Trans Service for '00 Silverado w/ 25k miles?

[Islandvic]

'00 Silverado 5.3 4L60E w/ 25k miles.

Has engine oil, trans and P/S fluid coolers. Rarely driven hard and no serious towing (pulls a Waverunner a few times a year)

The truck will be 6 years old this June.

Should I drain the trans fluid via OEM drain plug and refill, or let be? I will not pay for a flush.

If I should drain/refill, how many times?

What fluid have yall used with good results in the newer 4l60e's?

The manual states under normal service the trans fluid is good for 100k miles.

Milage is not the issue here, but rather time.

Thanks.

 

[The Critic]

The ’92 Previa received its first transmission service after 44,000 miles and 12 yrs on the original fluid; the van was only driven several thousand miles a year, and was used only for 100+ mi highway trips every other month or so. The dealer pulled the drain plug, and refilled with 4 qts (?) of Chevron Dexron-IIIH ATF 14 months (or so) ago. Transmission shifts fine.

I think you should pickup a few more gallons of Supertech Dexron-IIIH (at $5.50/gal), and do a drain/refill, then do another drain/refill at the next oil change, and you’ll be set to go. I wouldn’t bother dropping the pan and changing the filter until 50,000 miles.

 

[Shaman]

IF you are concerned, change it. The worst you will do it waste good tranny fluid, and the best you will do is save your tranny from failure. My father's 03 states 30 or 50 on fluid and I think 60 on filter.

 

[crashz]

I just changed mine (2004 GMC Sierra, 5.3L and 4L60E) with 30K on it. I did it because I felt it was time and wanted to add a drain plug. I'm glad I did. The fluid wasn't dark, but it wasn't as clear as the new stuff.

I dropped the pan, added the drain plug, changed the filter, and refilled with a store brand ATF made by Ashland. A week later I drained it again, refilled with the same fluid, drove it for an hour and drained it again. The last time I added two quarts of M1 ATF. Tranny shifts beautifully and from now on I will drain and fill at each oil change (a drain and fill without the pan drop is only 3.5 qrts) which is every 6000 miles for me.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Mobil 1 ATF works fine in mine. I did 2 pan drains and then changed the filter around 37K miles. Love that factory drain plug. Be careful removing it for the first time, though. They tend to be tight, and a lot of people strip the corners. Mine was no trouble with a long-handled ratchet and lots of pressure holding the socket on.