2018 Chevy Tahoe transmission fluid change

[JACKLER97]

I have a 2018 Chevy Tahoe 5.3v8 LT with about 80,0000 miles. I bought it used at 75,000 miles and have changed the oil and spark plugs but I’m not sure what other maintenance it’s had. Iv been told about tahoes transmission problems and have been told I need to change my fluid before my trans starts slipping. I need to know what fluid to use and if the gasket is reusable.

 

[NickTransmissions]

I have a 2018 Chevy Tahoe 5.3v8 LT with about 80,0000 miles. I bought it used at 75,000 miles and have changed the oil and spark plugs but I’m not sure what other maintenance it’s had. Iv been told about tahoes transmission problems and have been told I need to change my fluid before my trans starts slipping. I need to know what fluid to use and if the gasket is reusable.

Dex6 and the gasket's reusable unless its damaged. Drop the pan and study the bottom of it. If you see lots of dark burnt clutch material or kibbles and bits, stop - put the pan back on with a few bolts then yank it for overhaul. Torque converter is the most common failure point and they can damage the pump when they go. TCC failure / burn down is usually what goes wrong. Its a poorly designed clutch.

 

[Miami-Dade]

I have a 2018 Chevy Tahoe 5.3v8 LT with about 80,0000 miles. I bought it used at 75,000 miles and have changed the oil and spark plugs but I’m not sure what other maintenance it’s had. Iv been told about tahoes transmission problems and have been told I need to change my fluid before my trans starts slipping. I need to know what fluid to use and if the gasket is reusable.

Welcome from Miami&Queens NY.

If you bought this off a GM dealership [or another dealership] they should be able to find service records. If this was from a private owner they should have the past history on it unless they were sketchy.

The good news is the 2018-2020 Tahoe's had less issues with the transmission and everything else for the most part. But yes you are due for transmission service.

 

[tom3]

That gasket is probably still good to use. List of parts that I just got for our '19

Fluid ACDelco 10-9394 quart or 10-9395 gallon
Filter ACDelco 24236933
Factory type gasket ACDelco 24224781

Also a cabin filter CF188
Air filter 22845992 A3181C

Got all this at Amazon, not too impressed with the packing though. Hope this will straighten out ok.

 

[Asset]

I have the same problem 70k milage, but i car owner from start. 2018 Tahoe
Dealer is really pushing to change transmission fluid. But i have not done it yet,
I have another car toyota which is easy 100k without changing transmission oil. DO i really need it?

 

[BlaineBug]

Pulling the pan, cleaning the pan and magnet, and changing the filter cannot possibly hurt anything. Then just fill it up with the appropriate amount of fluid. It is so much better to do it that SOONER than the book calls for all the while avoiding a "flush" at a quick lube place that never replaces the filter or drops the pan for that matter.

 

[2020RangerEd]

I have a 2018 Chevy Tahoe 5.3v8 LT with about 80,0000 miles. I bought it used at 75,000 miles and have changed the oil and spark plugs but I’m not sure what other maintenance it’s had. Iv been told about tahoes transmission problems and have been told I need to change my fluid before my trans starts slipping. I need to know what fluid to use and if the gasket is reusable.

I was told Trans fluid change was recommended at 45,000 by GM. I had mine done at 50,000. I'd always heard do it by 50,000 or don't do it. I'm no expert, that's for sure.

 

[BlaineBug]

I was told Trans fluid change was recommended at 45,000 by GM. I had mine done at 50,000. I'd always heard do it by 50,000 or don't do it. I'm no expert, that's for sure.

If you can, earlier is best - keep the fluid clean without ever getting dirty and you're transmission may end up even happier than normal.

 

[Jeff_]

I change my transmission fluid roughly every 10k-15k miles.
I do the full pan drop and gasket and filter change every 45k miles.
Could I be wasting money with these intervals? Sure. But I'd rather keep the fluid as clean as possible to help this transmission from shtting the bed for what little $ it costs to pump a gallon of ATF out with a harborfrieght hand pump and fill it back up.

 

[BlaineBug]

I change my transmission fluid roughly every 10k-15k miles.
I do the full pan drop and gasket and filter change every 45k miles.
Could I be wasting money with these intervals? Sure. But I'd rather keep the fluid as clean as possible to help this transmission from shtting the bed for what little $ it costs to pump a gallon of ATF out with a harborfrieght hand pump and fill it back up.

