Consensus on transmission service interval?

[dstewart3ss]

Is there a general consensus on when it’s best to change transmission fluid and filter under normal driving conditions in the ‘21+ Tahoes?

Service manual from Chevy is at a high mileage if I recall correctly, north of 100k. I have an indy mechanic suggesting to I do it now at 60k given issues he’s seen in the past with Tahoe transmissions and metal shavings…not sure how much of that is based on experience with the newest generation. I don’t think the guy is trying to convince me to spend more money just for the heck of it, but id feel better about making a decision with the collective unbiased opinions of you folks here!

Thanks!!

 

[Bigburb3500]

Are the new transmissions “sealed for life” or are they easily drained and filled?

 

[dstewart3ss]

I can’t imagine they are considered sealed for life…I just found the Chevy recommend maintenance schedule online and interestingly it mentions nothing about trans fluid and filter for “normal” but for “severe” it recommends trans fluid and filter every 45k miles. Based on that, it doesn’t seem Chevy would consider it sealed for life. How easy to drain and fill, IDK.

 

[B-train]

I'd just go with the severe schedule, or 50k if thats easier to remember. It used to be rule of thumb 30k service interval back in the day (80/90's). Then GM went to the 100k no maintenance needed mindset. This was to show that their vehicles "had a lower cost of ownership" and now we have blown past that marker to a willy-nilly sort of just drive it until it breaks and replace it mindset.

I know machining and fluids have gotten better, but I also know that corporate profits are put ahead of everything, so cost cutting negates a lot of good that has come along. Personally, fluids and filters are your cheapest insurance, so I replace them at designated intervals (AHEAD of what the manual says) and it's served me well for many years.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Is there a general consensus on when it’s best to change transmission fluid and filter under normal driving conditions in the ‘21+ Tahoes?
Service manual from Chevy is at a high mileage if I recall correctly, north of 100k.

Why not just buy a new vehicle @ 150,000 miles? That'd make GM SO happy ...

... just found the Chevy recommend maintenance schedule online, and interestingly it mentions nothing about trans fluid and filter for "normal",
but for "severe" it recommends trans fluid and filter every 45k miles.

Bet the transmissions that have their ATF & filter serviced @ 45,000 miles last 2x longer than those that service them 'north of 100k'.

... used to be rule of thumb 30k service interval back in the day (80s / 90s).

Dexron6 may be a significant improvement over Dex3, and then there's 8L90 ATF on top of that, but still ...
The longer you want your transmission to last between rebuilds, the more often you should change your ATF & filter.
Even if you drive miss daisy, every two or three years (for those who don't accrue 50,000 miles in 3 years) seems reasonable.

 

[Bigburb3500]

Like the engine (in most cases) you do oil changes because maintenance is cheaper than replacement.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Like the engine (in most cases) you do oil changes because maintenance is cheaper than replacement.

But replacement is SO baller ...

 

[Bigburb3500]

Warranties. Aren’t they great? Nothing fails when you have them but 1 mile over… boom. Lol

 

[fondupot]

I just did our 21 Yukon 10spd at 63000, there was no record of the previous owner ever having transmission service, so I figured that was the original fluid.

So my shop does Pan service, filter, fresh fluid for $250. I'm gonna have it done again in 45k miles. This 10 speed is so smooth. It's a pleasure to drive.

Fluid for the 10 spd is Dexron ULV (ultra-low viscosity)

 

[dstewart3ss]

I just did our 21 Yukon 10spd at 63000, there was no record of the previous owner ever having transmission service, so I figured that was the original fluid.

So my shop does Pan service, filter, fresh fluid for $250. I'm gonna have it done again in 45k miles. This 10 speed is so smooth. It's a pleasure to drive.

Fluid for the 10 spd is Dexron ULV (ultra-low viscosity)

$250 seems like a great price, at least compared to what I was quoted by an indy shop near me. They quoted me nearly double that.

Thanks for all the feedback thus far. Seems like the consensus is to replace fluid and filter especially if I don’t know that it’s already been done (which I don’t).

 

[swathdiver]

Is there a general consensus on when it’s best to change transmission fluid and filter under normal driving conditions in the ‘21+ Tahoes?

Service manual from Chevy is at a high mileage if I recall correctly, north of 100k. I have an indy mechanic suggesting to I do it now at 60k given issues he’s seen in the past with Tahoe transmissions and metal shavings…not sure how much of that is based on experience with the newest generation. I don’t think the guy is trying to convince me to spend more money just for the heck of it, but id feel better about making a decision with the collective unbiased opinions of you folks here!

Thanks!!

