Welp, got the transmission fluid changed today

[BlazerLT]

They used a T-Tech on it and did a complete fluid change on the transmission. No additives or cleaners, no reverse flushing, just a fluid change. They hooked in directly to the cooler lines and did the swap in under 5 minutes with the engine running at idle.

The filter in it only has about 10,000 miles on it so it wasn't changed but it didn't matter seeing they couldn't change it anyways seeing they didn't have the tools to remove the cross member. The filter will be changed soon when I get the tube and dipstick replaced.

You should have seen how brown the old stuff was. There has only been two times that the pan was dropped and the filter was changed which doesn't account for much of the fluid in its 135,000 miles lifetime.

Took it for a 100 mile drive through the country and through the city to test it out. My screwy 1-2 shift problem is gone and the tranny is performing flawlessly.

I will keep you updated as I go through the miles and I will tell you if anything bad occurs.

As of now I would recommend it. It isn't an intrusive swap and you will be giving your transmission the fluid it deserves for a long life.

You see, once your fluid gets old, it will start to thin out which will start to cause low fluid pressure which will screw up your shifts. That and the detergents being used up and you are not far from a new transmission.

City driving is murder on a tranny.

 

[JAYCEE]

If the fluid is that brown, I'd change the filter out too.


I've heard bad reports from T-tech flushes with old fluid.

 

[Schmoe]

How much the charge you and what did they put back in it? Dextron??

 

[BlazerLT]

They chanrged me $99.99 Canadian which turn out to be $5 american. Just kidding..... heheh

It was about US$84 bucks.

They refilled it with Esso Dextron III.

The fluid was past its time and I will be replacing the filter soon.

But does it EVER shift nice now.

I would not hesitate doing this. It is non-intrusive. They don't force the fluid it, they don't use any cleaners nor do they really flush anything.

All it does is replace.

 

[kingrob]

It'd be nice to find a shop near me that did that... People are limited by shops that either do just a filter/pan drop or a power suck job. This is a good way to do it if all you're worried about is the fluid and not the filter. I've seen power flushes murder otherwise decent transmissions.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by kingrob:
It'd be nice to find a shop near me that did that... People are limited by shops that either do just a filter/pan drop or a power suck job. This is a good way to do it if all you're worried about is the fluid and not the filter. I've seen power flushes murder otherwise decent transmissions.

---

Most machines like the T-Tech and the TRANSERVE® II+ Automatic Transmission Flush & Fill Machine don't power anything into the system.

They just allow the transmission's pump to pump the old out and the new in through the transmission lines.

Most quick lube places have these. Just make sure you ask for just a fluid change, with no extra chamicals or anything. Most of these places can do the filter too. They were going to do mine but I have a crossmember in the way.

If so, then just go to a mechanic and have them swap a new filter in.

Pretty easy and you might be out US$150-160 in the end but you will be good for quite a long time.

 

[Jim 5]

I just had this service on my '98 K1500 for the same price.

How much ATF will I lose if I drop the pan to replace the trans filter. It's a 4L60E.

 

[kingrob]

Approx. 7 qts.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jim 5:
I just had this service on my '98 K1500 for the same price.

How much ATF will I lose if I drop the pan to replace the trans filter. It's a 4L60E.

---

Your owner's manual will tell you for your truck.

 

[T-Keith]

A complete waste of money if they didn't change the filter.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by T-Keith:
A complete waste of money if they didn't change the filter.

---

Thanks for your meaningful contribution full of facts to back up your out-of-the-blue claim.

So you are saying it is better to have old fluid and filter than having new fluid and an old filter?

Something is better than nothing.

Just FYI, the filter was changed 20k ago.

Since starting this thread, I have had no more shifting problems, everything is right back to normal.

 

[Big Jim]

quote:

---

Originally posted by T-Keith:
A complete waste of money if they didn't change the filter.

---

That's old school thinking. Get over it.

 

[Jim 5]

T-keith:

I'll let you know next time I change the filter. If it is totally clogged, you're right. But then, my transmission wouldn't work, so it must not be totally clogged.

Lots of auto transmissions don't have a real filter to speak of..just some little mesh screen.

It's sort of like saying that if you have 20k miles on your OCI and you change the oil only, you're not doing any good.

I think a filter every second time would be decent. Last time I looked at an auto trans filter for a regularly maintained vehicle (like mine) there was absolutely nothing in it.

 

[Kestas]

Depending on how open the filter design is, I may consider replacing the filter only once early on after break-in. I'm usually more concerned with cleaning the silt and sludge from the transmission pan and magnet when I drop the pan.

Complete exchange of the trasmission fluid every 30K is my mantra.

 

[unDummy]

I pull my ATF drainplugs every 6-months and usually less then 7.5k miles for a partial drain/refill. Depending on fluid chosen and driving style, 30k flushes could be abusive.
I'd only consider 30k flushes when using synthetic ATF and aftermarket filtration/cooling.
There are many trannies that don't make it to their 1st 30k service.

Change the ATF more often.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by unDummy:
I pull my ATF drainplugs every 6-months and usually less then 7.5k miles for a partial drain/refill. Depending on fluid chosen and driving style, 30k flushes could be abusive.
I'd only consider 30k flushes when using synthetic ATF and aftermarket filtration/cooling.
There are many trannies that don't make it to their 1st 30k service.

Change the ATF more often.

---

Do a fluid change every 7500 miles is a little excessive.

 

[RichR]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:

quote:

---

Originally posted by unDummy:
I pull my ATF drainplugs every 6-months and usually less then 7.5k miles for a partial drain/refill. Depending on fluid chosen and driving style, 30k flushes could be abusive.
I'd only consider 30k flushes when using synthetic ATF and aftermarket filtration/cooling.
There are many trannies that don't make it to their 1st 30k service.

Change the ATF more often.

---

Do a fluid change every 7500 miles is a little excessive.

---

I do them same on my Toyotas.Clean fluid works and cools better than dirty worn fluid in my opinion.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichR:

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:

quote:

---

Originally posted by unDummy:
I pull my ATF drainplugs every 6-months and usually less then 7.5k miles for a partial drain/refill. Depending on fluid chosen and driving style, 30k flushes could be abusive.
I'd only consider 30k flushes when using synthetic ATF and aftermarket filtration/cooling.
There are many trannies that don't make it to their 1st 30k service.

Change the ATF more often.

---

Do a fluid change every 7500 miles is a little excessive.

---

I do them same on my Toyotas.Clean fluid works and cools better than dirty worn fluid in my opinion.

---

Do you REALLY think in the real world that ATF wears out faster than motoroil?

 

[Big Jim]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichR:

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:

quote:

---

Originally posted by unDummy:
I pull my ATF drainplugs every 6-months and usually less then 7.5k miles for a partial drain/refill. Depending on fluid chosen and driving style, 30k flushes could be abusive.
I'd only consider 30k flushes when using synthetic ATF and aftermarket filtration/cooling.
There are many trannies that don't make it to their 1st 30k service.

He isn't changing all the trans fluid by removing the drain plug. He is getting less than half since he cannot drain the torque converter. So no, he isn't expecting the trans fluid to last less time than the motor oil.

Change the ATF more often.

---

Do a fluid change every 7500 miles is a little excessive.

---

I do them same on my Toyotas.Clean fluid works and cools better than dirty worn fluid in my opinion.

---

Do you REALLY think in the real world that ATF wears out faster than motoroil?

---

 

[Big Jim]

I don't know why, but my added message did not post.

I said that removing the drain plug only drains less than half of the trans fluid since it doesn't drain the torque converter. So no, he is not expecting the trans fluid to wear out faster than motoroil.