Want to do a trans filter and fluid change....

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Bob2C

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I found this video helpful. I’m sure it’s the same for the 6 speed as well with the exception of the dipstick. I like how he just puts a little pressure on exhaust.



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thompsoj22

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Finally got around to doing the filter/flush. I have been putting off the task for the reality of having to loosen the exhaust to manifold bolts. well with a 2 foot breaker bar and enough tq to potentially snap the bolt i "stopped". i am not going to open that can of worms! so i opted to simply lean the pan down and manipulate the filter out, wipe the pan out, install the new filter and button it back up. I am a perfectionist so it was hard for me to admit defeat but im confident that the pan was as clean as a production mech would have gotten it and that will have to do. car fax shows 3 dealer flushes, 30,000- 56,000- 91,000 but i swear this was the original filter and the pan did have the gray silt in addition to the magnet but no chips/shavings at all. i have 14 qts of dexron vi being shipped for $103 so it will have to sit for a few days. ill flush using the 3/8 poly line out of the top of the radiator cooler. the dipstick on the paper towel method i have been using isnt a definitive test to evaluate fluid health. on the towel it looked red, draining it into my small "kiddie pool" that i use for a drain pan it was approaching dark red/brown. I figure the new filter can stay for the next 60k and ill flush at 30k intervals from now on.
 
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gooffeyguy
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I am finally going to get around to doing it this weekend.

I ordered four gallon jugs of fluid and the filter kit. I know 16qts is more than I need, but it doesn't hurt to have some sitting on the shelf in the garage. I can either use it for next time or to top off either of the Yukons if needed. I might look into installing a bigger trans cooler in the upcoming weeks and can use the extra fluid to top it off when I do.

I have a MityVac fluid extractor that I plan on sucking the pan dry through the dipstick tube before attempting to drop the pan. When back together I'll use the Hayden adapter fitting I have on the top trans line from the radiator and do the "add some to the pan, run some from the hose" routine until it's all good.
 
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gooffeyguy
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Plan on doing this today. I've heard that the transfer cases use the same ATF fluid. Since mine is AWD I wonder if that's still the case. Since I have extra fluid I may look into changing out that as well.
 

intheburbs

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Plan on doing this today. I've heard that the transfer cases use the same ATF fluid. Since mine is AWD I wonder if that's still the case. Since I have extra fluid I may look into changing out that as well.

Yes, Dex6 in the AWD transfer case.
 
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gooffeyguy
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Got her done! It didn't quite go as planned though....

Put her up in the air, drove front up ramps then jacked up rear and put on stands so it was the same as the front. Used my Mityvac down the dipstick tube to suck out the fluid. It was pretty slow probably due to the small diameter tube I used. While that was doing it's thing I gathered all the tools and stuff I'd need. The Mityvac started sputtering air after about 5qts being pulled out. I tried repositioning the hose down the dipstick tube to try to get more out (I've read that the pan holds 6qts), but 5 was all I could get.

Went underneath and started to loosen the exhaust collector nuts (3 on each side) with my air impact, extension, wobble, and deep well socket and could only get to 1 on the drivers side. The other 2 required a shorter socket to get it lined up, but my shorter sockets were too short and they would bottom out on the stud. I looked at the passenger side and noticed the O2 sensor was right in front of one of the nuts, then figured the hell with it, I'll try to get the pan off without loosening the exhaust.

I removed the pan bolts and was able to get the front of the pan down a few inches and saw the filter tube and figured maybe the filter was causing the pan to catch in the rear. I then reached in and pulled the filter down, and when it popped down into the pan it splashed the other quart of fluid that apparently was still in the pan up out on the floor and the underside of the yukon, oh and it got me, all over my shirt, in my hair, on my face, in my mouth....YUCK!

After cussing for a moment, I got out from under her and used about a half a roll of Brawny paper towels to clean up. Grabbed my 3' crowbar and the jack that was still sitting under the rear end, and did the leverage thing to the exhaust crossover tube (laid the flat tip of the crowbar on top of the exhaust, put the other end on the jack, and using the front edge of the crossmember as a fulcrum, jacked the pipe down a coupe inches), I slipped the pan out.

Cleaned out the pan and the magnet, and after putting the new filter on the trans and wiping down the gasket surfaces, reinstalled the pan and torqued the bolts to like 90 inch lbs.....damn that pan has a lot of bolts, like 18!

Poured about a gallon and a half of new fluid in through the dipstick tube, then unhooked that stupid little wire C clip from the return line from the radiator cooler and installed my Hayden hose barb adapter along with some hose going into the top of the Mityvac so I can see it from the drivers side of the vehicle. Started vehicle and ran it until I saw fluid at the 4qt mark on the Mityvac. Shut it off, poured in more fluid into the pan and repeated the process until I had about 7qts of fluid in the Mityvac.

Hooked everything back up, and the remaining fluid that was in the line going to the Mityvac looked like new fluid, so I'm pretty sure I exchanged out all the old fluid.

Went back under her with my drain pan and removed the metal skid plate that sits under the transfer case, then removed the upper fill plug (a little bit of fluid trickled out) then removed the drain plug and drained the transfer case. That fluid looked to be in better condition that the fluid that came out of the trans. While that drained I put teflon thread sealant past on both of the plugs, then installed the drain plug and used my cheap Harbor Freight fluid transfer hand pump, with one hose in the jug of ATF and the other in the fill hole of the transfer case and started pumping until it started coming out the fill hole.

Buttoned everything up, wiped everything off, started her up and let it warm up a bit. Ran it through the gear selector (with foot on brake of course) a couple times and then checked the fluid level on the dipstick and looked underneath for any leaks. Lowered the rear off the jack stands and backed off the ramps, then went in and took a shower...lol.

A bit later I took it through the carwash, and after getting home the trans temp was at 160 (it says on dipstick to check when trans is between 160-200 and idling in park). The level was at the cold mark, so I added fluid until it was full.

All in all I used all 4 gallons of fluid, between the trans and transfer case. Now I just got to hook up the Tech2 and reset the Trans Fluid Life meter...lol
 

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