2017 Tahoe 5.3 - Tranny, Diff and Transfer Case

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Dan17

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My Tahoe is the 4 wheel drive 6 speed auto and I want to replace the fluids and filter so my questions is, how can I identify what tranny is in it and what differentials and transfer case it has? Are there tags on each component?
 

Jeff_

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You have the 6L80 trans.
Like PNW VietVet said, the owners manual lists everything that you need.
manual.png
 
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Dan17

Dan17

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One last question. I've looked thru my owners manual and my Haynes service manual and I don't see any mention about Rear Axle Lubricant or Gear Oil Additive which I believe is needed for Limited Slip rear ends.

Is this needed for this vehicle when changing the rear diff fluid? It is listed on the RockAuto web site.
 

OR VietVet

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The chart above, supplied by @Jeff_, lists the lubricant you should use for the rear axle. You do not need the additive you speak of.
 

swathdiver

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One last question. I've looked thru my owners manual and my Haynes service manual and I don't see any mention about Rear Axle Lubricant or Gear Oil Additive which I believe is needed for Limited Slip rear ends.

Is this needed for this vehicle when changing the rear diff fluid? It is listed on the RockAuto web site.
Your rear axle is a Salisbury 12-bolt 9.5" axle produced by AAM. It does not require any additives. The front axle is a Saginaw 8.25" IFS also made by AAM, the transfer case was produced by MagnaPower and is either an MP3010 (single speed - RPO NP0) or the MP3023 (2-speed - RPO NQH).

Consider "flipping the pill" on the 6L80 transmission to make it last longer. They have a shorter life in your car than our older ones presumably because GM put a thermostat in them to keep the temperatures up to what the coolant is.
 
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Dan17

Dan17

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Everything is ordered and soon I'll be ready to get the wheels off the ground so I can work on it.
When it comes to the dif covers front and rear, should I order gaskets or is there a good form-a-gasket that could be used?
 

Jeff_

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Everything is ordered and soon I'll be ready to get the wheels off the ground so I can work on it.
When it comes to the dif covers front and rear, should I order gaskets or is there a good form-a-gasket that could be used?
The front diff you just undo a bolt to drain and a bolt to fill. No disassembly.
The rear diff gasket is re-useable since its the rubber and metal kind. