New Used Minivan ATF Change

[DABEAR95]

Hey Everyone,

My wife wanted a Van so we sold our truck which was purchase new. Anyway, the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 23,000 miles (a bit less than the truck had) and I'm changing all the fluids.

I have a new transmission filter, 10 quarts of Redline D4 ATF, and a drain plug I plan to install. The owners manual indicates that I will get 7.4 quarts with a pan drop and 10 quarts with an overhaul. My question is, which of the following would you do?

1. Drop pan, change ~7.4 quarts, install drain plug and refill. Change 5 quarts minimum a second time 5,000 or so miles later resulting in approximately 8.65 quarts of the old fluid removed or 86.5% new fluid. 5 quarts the second time is a guess because I will not be removing the filter.

2. Drop pan, change filter, install plug. Fill with conventional fluid then do the cooler line method to change 10 quarts.

Now, I have never done the cooler line method and 3.4L V6 is packed under the hood...

Or do you have a better idea? I want to do it myself though, whatever it is.

Finally, I plan to buy a manual but I do not have $150 extra for the factory manual. Is there anything to look out for when changing the transmission fluid on these Venture's, Montana's, or Silhouette's?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[m2200b]

I assume you want syn for winter but I'd just do
your 1 but extend out the 2nd drop to about 50K.

Drop method and any method means measuring what you take out to avoid overfilling which can occur by just adding 7.4 qts. Its easier to add more if you aren't up to the right level than the other way around even with your new drain plug.

 

[DABEAR95]

M22,
No doubt, I will try and measure. Either way, I will definatly not overfill. Slowly add and check...

I'm in no hurry

 

[The Critic]

Sounds good. I'd also install a set of updated intake manifold gaskets too.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

I would drop pan, clean it up and have the drain plug bung welded in. Put a new filter in the transmission, make sure to document if it has a celluose or stainless screen for a filter. Replace the amount drained, run for 25K and drain the pan, replace the fluid for another 25K OCI. If the transmission filter is stainless steel screen, you should be able to go 75K without dropping the pan again. You made an excellent choice with Redline ATF.

 

[DABEAR95]

Critic,

Do you have anything that says everyone will leak? I was under the "assumption" that I needed to watch it. Then, even if replaced it would still need to be watched.

This is the only reason I am not happy about selling the perfectly good truck. 3.4L intake gaskets..

Jason

 

[The Critic]

Nope, I do not own a GM 3.1 or GM 3.4 V6 engine. However, I have seen plenty of UOAs from this board that indicate these engines' tendency to leak.

If the gaskets are replaced with the updated part from GM, there's a good chance that you can simply forget about it as the problem should not reappear. Until you replace those gaskets, you are certainly vulnerable.

Since it's a 2003, you're almost due for a coolant service anyway. Drain the system, and upon refilling with new 50/50 DexCool/Distilled Water, add 6 GM cooling system sealer pellets (purchase from your local dealership) to the lower radiator hose (not pressurized surge tank) before refilling. This will act as "insurance" against any leakage and seal up any small leaks. It's not going to protect you if the gasket fails completely, but may delay you from needing to replace the gaskets due to a minor leak. Definitely worth a try.

Not sure why you bought this van if you were afraid of intake gasket problems ???

 

[unDummy]

I agree. Service the coolant hardware ASAP.

Drain/refill is plenty for an ATF service. Since you only have 10 quarts, remove and clean pan, change filter, refill with all 10 quarts, pull any cooler line, pump out ~2.5, and call it a day.

 

[DABEAR95]

Critic,

Thanks for the feedback. The Van was purchased because the Honda transmission problems seem more difficult to do in my driveway. However, that is less a part then the price. I can pay for gas for 10 years on the amount of money I saved buying this van. They have horrible resale value. And please, it's for my wife.

I'm going to keep in eye on things this winter, get a manual and look at replacing the gaskets in may. Will the factory manual have the latest procedures for replacing the gasket or will I need to talk to my dealer?

Jason

 

[WishIhadatruck]

I believe this has the 4T65E transmission, same as my '01 Grand Prix. I've been doing pan drops every 30,000 miles and I added a transmission cooler, yours might have one already if it has the trailer towing package. I have 65,000 on it now and no issues and it is a fairly easy job other than a little mess. My other car is a '94 Grand Prix with the 4T60E transmission which is very similar. I gutted and remodeled an old house from '97-'01 and never owned a truck. The '94 car and a trailer hauled away most of the debris and brought in most of the supplies. It has also hauled load after load of top soil, mulch, and lumber for projects at my current house. Back in '99 we took it on a 1700 mile trip pulling a small pop up camper and I installed a transmission cooler just before that. I've always change the fluid every 30,000 in that as well and it still shifts great today and I've never had a problem (198,650 miles currently). I never used synthetic in the '94 GP. I've used GM brand, Valvoline, Mobil (AAMCO?), Castrol, whatever DexIII fluid. I wouldn't be concerned with just dropping the pan once now and doing it every 25-30 from here on out. I always change the filter at the same time. I've never installed a drain plug but that would make for a cleaner job. I didn't want to worry about it leaking so I never bothered.

 

[DABEAR95]

WishIHad,

Did you transmission have a reusable gasket or did you need a new gasket each time?

I'm leaving towards drain and refil every 25K, with a new filter every 50K.

Jason

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Both cars have a reusable gasket and I've never had a leak. They are quite durable, just clean the gasket up real well when you take it off. I forgot to mention that I've been using Mobil 1 ATF in the '01 GP just to try it but since I've had such good luck on the other car with dino fluid I'm not sure it is worth it. It certainly can't hurt. I've never opened a filter on either of these cars so I can't tell you how necessary the filter change is each time but that is the easy part of the job since I don't have the drain plug like you will once you get yours installed. Your plan will probably be more than adequate. My fluid always drains out nice and red looking and there is usually a thin coating of gray stuff on the pan and a little thicker on the magnet in the pan.

 

[DABEAR95]

Thanks!

Tonights the night. My brother in law is going to weld the nut on the inside for the drain plug. Should have no problems with leaks. I will let everyone know how it goes...


Jason

 

[DABEAR95]

Change the fluid and filter...

No problems, welded the fitting on, no leaks...

Book said 7.4 quarts with filter change. Actually took almost 9 after a nice drive to warm everything up.


Jason

 

[wgtoys]

Make sure to do regular oil analysis on that beast. Our 2002 Silhoette developed an intake manifold gasket leak at about 40k miles. The 3.4l engine is notorious for said leaks!

I hope yours works out well for you. Personally I wouldn't touch another GM minivan ....

 

[DABEAR95]

Maybe the Van needs a vanity plate "BEAST".
Anyway, it will have to be a catastrophic failure for this intake gasket to bite me. The oil will be analyzed, I will check the oil, coolant, and have a look every Saturday...

Can't afford not to.

 

[bmwtechguy]

Gaskets went out on friends 2003 3.4L Buick Rendezvous at less that 50k miles. Actually turned the oil orange! They paid some shop that does lots of these gaskets about $600 to replace with the newest ones and flush out the crankcase and all is well again. The first thing they noticed was an extremely loud lifter tick.