A couple questions from my oil change yesterday

[rgaffney]

As usual they tries to get me to have several other things done and I would just like to know how important or how beneficial it would be to do any or all of these things in the future. He said my brake fluid was dark and it is supposed to be clear. Getting it done there would be a couple hundred dollars so i said no but this sounds like something I need to get done at some point. They also suggested a transmission flush and fill, valv P/S flush kit?, and fuel system procs?

So any input as to which of these are the most important or if any are frivolous is appreciated. I don't want to spend too much any time before xmas because I am getting rims and tires when my semester at school is over.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Whenever I get a used rig, I like to do all those things to it right off the bat whenever I can, since I don't fully know the history of the truck and when stuff got done to it!! Check the levels of everything and make sure they are full, check the tranny fluid and make sure it doesn't smell burnt, if questionable, drop the pan and change the filter as well as the fluid!! Brake fluid you could change, it's not that hard just takes a bit of time and is easier with another person! Power steering fluid, you can change it out, it's not that hard either but at least make sure it is full if anything. Doesn't hurt to change out the fuel filter too!!

 

[Cartwright]

Need some more info bro. What year and how many miles it has.

 

[rgaffney]

Its a 2003 and i have 187,000 miles

 

[Travieso]

i would do the following ASAP

1. Drain Transmission fluid with new filter and fresh tranny fluid
2. Drain break fluid and refill with new one
3. Differential oil change
4. replace Gas filter
5. Replace air filters
6. Do a major tuneup
7. Replace radiator fluid

 

[Cartwright]

Id do the Tranny, front and rear diff(Front if 4wd), Brakes, Cooling system, and would also look at the front end.

 

[rgaffney]

so i would be doing major damage by dragging my feet with any of these fluids?

 

[pittmanb8]

No one can say that you are doing X damage by not changing these fluids within Y days, however, the fluids are there to keep your parts from being damaged. Therefore, you / previous owner have already done extra wear and tear by not changing any of the mentioned fluids within the last 187k miles.

Agree with 06Tahoe's list- probably do multiple drain and fills on the transmission to get a higher percentage of fresh new fluid. Differentials and transfer case also a must if you have 4wd.

 

[BOSS]

No one can say that you are doing X damage by not changing these fluids within Y days, however, the fluids are there to keep your parts from being damaged. Therefore, you / previous owner have already done extra wear and tear by not changing any of the mentioned fluids within the last 187k miles.

Agree with 06Tahoe's list- probably do multiple drain and fills on the transmission to get a higher percentage of fresh new fluid. Differentials and transfer case also a must if you have 4wd.

x2.

Those listed above are all must haves, but more importantly can be done with a little time in the driveway and some pans/bottles. I used a garden hose to flush out my coolant system. Worked like a charm, but I had to catch all that fluid and it took a while. Those services can run you a pretty penny, mostly because people don't want to deal with em.

Re: tranny
Do NOT do a "chemical" tranny flush of any kind, unless you rebuild it. Unless you know the tranny was rebuilt at ***-miles, I wouldn't risk aggravating any particulates that may be embedded into your trans case etc by doing that flush. Changing the fluid is still a little risky - that trans has gotten used to shifting with that fluid and if you change the fluid, you change the pressures and dynamics. You may find yourself with a tranny problem just by changing the fluid. That's my experience anyway.


B

 

[WHITEOUT]

BOSS has a good point. My buddy use to work at a lube shop, and he always told me, not to mess with the tranny fluid unless totally burnt!!! Like BOSS said, you can do damage. But, at the same time, your manual tells you the intervals, and they know what they mean, except for certain things, ie: oil changes(whenever you feel it needs it, i mean earlier is better), air filter( I live in AZ and clean my air filter refularly), cabin filter, again do alot, spark plugs,( I found stock to be the best, Got Quad Platinums and they sucked big time). Fluids are meant to be changed though, so keep up on them, and like everyone else said, If you get a new vehicle do the major tune up ASAP, you never know what previous owner did to it.

 

[rgaffney]

really appreciate the info guys, ill be gettin all of these fixed soon

 

["350Vortec"]

I have a 1996 tahoe with 178,000. I brought it to the shop to get a tranny flush done and he said no possible way was it a good idea. For same reasons BOSS said. Im glad that i did not do it...who knows what would have happend. I actually havent even changed my fluid at all. Dont plan on it either. Just my .02.

Listen to BOSS. He speaks truth

 

[rgaffney]

I can't afford to replace a transmission any time soon, so I won't get that looked at because I understand BOSS' logic with that

 

[yukonjacks]

All lubricants structure breaks down with heat and friction and a transmission provides both. Most people want to avoid the tranny cause they don't want to fool with the linkage bracket. If you don't know if it was accomplished at 100k do it or have it done, which means dropping the pan and changing the filter and putting on a new gasket. Telling someone not to do it just sounds like bad advice. IMO

 

[Rivieraracing]

I would never do a tranny flush, but I always keep my fluid up to date and change it when needed!

