2003 Chevy Tahoe- Transmission Fluid Change
- Thread starter Dantheman-2003
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lyncht1967
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I bought one of these pumps:
https://www.amazon.com/Wekster-Mult...=1678557442&sprefix=auto+fluid+,aps,96&sr=8-8
Went to home depot ad got about 6' of tubing (either 1/4" or 3/8" cant' remember) inserted it into a short piece of the red hose I cut and ducktaped. red hose on pump, tubing down the fill pipe. Sucked out all it will do (about 4 quarts) refilled. Drove around ten minutes. Did this 3 times. Figured I got to about 85% new fluid. Trans loved it..so smooth.
I know dropping pan and changing filter would be optimal but I have always had no trouble with trans and kinda regular changes so don't expect filter to be bad off.
Took and hour and didn't even get dirty. I was amazed how efficient it was. Will always do trans this way...
https://www.amazon.com/Wekster-Mult...=1678557442&sprefix=auto+fluid+,aps,96&sr=8-8
Went to home depot ad got about 6' of tubing (either 1/4" or 3/8" cant' remember) inserted it into a short piece of the red hose I cut and ducktaped. red hose on pump, tubing down the fill pipe. Sucked out all it will do (about 4 quarts) refilled. Drove around ten minutes. Did this 3 times. Figured I got to about 85% new fluid. Trans loved it..so smooth.
I know dropping pan and changing filter would be optimal but I have always had no trouble with trans and kinda regular changes so don't expect filter to be bad off.
Took and hour and didn't even get dirty. I was amazed how efficient it was. Will always do trans this way...
I have a vacuum pump works great suck it out pour it in easy
YukonRog
Full Access Member
Too late now, but If you pulled the pan and changed the filter you'd be able to see how dirty/clogged up it was. I was able to get my deep pan off my '04 Yukon without loosening the D Side exhaust. Just the P Side. Pry bar to press the pipe over is all it took. And removal of the linkage to avoid damaging it. You'd really be surprised at what the filter catches. It's a good indicator of what's going on inside. Maybe next time...
2008yukonxlslt
Member
My 08, the downpipe nuts are pretty hard to get at with the cats in the way, i just took the hangers off the exhaust and let it drop down a bit and a pry bar and gave lots of room to get the pan off cleanly.
I have had 2 tahoes , a 99 and currently have a 2004. Both had solenoid issues. Never over heated that i know of but there is no guage who knows. I rarely tow anything, i changes the fluid and it atill happens. My dad has a 02 silverado and the sunshell broke on it at around 100k but no solenoid issues Its common for this to happen. I replaced the transmission on my 99 at about 150k. The 2004 got 105k on the first then at 200k the rebuilt one crapped out. I had them put in the gm remanufactured one so hopefully it lasts more than a 100k since its supposed to have fixed the factory defects that gm refused to update. I still like my tahoe even though it has had many issues.
lyncht1967
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I did, but it's aluminum and someone had already rounded it..even got nut extractor set and it was just welded in there..all extractor did was chew it up more
@rockola1971, since I have the step pan I never wondered till now. What is the reason for the two pans and two filters? If have the shallow pan, can the deep pan and deep filter be changed over and if so, what would be the benefit, if any?
nonickatall
Full Access Member
That's just speculation, but if the later models have the pan with the step, they probably changed that because when there are large inclines, acceleration or braking, the oil is more secure in the pan and can be sucked in by the pump. With the flat oil pan, it can of course happen that the oil pump draws air in such situations.
MassHoe04
Full Access Member
If trail riding, a deep pan might not help ground clearance over obstacles if it hangs lower than a stock pan.
When I had my Jeep, everyone in that forum was all about "tummy tucks" raising engine mounts and lifting engine and transmissions as high as possible to gain ground more clearance.
I would guess deeper pan, holding more fluid, would allow greater heat dissipation. I would think more cooling would be good for heavy duty towing or really launching it on a drag strip.
I am willing to learn, if I am wrong on this. I am not pretending to be a transmission/performance build expert.
nonickatall
Full Access Member
More volume can also be a reason... The question is which oil pan has have the newer models. If the flat oilpan is at the newer models, it can all so be that you are right and they want to have more space to the ground and as well produce a cheaper oilpan, because for the flat one you need less material and and you have a simpler cast...
The later, deep pan and filter design can be installed onto any 93-97 4L60e and provides an additional 3/4 of a quart or so. All other things equal, the more fluid you have for cooling, the better.
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nonickatall
Full Access Member
Then it's probably about more oil, bigger filter and less risk to suck air in certain situations.
Is the filter bigger or just deeper?
Yep, more capacity to run cooler was the primary reason for the change.
Both.
But, The deeper pan can be added to a shallow pan set up and the bigger/deeper filter would just plug right in?
Yes. You need the late, deeper filter with the deeper pan to reach the bottom of the pan. There is a very slight designed interference fit between pan and filter so the pan can hold/retain the filter in the pump. Otherwise it would just come loose and drop part way or all the way off.
I figured that but was wanting to be sure about the filter mount area where it plugs in. I have a friend that may do this changeover.