Run the severe service schedule and if you do a lot of towing, half of that or after a vacation of dragging a trailer over the Rockies.

Blackstone Labs analyzed my fluid at 36K and said it had about 10K more life in it. So we put the fleet on a 36K to 42K mile interval. Granted, I have 6L80s and not your 10-speed but one thing is true for all of them, they run better with clean fluid.

 

[Vladimir2306]

In our 10-speed gearbox the oil turns black very quickly, but at every maintenance we check that there is no burning smell. Since I drive fast on Highways (about 150-170 km/h) and regularly haul trailers, for my peace of mind I change the oil in the automatic transmission, axles, and transfer case once every 50,000 km, or 31,000 miles.

 

[homesick]

In our 10-speed gearbox the oil turns black very quickly, but at every maintenance we check that there is no burning smell. Since I drive fast on Highways (about 150-170 km/h) and regularly haul trailers, for my peace of mind I change the oil in the automatic transmission, axles, and transfer case once every 50,000 km, or 31,000 miles.

You haul trailers at 100 mph?

joe

 

[Bigburb3500]

In our 10-speed gearbox the oil turns black very quickly, but at every maintenance we check that there is no burning smell. Since I drive fast on Highways (about 150-170 km/h) and regularly haul trailers, for my peace of mind I change the oil in the automatic transmission, axles, and transfer case once every 50,000 km, or 31,000 miles.

I understand that everyone has their own driving habit… and I’m not telling you to be different than you, but make sure you are not exceeding the speed rating of your tires. I think stock the speed rating is only for 95 or 100mph. I would be less concerned with the fluids and more concerned about the tire integrity. I know on my drive to work (10miles half mix of city/hwy) my tires heat up enough to change the PSI by 5 PSI. Doing highway speeds for extended time they can increase 10PSI.
Heat = wear and tear

 

[Vladimir2306]

You haul trailers at 100 mph?

joe

no, I drive at a speed of 100-100 miles per hour without a trailer)) with a trailer I drive slower))) if it’s a trailer with a jet ski, then the speed is about 85 miles per hour, if with a boat, then about 75 miles per hour)

 

[Vladimir2306]

I’ll tell you even more, when driving on a high-speed highway, the pressure in the tires increases by about 20PSI))) I don’t know what kind of tires they are with a speed index of 95-100 miles per hour, apparently some kind of off-road))) I have winter ones studded tires with a speed index of up to 190 mph, which equals 120 mph. And I specifically bought road tires for summer, high-speed Michelin Primacy tires, they have a speed rating of up to 240 km/h, or up to 150 mph.

 

[Vladimir2306]

I understand that everyone has their own driving habit… and I’m not telling you to be different than you, but make sure you are not exceeding the speed rating of your tires. I think stock the speed rating is only for 95 or 100mph. I would be less concerned with the fluids and more concerned about the tire integrity. I know on my drive to work (10miles half mix of city/hwy) my tires heat up enough to change the PSI by 5 PSI. Doing highway speeds for extended time they can increase 10PSI.
Heat = wear and tear

I’ll tell you even more, when driving on a high-speed highway, the pressure in the tires increases by about 20PSI))) I don’t know what kind of tires they are with a speed index of 95-100 miles per hour, apparently some kind of off-road))) I have winter ones studded tires with a speed index of up to 190 mph, which equals 120 mph. And I specifically bought road tires for summer, high-speed Michelin Primacy tires, they have a speed rating of up to 240 km/h, or up to 150 mph.

 

[Bigburb3500]

I’m not really sure how to respond to the last three comments other than I’m glad the stock tires have been changed out for higher performance tires.

I think everyone’s level of comfort with trailering is different and speed should be approached from conditions given in the situation.

Trailer safely and within the abilities of your vehicle. Arriving late is better than not at all.

 

[Vladimir2306]

I’m not really sure how to respond to the last three comments other than I’m glad the stock tires have been changed out for higher performance tires.

I think everyone’s level of comfort with trailering is different and speed should be approached from conditions given in the situation.

Trailer safely and within the abilities of your vehicle. Arriving late is better than not at all.

I am definitely talking about traveling on highways, where conditions and conditions allow this. We are very active in the construction of such highways that allow you to travel between large cities at a speed of 100-110 miles per hour for 400-600 miles in a row)

 

[Bigburb3500]

I am definitely talking about traveling on highways, where conditions and conditions allow this. We are very active in the construction of such highways that allow you to travel between large cities at a speed of 100-110 miles per hour for 400-600 miles in a row)

I like the QEW. It is definitely a marvel of a road. I was just up in Toronto a few months ago and the new stretch that goes North is amazing.