Cadillac ATS Transmission Service Day!

[webfors]

All parts arrived, lift scheduled, order of events documented and reviewed.

Rock n Roll ready

Happy Friday!

21 quarts ST Dexron VI licensed
OEM filter
OEM gasket (just in case)

Tools; extractor, dispenser, 10mm socket, inch pound torque wrench, scan tool (TFT temps for final fluid level check), plastic trim/fork set, rags, brake cleaner, gloves.

Targeting one hour for:

• pan drop and cleaning
• filter replacement
• pan install & torque set
• first fill ~6.5 quarts
• go through the gears stationary with brake on
• drive around the block
• back on the lift for fluid drop #2
• Extract fluid from the fill hole measuring 6.5 quarts
• Dispense 6.5 quarts into fill hole
• Drive around the block and repeat extract & dispense for a 3rd fluid swap.
• Lift the car with engine ON and scan tool connected to ODBII port tangling out the driver side door.
• Keep the engine running through entire level check procedure!
• Monitor scan tool with socket and wrench in hand ready to go.
• Focus on when TFT reaches 95 degrees on scan tool.
• Pull the fluid level check plug
• Let excess fluid drain out
• Install plug
• Confirm on the scan tool that TFT never went above 113 degrees before the plug was installed.
• Check for leaks
• Final torque set of 80 inch pounds on all pan bolts
• Check for leaks again!
• BoltMark all bolts/plugs

Feedback welcome!

 

[demarpaint]

Enjoy!

 

[BornSlippy]

I see no beer listed.

 

[walterjay]

Wow! Well thought out.

 

[Kira]

Your vehicle?
How many miles on this fluid?

No wait! Save yourself time, effort and money.....isn't this "lifetime fluid"?
Ha-ha, only kidding.
Serioso: You're lucky you can book a lift.

 

[doitmyself]

Be careful using a torque wrench to snug up the pan gasket (if not a metal type). I found that you can torque it to the required specification, it compresses then relaxes - allowing you to go around/around/around continuing to tighten to 80 inch pounds until you squeeze it out and ruin it.

What IS the correct procedure? Torque to value one time and walk away?

 

[panthermike]

1 hour for that, You're good!

 

[webfors]

Your vehicle?
How many miles on this fluid?

No wait! Save yourself time, effort and money.....isn't this "lifetime fluid"?
Ha-ha, only kidding.
Serioso: You're lucky you can book a lift.

Recently purchased 2014 ATS 2.0T, with now 143,000kms. I also have a 2017 ATS 2.0T purchased new with 160,000kms.

I've been really going over this 2014 and other than the coolant, all fluids have been replaced after tonight. I'll likely do a dump and fill again at the end of the season then again in 24 months or 30,000 kms. Some may say overkill, but I've learned these transmissions like to be over maintained to keep those clutch packs healthy.

I don't know the history, but this is likely the original fluid coming out tonight.

Booking the lift at the DIY garage is a game changer. $40/hour CDN or about $28/hour USD. Tools onsite, compressor, tire station, benches, engine lifts, etc. I typically bring all my tools for the job so I'm not wasting time getting tools ready when I'm paying per hour. I have ziplocks for each step where a tool is needed, numbered. No searching or fiddling. Just execution.

 

[webfors]

1 hour for that, You're good!

We’ll see!

Target 1 hour.

Likely 1.5.

All depends how much I struggle with those fill/dispense activities in that hard to reach transmission fill hole. I bet it’s an hour for the 2017 next week after this session.

 

[webfors]

Be careful using a torque wrench to snug up the pan gasket (if not a metal type). I found that you can torque it to the required specification, it compresses then relaxes - allowing you to go around/around/around continuing to tighten to 80 inch pounds until you squeeze it out and ruin it.

What IS the correct procedure? Torque to value one time and walk away?

4 rotations lightly with smallest ratchet, and one final at proper torque setting, is my understanding

 

[webfors]

Interesting, the scanner I bought doesn't have a PID for TFT.... hmm. That throws a wrench into the final step.

Doing some last minute research on whether the 6 speed TCM even reports TFT, or if it's just a limitation of the cheapish scanner I have.

 

[webfors]

Problem solved, found a Innova 3160 locally for pickup.

 

[webfors]

And… after a little digging realized my 15 year old ScanGuage has this capability with custom CANSF XGuage configs.

Amazing.

 

[webfors]

For reference if anyone wanted the PID parameters.

 

[webfors]

Didn’t get the final dump and fill done because I couldn’t get the TFT temps below 140 while at the lift.

Interestingly, 11 years later a perfectly readable and in perfect condition sticker tells you exactly the temps and how to check the fluid level

Headed back tomorrow. Going to arrive an hour early. Extract, fill, start car and check almost immediately. 123 degrees comes and goes pretty fast when the car has been driven a few miles to get there. Might move level checks to fall/winter cause it was a hot day.

 

[webfors]

Sharing the bolt tightening pattern.

 

[djkurious]

Didn't they change the fluid to Mobile 1 LV instead of DEX6?

 

[webfors]

Two things stood out;

1. The magnet was not loaded like I expected. It had paste, but nothing I would consider significant. If it’s the original fluid I would say that it was excellent in terms of what the magnet picked up in that mileage.

2. Only need to drop the pan once for the filter. I used That extractor and took out the entire contents of the pan (minus maybe 300ml) in under 5 minutes while I sipped my coffee watching the brown slurry come out. Made for a clean, safe and easy pan drop. 6.1 quarts came out.

I put 6.4 quarts in to accommodate loading the new filter and for when I level check so there’s no need to top up.

Shifts are noticeably crisper and smoother… this car is getting better and better

 

[webfors]

Didn't they change the fluid to Mobile 1 LV instead of DEX6?

Only in the 8 speed. That’s what’s going into my 2017 ATS’s 8 speed next week.

6 speed maintains Dexron VI.

 

[webfors]

Some pics