No harm done - maybe slightly wasteful - not really when you consider the cost of things these days. If you were paying a shop to do fluid changes every 10,000 miles that would be a different story. Do you just stick the vacuum tube down the dipstick tube and into the transmission pan?

 

[Jeff_]

No harm done - maybe slightly wasteful - not really when you consider the cost of things these days. If you were paying a shop to do fluid changes every 10,000 miles that would be a different story. Do you just stick the vacuum tube down the dipstick tube and into the transmission pan?

Exactly. I have the $15 hand pump from harbor freight. A clear hose that goes into the transmission dip stick tube and a clear tube on the "out" side of the hand pump that goes into an empty milk jug.
I pump until what the hose reaches runs out, which is pretty much an empty pan (I know this because I do this before ever dropping the pan and very little is left in the pan after the hose stops picking anything up).

Then I just refill, with a funnel, exactly what I took out.
Takes minimal time, effort, and money and keeps things clean.

 

[BlaineBug]

Exactly. I have the $15 hand pump from harbor freight. A clear hose that goes into the transmission dip stick tube and a clear tube on the "out" side of the hand pump that goes into an empty milk jug.
I pump until what the hose reaches runs out, which is pretty much an empty pan (I know this because I do this before ever dropping the pan and very little is left in the pan after the hose stops picking anything up).

Then I just refill, with a funnel, exactly what I took out.
Takes minimal time, effort, and money and keeps things clean.

What kind of pump are you using?

I used to have a MityVac for brake bleeding, but upgraded to this. I haven't used it for transmission service but you can remove the brake bleeder zerk adapter and just have the end of the clear hose to stick down the dipstick tube. Of course you'd have to multiple the reservoir at least 4 times as it holds about 1 quart.

 

[Jeff_]

What kind of pump are you using?

I used to have a MityVac for brake bleeding, but upgraded to this. I haven't used it for transmission service but you can remove the brake bleeder zerk adapter and just have the end of the clear hose to stick down the dipstick tube. Of course you'd have to multiple the reservoir at least 4 times as it holds about 1 quart.

View attachment 414000

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

Amazing deals on this Multi-Use Transfer Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

This super fancy $7 pump with some clear tubing and plumbing tape haha
It doesn't look nice but it works!

 

[BlaineBug]

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

Amazing deals on this Multi-Use Transfer Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

This super fancy $7 pump with some clear tubing and plumbing tape haha
It doesn't look nice but it works!

Lots and lots of pumping I bet.

 

[Jeff_]

Lots and lots of pumping I bet.

It's not too bad actually, after a few pumps the suction starts pulling the fluid by itself really easily. I just sit in a folding chair and chat with my dad or scroll instagram while I do it haha

 

[alpha_omega]

I have the same problem 70k milage, but i car owner from start. 2018 Tahoe
Dealer is really pushing to change transmission fluid. But i have not done it yet,
I have another car toyota which is easy 100k without changing transmission oil. DO i really need it?

Yes. You absolutely should change it. The sooner the better with these vehicles.

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

Amazing deals on this Multi-Use Transfer Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

This super fancy $7 pump with some clear tubing and plumbing tape haha
It doesn't look nice but it works!

Is there a reason you don’t use the “flush method” via the trans cooler hose? Obviously your route doesn’t seem very difficult either, so it’s more of a curiosity question than anything.

 

[the 18th letter]

I have the same problem 70k milage, but i car owner from start. 2018 Tahoe
Dealer is really pushing to change transmission fluid. But i have not done it yet,
I have another car toyota which is easy 100k without changing transmission oil. DO i really need it?

The consensus among owners of these transmissions suggest changing it at 50k.

 

[Jeff_]

Is there a reason you don’t use the “flush method” via the trans cooler hose? Obviously your route doesn’t seem very difficult either, so it’s more of a curiosity question than anything.

No real reason. Purely simplicity and quickness. I could try the other method as well sometime but I've just gotten in a routine that I can do almost with my eyes shut at this point.

 

[J5races]

What about for Tahoe with the 10-speed. I don't have a dipstick In the engine bay.

Anyone serviced their 10-speed trans?

Thank you
Jon