Silverado ATF change?

[hattaresguy]

How often do you guys think I should change the ATF and rear end gear lube on my Chevy Silverado? Its an 05 with 83k miles on it now, I don't really tow anything or plow with it. Mostly its just used to drive around and haul stuff to and from job sites. What I use it for shouldn't put much heat into the drive line, the most it tows is a sailboat which with the trailer weighs 2,500 pounds, not real heavy.

I got the truck with 51k miles on it and had the rear end and atf lubes done at 55k. I was thinking about waiting until 100k miles to do them again because its easier for me to remember nice round numbers lol! Than going forward at 150k, 200k etc, until stuff breaks or I sell it.

 

[cancov]

We go 50,000 on a quality synthetic ATF that meets or exceeds the GM mandate. Yes, the synthetic ATF could go longer but we are a little more apprehensive about changing fluids.

Another example, coolant. I dump and flush coolant in 25,000 mile intervals or every 2 years. For $10 a jug, it's a really great investment insuring the cooling system stays in great shape and clean of debris.

Back to ATF, I've actually considered getting some SuperTech ATF that can be bought from Wal-Mart for $10 a gallon that met the GM mandate, dumping the old, NOT changing the filter yet, but rather pouring the SuperTech in and running for a tank or so, THEN dumping, changing the filter and replacing with, my favorite, the Amsoil ATF that meets the specifications. Overkill, maybe, but when keeping a vehicle for a 10, 15, 25-year span, it pays to be more vigilant.

 

[229]

I like 30K miles. D6 ATF and the rear has purple candy gear oil from the factory.

 

[sciphi]

30-50k miles sounds good. With your hauling, I'd lean to 35-40k miles. Sooner ATF changes don't hurt anything, except your wallet.

At least you're on top of it, and changing the ATF. That by itself is far better than the ignorance most folks have about ATF.

 

[hattaresguy]

I'd do it myself but I'm kind of tired of working on vehicles and this truck doesn't have drain plugs in the pain or torque converter. The last shop I took it to did a flush than dropped the pan and changed the filter, seemed to do a good job. With the rear end it ran me around $300 I forget exactly though. They were a Valvoline shop so I assume they used Valvoline ATF and gear oil. I know they used synthetic GM spec in the rear because the truck wasn't ready when I went to pick it up because they had to send one of their parts runners out to get a few bottles.

I'll do it again next year when I hit 100k miles, that's only 45k. It looks pretty clean now.

The truck is an 05 and I plan on keeping it at least another 5 years, if not longer. Depends on how well it holds up, so far pretty good.

 

[Warstud]

You didn't say how the ATF was changed. Was it a flush, 1 pan drop 3 pan drops or an extraction?

 

[hattaresguy]

They hooked it up to that machine, flushed the old fluid out, drew the pan down, dropped and changed the filter, than filled it back up.

 

[NYSteve]

$300 is enough for 2 cases of Red Line or Amsoil ATF along with several quarts of their gear oil. More than enough to last you the next 100k miles!

 

[Warstud]

Yes just change again at 100k and add some lubegard.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: NYSteve
$300 is enough for 2 cases of Red Line or Amsoil ATF along with several quarts of their gear oil. More than enough to last you the next 100k miles!


Problem is than I have to go underneath and do it, which I don't want to do.

I'm at the point now where I rather just pay other people to do jobs I don't want to.

 

[Donald]

If you do a cooler line flush yourself you can usually do it from under the hood. How about adding a Magnefine filter while you have the cooler line disconnected?

I would go with 50K and Amsoil ATF.

I assume 2WD as no mention of transfer case.

 

[hattaresguy]

Yeah its 2wd, I don't want to do it. I have done enough ATF services, and pulled a few trans, taken a few ATF baths, fun stuff!

I think I might take it to the dealer next time, they seem to be running specials all the time. $180 for dino, $220 for synthetic, isn't terrible. The rear end is another $80 or so since GM spec's synthetic.