'95 K1500 w/ 155k miles trans/diff/transfer case never serviced

[Islandvic]

My brother's hand-me-down '95 K1500 Z-71 w/ 4L60E trans and rear 3.73 locking diff has never had fluids serviced except for engine oil changes. It has 155k miles.

Our Dad is of old school thought, "I have never changed the transmission fluid before on vehicles. Once you get past 100k miles, you cant change the fluid"

His fluid on dipstick is dark, but not brown, and no burnt smell.

Should I do a pan drop, filter change, and refill?

Or pan drop, filter cahnge, refill, then flush at local service shop.

I know of a reputable service shop w/ 16 qt low pressure trans flush machine and they charge about $70-80. They use Quaker State products.

Another shop offers a $90 service. Pan drop, filter change, refill, then 14qt low presure flush
w/ bulk ATF DexronIII/Mercon.

What trans oil do you suggest?

How good is Valvoline's MaxLife ATF?

What do you suggest for OTC rear diff fluid?


What is good OTC locking diff additive?

What is rear diff capacity?

What type of fluid and capacity is spec'd for transfer case?

What brand do yall suggest?

Thanks.

 

[04SpecV]

I would clean the trans with AutoRX then do the pan drop+ flush machine. I would just use regular ATF.

Mobil1 75W90 rear diff fluid, no additive is what I put in my 93 . It needs 2quarts.
My transfer case takes ATF yours probably does also if its not the autotrac.

 

[unDummy]

You can and should change the ATF.
Pay the extra for the pan drop/filter replacement/refill and flush.

Any of the name brand Dexron III-h are good enough.

 

[99]

Wow. Talk about neglect. Is it even worth it to change the stuff out at this point in time? Doubtful, but I guess changing out the old stuff would be fun just to see what it looks like. Let the trans go as you run the risk of creating problems when that fresh ATF gets pumped through it. Changing out the xfer case and front/rear diffs won't cause any problems. Let us know what that ancient gear lube smells like. LOL

 

[benjamming]

Do you plan on keeping this pickup for a long time?

If it were my pickup, I would drop the pan, change the filter, fill with new, and add Auto-RX. Then in 1500 miles, I would drop the pan, change the filter, and fill with new. You could put a drain plug on the pan & change every 15k miles with a filter change every 30k miles after the ARX treatment.

 

[04SpecV]

The AutoRX will clean the trans and hold the contaminents in the fluid. I would email Frank at AutoRX before you do anything. I don't think changing the filter first is necessary tho. And I know just dropping the pan won't get all the crap AutoRX cleaned out, do a flush!
As far as creating problems with new fluid. If that happens it was probably shot to begin with.
If the transmission is shifting like crap and slipping its probably beyond hope. Only a rebuild or replacement would fix that. Those rumors just start from people taking their broke barely moves car in for a flush. They then blame the flush when their car doesn't move at all anymore!

 

[vizvo]

As long as these flushes merely consist of exchanging the old fluid for new, then it is a good idea. Don't let them use solvents or flushing chemicals. If it were my vehicle, I would see to it that the filter is changed too.

For ATF, I've personally had very good luck with Valvoline MaxLife ATF. I've seen it work miracles on a neglected 17 year old Taurus beater with the infamous AXOD transmission. Valvoline MaxLife ATF really is a first rate product. It contains seal conditioners and friction modifiers tailored to older transmissions. And it sports official DexronIII/Mercon recognition. According to another BITOG user, it is a synthetic blend. Highly recommended.

Whatever you decide on for the ATF, you are probably better off purchasing your own and bringing it to the flush guy. That way you know for sure what is going in, and you won't be getting some cheapo bulk ATF.

 

[99]

quote:

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Originally posted by 04SpecV:

As far as creating problems with new fluid. If that happens it was probably shot to begin with.
If the transmission is shifting like crap and slipping its probably beyond hope. Only a rebuild or replacement would fix that. Those rumors just start from people taking their broke barely moves car in for a flush. They then blame the flush when their car doesn't move at all anymore!

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I wasn't talking about doing the quickie lube flush. Anyone that has this done deserves whatever happens to them and their trans. I was talking about dropping the pan and changing the fluid and filter. Very high mileage transmissions that have never had the fluid and filter changed *should* be left alone because they do not like fresh fluid. You can change it, but you run the risk of the trans slipping afterwards. With that said, the trans pan has a magnet or two, so nearly all of the metal lost in the trans has been captured.....so it's not like there's all this metal floating around in the fluid. The trans is probably in *decent* shape as long as it hasn't hasn't been overheated or beat on in the past. With 155k miles though, I wouldn't expect this thing to last but a couple more years before something gives up the ghost.

 

[04SpecV]

At 155K I wouldn't expect this model transmission to last that much longer, regardless of service records. I'm actually suprised it lasted this long. Must be mostly highway miles with no towing??? But who knows, maybe it could last to 200K.

 

[ULVER]

My only 2-cents would be this: Replace the filter with an OME one. I have heard nothing but bad things, about walking into a Pep Boys or Advance, and walking out with a house A/T filter. It seemed the giys on the Crown Vic forum agreed completely.

 

[vizvo]

Ulver writes:

quote:

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"My only 2-cents would be this: Replace the filter with an OME one."

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SPX-Filtran is one of the major suppliers of OEM transmission filters. They also supply many aftermarket companies (like Fram) with quality transmission filters.

If you look carefully, you can sometimes identify the origin of these aftermarket filters because they are often stamped with "SPX" or "Filtran" in very small letters somewhere on the filter body.

 

[Islandvic]

What's up Paul!

I was going to use AC-Delco filter.

quote:

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I'm actually suprised it lasted this long. Must be mostly highway miles with no towing???

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Our dad put a ton of highway miles to and from work everyday, and to our ranchito and lake shack.

It was used to pull boat trailers and cattle trailers maybe twice a month.

He never abused it our beat it down.

On the otherhand, when my younger brother got a hold of it in '03, it saw some more servere use.

Not much 4wheel drive action though. Just when they needed it at the beach or ranch. They never went out looking for mud on purpose.

My bro will be starting college in the fall, and I want to buy it off of him so it can be my beach truck.

I think this summer, I will drop and clean the pan, change filter, and refill with Valvoline Maxlife ATF.

It may have a drain plug, if so, I'll just drain and refill once a month a few times.

It does not have the awesome TQ drain plug like me and ULVER's Vics, and I don't really want to do a flush.