Did suck and fill GM automatic trans MaxLife

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stchman

stchman

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I recently bought a Mityvac 7201 for evacuating fluids.

I decided to do a suck and fill of the ATF in the pan on my 2013 Silverado. I plan to suck out the fluid in the pan and replace every 15K. The Mityvac pulled out 4.5 quarts. I re-filled the transmission with Valvoline MaxLife ATF as it is fully synthetic and good for Dexron VI applications.

I will have to say that MaxLife is a WORST smelling transmission fluid I have ever smelled.

For those considering a Mityvac evacuator, they suck big time in a good way.
 
I recently did mine to but my mityvac is for brake bleeding and has a pistol grip. So it starts to hurt the hand after a few fill ups of the bottle. So instead I hook a vacuum cleaner up to the bottle and suck it out with that. Alot easier and faster.
 
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6, and possibly put your 100,000 mile warranty at risk?

I know the container says it's Dex 6 compatible, but Valvoline makes a quality true Dex 6, that is readily available.

Just curious to your reasoning to using Maxlife.

BTW that is sulphur that you smell.
 
Valvoline makes several synthetic ATFs. MaxLife Dexron/Mercon ATF, Valvoline ATF for MERCON® V* applications, ATF +4 and Dexron VI.
 
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6


Maxlife meets Dexron-VI now.

But still,an ATF change at 15k with a 100k warranty, and no need to change it, is silly. If the trans fails in 85k it's on them. But since you changed the fluid, they're going to wonder why you did that when it's not needed, especially with an aftermarket ATF.

And using a Mityvac is even worse! Most auto makers specifically warn against these machines.

Wait until the warranty is up, or until the fluid change interval arrives, whichever comes first, then just do a 3x drain-and-fill, then only once thereafter.

Does this truck have a transmission drain plug?
 
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6


Maxlife meets Dexron-VI now.

But still,an ATF change at 15k with a 100k warranty, and no need to change it, is silly. If the trans fails in 85k it's on them. But since you changed the fluid, they're going to wonder why you did that when it's not needed, especially with an aftermarket ATF.

And using a Mityvac is even worse! Most auto makers specifically warn against these machines.

Wait until the warranty is up, or until the fluid change interval arrives, whichever comes first, then just do a 3x drain-and-fill, then only once thereafter.

Does this truck have a transmission drain plug?


I have never heard it mentioned not to use a Mityvac to siphon ATF via the dipstick.
 
Maxlife is "suitable for use" in DEX VI per Valvoline, but it is NOT licensed for that spec.


There is ZERO reason to take a DEX VI product out at 15k mile intervals. Total waste of a fluid, regard less of it's origin.


Whether you choose Maxlife or Dex VI, leave it in there out to 100k miles. You're not helping your tranny; you're hurting your wallet.
 
Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Did you stick the tube down the atf dipstick opening to get the old fluid out?


Yes, the 7201 comes with a thin tube that goes all the way down into the trans pan.
 
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6, and possibly put your 100,000 mile warranty at risk?

I know the container says it's Dex 6 compatible, but Valvoline makes a quality true Dex 6, that is readily available.

Just curious to your reasoning to using Maxlife.

BTW that is sulphur that you smell.


I called Valvoline and they said that MaxLife is fully Dexron VI compliant.

As far as so early, I have decided to do a suck and fill every 15K miles, then change the filter at 60K.

Remember, the warranty is 5 years or 100K miles. I will not put 100K miles in 5 years and I have decided to keep this truck for a long time.

The Dex VI that GM puts in is semi-synthetic and MaxLife is full synthetic.

I do not want to wait until 80K before I do anything.
 
Originally Posted By: dnewton3
Maxlife is "suitable for use" in DEX VI per Valvoline, but it is NOT licensed for that spec.


There is ZERO reason to take a DEX VI product out at 15k mile intervals. Total waste of a fluid, regard less of it's origin.


Whether you choose Maxlife or Dex VI, leave it in there out to 100k miles. You're not helping your tranny; you're hurting your wallet.


The 5 quarts of fluid cost me $22, so not a huge cost.
 
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6


Maxlife meets Dexron-VI now.

But still,an ATF change at 15k with a 100k warranty, and no need to change it, is silly. If the trans fails in 85k it's on them. But since you changed the fluid, they're going to wonder why you did that when it's not needed, especially with an aftermarket ATF.

And using a Mityvac is even worse! Most auto makers specifically warn against these machines.

Wait until the warranty is up, or until the fluid change interval arrives, whichever comes first, then just do a 3x drain-and-fill, then only once thereafter.

Does this truck have a transmission drain plug?


I will probably have ~65K miles after 5 years. I plan on keeping this truck for a while so after the warranty is up, I want the transmission to have good fluid and not 90K fluid.

How is the Mityvac a BAD way to evacuate fluid?

No, the trans pan has no drain plug.
 
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Why would you put a Dex 3 fluid in a new vehicle that was filled with Dex 6, and possibly put your 100,000 mile warranty at risk?


I would get that stuff out and fill with a fluid that is Dex 6 specific. If the trans does fail they will test the fluid.
 
Mityvac isn't a flush machine, it's a fluid extractor via dipstick tube, it's no worse than normal drain from the drain plug.

I used Mityvac to change ATF in LS400 and E430 more than once for each car without any negative effect.
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Mityvac isn't a flush machine, it's a fluid extractor via dipstick tube, it's no worse than normal drain from the drain plug...

I agree with this. Don't own and never used one by I would consider it the same as a simple d&f. Not a "flush" machine.

That said, for me 15k interval seems overkill and unnecessary for this vehicle.

And while I'm currently running ML in three vehicles, two spec'd for Z-1 and one for Dex 3 with good results, in this case I likely would have chosen Dex VI for this application. Guessing it can be had for a similar price. I doubt ML will hurt anything though. And yes, ML does have an acrid smell.
 
Originally Posted By: sayjac
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Mityvac isn't a flush machine, it's a fluid extractor via dipstick tube, it's no worse than normal drain from the drain plug...

I agree with this. Don't own and never used one by I would consider it the same as a simple d&f. Not a "flush" machine.

That said, for me 15k interval seems overkill and unnecessary for this vehicle.

And while I'm currently running ML in three vehicles, two spec'd for Z-1 and one for Dex 3 with good results, in this case I likely would have chosen Dex VI for this application. Guessing it can be had for a similar price. I doubt ML will hurt anything though. And yes, ML does have an acrid smell.


I don't know why people want to refer to the Mityvac as a flush machine, it is simply a fluid vacuum pump, nothing more.

A good friend of mine owns an auto shop and he said to ONLY use Honda fluid in Honda automatics. I see you used MaxLife in a Honda transmission speced for Z-1. I've wondered what makes Honda's fluids so great.

I was just amazed at how bad MaxLife smelled.
 
Originally Posted By: stchman
I see you used MaxLife in a Honda transmission speced for Z-1. I've wondered what makes Honda's fluids so great.

Actually now 2 Hondas but one relatively recently, the other now over 30k after Z-1 was discontinued. As for Z-1 special, sheared quickly, google search of Bitog will reveal not generally held in high regard. Other than Honda name, not so special imo, but it was sufficient for me until discontinued.

DW-1 supposed to be an improvement. If I was under warranty, and/or CVT trans, I'd use that. But, based on bitog posts many Z-1 spec'd Hondas functioning well on ML and to be fair other aftermarket ATF's recommended/suitable for Z-1 applications.
 
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