 

[marc1]

Originally Posted By: stevejones
Wow. That's some low miles on your '06.


Yeah I rarely drive it. I did take it to Montana last week though but prior to that trip the last time it ran was Oct. 22 2010. I change the engine oil once per year... I am nowhere near the limit in terms of miles (I am a 7500 mile changer) and I have never seen the OLM go off. I just sold my other regular driver car so the 06 will get more use now.

 

[Turk]

Yea, stick with the 50k mark.

I did that with my '03 GMC & then again at 111k and now I'm at 180k without one single issue.