 

[cvxmike]

I have a 2001 Tahoe that I use for towing my boat. I change the trans fluid and filter once each year. I do it my self and it is not difficult. Experience has taught me to always use a Delco filter and gasket. I order them from the web, so the price is not that much more. Plus I know the parts will fit.

I have often read that it is best not to change the trans fluid if it had not been changed for many miles... say 130K miles.

I don't subscribe to that school of thought. The transmission pan and filter hang down under the guts of the transmission. I suck most of the fluid out of the pan through the dip-stick/fill tube using the 2.5 gal vacuum pump that I have to draw the engine oil out of my boats inboard engine. Then I drop the trans pan, clean it out, and replace the filter. I apply the new gasket, bolt the pan back on, and fill it up with transmission fluid through the fill tube. This process changes only about half of the total trans fluid. The rest of the fluid stays up in the trans.

In reality, I never touch the guts of the transmission. This is not a transmission "power wash." Think of it as changing the bed pan for a sleeping hospital patient. When I am done the new filter can better clean the fluid passing through it. There is no more grit in the bottom of the pan to be stirred up and sent back into trans valving. The newer fluid will more effectively lubricate. BTW, the grit in the bottom of the pan looks like river silt.

I don't drive my Tahoe during the Illinois winters. In the next month or so I will change my Tahoe’s transmission fluid and filter. At that time I will be installing a Transgo 4L60E-HD2 Transmission Reprogramming Kit, along with about six Sonnax billet Aluminum servo/pistons. My plan is to correct a few of the GM 4L60E transmission's known deficiencies, and at the same time increase its longevity.

Regards,

Mike

P.S. I have a master degree in mechanical engineering, and have worked as a mechanical engineer for 40 years. But, I have not worked in the auto industry. I am very open to people disagreeing with my ideas. I would especially like to hear from people with first hand experience (not folk lore) of transmissions being damaged from high mileage trans filter/fluid changes.

 

[rgaffney]

I guess my thoughts are that I have a very limited knowledge about changing the fluids so I am slightly apprehensive as to having it done or attempting to have my dad help me with this when I get home

 

[cvxmike]

...I have a very limited knowledge about changing the fluids so I am slightly apprehensive...

Hi rgaffney,

If you are interested in working on your tahoe, I suggest you get a service manual for it. Also, Autozone has online service documentation for many vehicles. Your confidence will build once you have read about it, and have seen the pictures. Then start out doing the simple things like changing oil. Build from there.

Regards,

Mike

 

[rgaffney]

That sounds like something I should look into because I would like to become more self sufficient with my truck

 

[177mph]

I have a 2001 Tahoe that I use for towing my boat. I change the trans fluid and filter once each year. I do it my self and it is not difficult. Experience has taught me to always use a Delco filter and gasket. I order them from the web, so the price is not that much more. Plus I know the parts will fit.

I have often read that it is best not to change the trans fluid if it had not been changed for many miles... say 130K miles.

I don't subscribe to that school of thought. The transmission pan and filter hang down under the guts of the transmission. I suck most of the fluid out of the pan through the dip-stick/fill tube using the 2.5 gal vacuum pump that I have to draw the engine oil out of my boats inboard engine. Then I drop the trans pan, clean it out, and replace the filter. I apply the new gasket, bolt the pan back on, and fill it up with transmission fluid through the fill tube. This process changes only about half of the total trans fluid. The rest of the fluid stays up in the trans.

In reality, I never touch the guts of the transmission. This is not a transmission "power wash." Think of it as changing the bed pan for a sleeping hospital patient. When I am done the new filter can better clean the fluid passing through it. There is no more grit in the bottom of the pan to be stirred up and sent back into trans valving. The newer fluid will more effectively lubricate. BTW, the grit in the bottom of the pan looks like river silt.

I don't drive my Tahoe during the Illinois winters. In the next month or so I will change my Tahoe’s transmission fluid and filter. At that time I will be installing a Transgo 4L60E-HD2 Transmission Reprogramming Kit, along with about six Sonnax billet Aluminum servo/pistons. My plan is to correct a few of the GM 4L60E transmission's known deficiencies, and at the same time increase its longevity.

Regards,

Mike

P.S. I have a master degree in mechanical engineering, and have worked as a mechanical engineer for 40 years. But, I have not worked in the auto industry. I am very open to people disagreeing with my ideas. I would especially like to hear from people with first hand experience (not folk lore) of transmissions being damaged from high mileage trans filter/fluid changes.

Sounds like a good plan to me...