1st time replacing 10 speed fluid & filter

[MrMonte]

My 2018 Yukon Denali was due for a trans fluid & filter. It's insane what they charge to do the 10 speed fluid & filter change. I watched a few videos, bought 12qt of AC Delco ULV transmission fluid & filter for $125 and I used 2 8ft pieces of tubing.

Need 3/8" OD tubing to plug into the radiator trans return line. The other tube connects to the trans cooling line you disconnected from the radiator because it will spit some out when the engine starts.

1 - Once tubing is setup I started the engine & let 3qts drain then shut off engine. Trans was already at temp before starting.
2 - Removed oil pan & replaced filter. Cooling lines at trans had to be disconnected for pan to drop.
3 - Installed pan & cooling lines to trans then added 4qts to transmission.
4 - Started engine & let fluid drain as I added more to the transmission until all the old fluid has been removed.

Total time including putting the Yukon on/off 4 jack stands and a tire rotation took 90 minutes.

My trans flush setup.

 

[K2 Kaiju]

About to do this myself. Why did you use ULV? My manual says Dexron VI.

USE THE RIGHT TRANSMISSION FLUID – GM Service Insights

gmserviceinsights.com

 

[MrMonte]

About to do this myself. Why did you use ULV? My manual says Dexron VI.

USE THE RIGHT TRANSMISSION FLUID – GM Service Insights

gmserviceinsights.com

10 speed requires ULV, 8 speed uses Dexron VI

 

[K2 Kaiju]

Good catch - Denali only gets ULV. Figures its only in quart form...

 

[K2 Kaiju]

My chevy dealer quoted me $255 for drain/filter on 10 spd - that seems like a pretty decent deal for all that fluid. Would you still do it yourself if that was the price?

 

[MrMonte]

My chevy dealer quoted me $255 for drain/filter on 10 spd - that seems like a pretty decent deal for all that fluid. Would you still do it yourself if that was the price?

Check your quote, it's likely just drop the pan, replace filter then add 4qts. It takes longer to put the vehicle on 4 jack stands than drop the pan, replace filter then add the 4qts.

If it was $255 for full transmission flush & filter I might let them do it. That is still $130 more that what paid in parts + I would lose way more than 90 minutes of my time and at my age I need to utilize every minute I have. LOL

The transmission shop that builds my performance transmissions quoted me $500 labor since I had the parts.

 

[K2 Kaiju]

Yeah she probably quoted a 6 speed. Also said I needed to drop it off at 7am and it would be there all day, so that's a hell no from me. 12 qts and a filter is about a hundy from RA, so Ill give it a shot. Its used, so I need to check the magnet and fluid anyway, but Im not excited about dropping that big ass sloppy pan around the exhaust all over me...

 

[K2 Kaiju]

My 2018 Yukon Denali was due for a trans fluid & filter. It's insane what they charge to do the 10 speed fluid & filter change. I watched a few videos, bought 12qt of AC Delco ULV transmission fluid & filter for $125 and I used 2 8ft pieces of tubing.

Need 3/8" OD tubing to plug into the radiator trans return line. The other tube connects to the trans cooling line you disconnected from the radiator because it will spit some out when the engine starts.

1 - Once tubing is setup I started the engine & let 3qts drain then shut off engine. Trans was already at temp before starting.
2 - Removed oil pan & replaced filter. Cooling lines at trans had to be disconnected for pan to drop.
3 - Installed pan & cooling lines to trans then added 4qts to transmission.
4 - Started engine & let fluid drain as I added more to the transmission until all the old fluid has been removed.

Total time including putting the Yukon on/off 4 jack stands and a tire rotation took 90 minutes.

My trans flush setup.
View attachment 414400

When you added the fluid as you drained, was it directly into the tranny fill port, or to the cooling line return?

 

[ivin74]

It's insane what they charge to do the 10 speed fluid & filter change.

What did they quote you?


Around the Houston area, the dealers want over $600 for a full filter and oil flush. I ended up doing my sons 18 camaro 10sp tranny myself.

