Never changed trans fluid before.

[jigen]

I am trying to get the trans fluid changed in our new (to us) car. The car only has 44k on it, but it's a 2000 and I am willing to bet the fluid was never serviced.

Now the GM dealership charges $150 for a trans flush which I am guessing replaces all the trans fluid entirely. I wouldn't mind doing just a drain and fill, and then repeating once again a few thousand miles down the road. Two questions though:

How much less beneficial is it to just do a drain and fill?

How difficult is it to do a drain and fill when the car I have has no trans dipstick to check the fluid level?

I am just looking for responses to what you guys would do. Thanks.

 

[tig1]

I like to drop the pan, if there is one, and replace the filter. Assuming there is a magnet you can clean that as well. I,ve never had a tranny fail yet in my 47 years of driving so that's worked well for me. Not sure about the dip stick thing. What's this world coming to? No tranny dip stick.

 

[milwaukee]

Changing the filter is a waste of time. I have seen trans filters with 150K on them and they looked brand new. Trans filters are nothing more than than scotch brite and only catch large chunks. If your trans filter is catching large chunks of stuff your trans is shot.

A trans is a closed system, has no combustion, no air intake, etc. I will never change a trans filter again. Some transmissions do not even have a filter and they last just as long or longer as the ones with a debris catcher/filter.

As for your vehicle, I would take it to the shop. I owned a vehicle with NO TRANS DIPSTICK and it had to be hooked up to a scan tool (not a code scanner) to give a trans temp reading. The fill procedure was:
once trans temp reaches xyz degrees add ATF thru the fill port until the atf runs out the hole.

Find a shop with a t-tec or BG machine, live long, and prosper.

Most places do the flush for about 150. That is a bargin IMO.

 

[jigen]

Thanks. I too thought the price was somewhat reasonable for a dealership. Since it is a GM dealership, I am figuring they will be using Dexron VI for the car (filled with Dex III) but I would have to call them to confirm.

The fluid alone will cost me $50 if I do it myself.

 

[hate2work]

I would take it to the dealership, but I would bring my own superior atf for them to use. You want to use the best fluid you possibly can in your AT, and that's surely not anything the dealer has on his shelf.

 

[jigen]

Sounds like a good idea. I know Dexron VI fluids are all pretty similar due to the strict requirements but who knows if the shop uses a general "All makes and models" ATF.

 

[mechtech2]

A couple of fluid swaps by yourself is a great idea.
Sure, some old fluid will be left in the trans, but it's no big deal.
So save $, get the best fluid, and know it is done right.

 

[ZZman]

Why not pop for the $ 150.00. Is spending that amount of money every 2-4 years really a big expense? Not really.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

$150 for a flush doesn't sound bad.

 

[jigen]

Yea the price isn't that bad. But if I am buying my own fluid it will actually be 200ish. Still not terrible.

 

[jigen]

Just called and got the appointment set for Monday. The guy said they use the specified fluid for each vehicle, in this case Dexron. I asked about Dex VI and he said he wasn't sure what number but I can ask the mechanic Monday.

I am guessing it would be VI. Why would they stock anything older if it works for any dexron filled trans, right?

 

[Bamaro]

All you probably need is to drop the pan, measure what came out and replace with the same amount. I am surprised though that there is no dipstick. I just performed this on my 70 Camaro two weeks ago but that was not as messy as what you will face because mine has a tranny drain plug.

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: jigen


I am guessing it would be VI. Why would they stock anything older if it works for any dexron filled trans, right?


your going to want to ask again. why? at my work we just had a 4l60e installed at our local dealer and they used dex III, in a 2001 tahoe. just fyi

 

[jigen]

Okay sounds, good. If they stick with dex III I will ask to use the VI and just pay a difference if they charge, if not then off to Walmart. -_-

 

[Drew99GT]

With the help of 1 or 2 other people, you can disconnect the lower trans cooler fitting at the radiator, screw in the correct size AN fitting with a hose barb and stick a long length of clear plastic tubing into a jug with a small opening. There's a fill plug on the top of the trans, so with a long funnel, you idle the engine in drive while continuing to fill the trans, you'll pump out the old fluid and it'll be refilled with new fluid.

There's a another plug on the side of the trans that you open to measure the fluid capacity. When it's at operating temp, refill the trans until fluid comes out that side plug hole while the engine's idling in gear and the fluid level is then correct.

That's what I did on my Grand Am. It was a messy endeavor, but worked!

 

[Spector]

I had one with a drain and fill plug, no dipstick. A pain to work with but I did the drain and fills several times 9about evry 30,000 miles) and had 150,000+ and never dropped the pan or changed the filter. You have to be able underneath to get to the fill plug etc and if you do make sure you can loosen the fill plug before you open the drain plug. If not a tow truck in your future.

 

[andyd]

Milwaukee, I had a perfectly good Torqueflite stop working due to a clogged filter. It isn't that rare to have the tranny regain function with just a filter and fluid change.

I get the same results from Supertech dino Dex III as I do from synth Dex III. If you are changing at 30k intervals I wouldn't pay big bux for ATF.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
With the help of 1 or 2 other people, you can disconnect the lower trans cooler fitting at the radiator, screw in the correct size AN fitting with a hose barb and stick a long length of clear plastic tubing into a jug with a small opening. There's a fill plug on the top of the trans, so with a long funnel, you idle the engine in drive while continuing to fill the trans, you'll pump out the old fluid and it'll be refilled with new fluid.

There's a another plug on the side of the trans that you open to measure the fluid capacity. When it's at operating temp, refill the trans until fluid comes out that side plug hole while the engine's idling in gear and the fluid level is then correct.

That's what I did on my Grand Am. It was a messy endeavor, but worked!


This is the way to flush the system out. do you remember what size flair fitting the cooler is? Did you check the level at the check plug on a lift or could you get to it on the ground?

 

[Cutehumor]

$150 for a trans flush. I'm not for wallet flushing. I got 50k on T IV trans. 3 drains/fills. 9 qts x $5/qt = $45

 

[aaxb970]

I had a Sunfire with the same engine and tranny set up...no dipstick ! Pain in the butt....because its hard to figure out how much to put back in unless you dont spill any....which can be a difficult one man operation.