 

[MrMonte]

When you added the fluid as you drained, was it directly into the tranny fill port, or to the cooling line return?

I filled directly into the fill port while the engine was running and the trans return line disconnected. Once 10qts were added I turned off the engine, reconnected the trans return line, started up the engine then added the remaining trans fluid.

 

[MrMonte]

Yeah she probably quoted a 6 speed. Also said I needed to drop it off at 7am and it would be there all day, so that's a hell no from me. 12 qts and a filter is about a hundy from RA, so Ill give it a shot. Its used, so I need to check the magnet and fluid anyway, but Im not excited about dropping that big ass sloppy pan around the exhaust all over me...

If you have a 10 speed it has 2 magnets in there. Before dropping the 10 speed pan I started the engine & let 3 qts drain, turned off engine then dropped the pan. The pan drops easily once you disconnect (1 bolt) the trans cooling lines from the side of the transmission.

 

[MrMonte]

What did they quote you?


Around the Houston area, the dealers want over $600 for a full filter and oil flush. I ended up doing my sons 18 camaro 10sp tranny myself.

My neighbor paid $800 to get his 2018 Silverado transmission fluid & filter replaced.

 

[MrMonte]

.

 

[K2 Kaiju]

My neighbor paid $800 to get his 2018 Silverado transmission fluid & filter replaced.

Oof, way too high. I got the juice and filter, just waiting on a fluid pump. You took 90min and I saw another on here take 12 hours; hopefully I can get it done closer to your time...

 

[MrMonte]

Oof, way too high. I got the juice and filter, just waiting on a fluid pump. You took 90min and I saw another on here take 12 hours; hopefully I can get it done closer to your time...

The only sketchy part is disconnecting then reconnecting the transmission return line. I use a small pick with a curved end to partial remove the "don't lose me" clip then grab it with a needle nose. There may be a tool that slips over the return line that slides in to release the clip. None of mine fit.

I used 2 8ft of clear hoses to capture the fluid. 1 3/8" OD & 1 3/8" ID.

You should install the "don't lose me" clip before installing the transmission return line. When installing the return line it should just click in place. If correct the black collar will slide on & be 100% flush. If not 100% flush that line or clip is not right & the line may pop off later..

I'm sure my next time will get done is less than 1hr. Not doing it before I took my time. I use a cheap Harbor Freight manual pump that transfers a qt in ~ 6 pumps and the supplied hoses fit in the transmission & bottle.

 

[89Suburban]

Yeah she probably quoted a 6 speed. Also said I needed to drop it off at 7am and it would be there all day, so that's a hell no from me. 12 qts and a filter is about a hundy from RA, so Ill give it a shot. Its used, so I need to check the magnet and fluid anyway, but Im not excited about dropping that big ass sloppy pan around the exhaust all over me...

You can suck the pan dry through the dipstick tube with one of these. Save yourself the mess. This thing kicks azs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LCEWR4A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[K2 Kaiju]

You can suck the pan dry through the dipstick tube with one of these. Save yourself the mess. This thing kicks azs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LCEWR4A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

No dipstick or tube on the 10 speed or this would be a hell of a lot easier. You also need fluid in a very specific temp range when you check the fill - and I dont see a temp option on my DIC like with the 6 speed. It appears the previous owner had it done at some fast lube place a couple years ago which worries me the most. Going to do the difs and transfer case today, and see how the connections look on the tranny...

 

[k_arnold72]

No dipstick or tube on the 10 speed or this would be a hell of a lot easier. You also need fluid in a very specific temp range when you check the fill - and I dont see a temp option on my DIC like with the 6 speed. It appears the previous owner had it done at some fast lube place a couple years ago which worries me the most. Going to do the difs and transfer case today, and see how the connections look on the tranny...

I think you only see the temp gauge in tow mode

 

[MrMonte]

You can suck the pan dry through the dipstick tube with one of these. Save yourself the mess. This thing kicks azs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LCEWR4A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Wish these transmissions had a dipstick tube.

 

[89Suburban]

WOW ok. Damn.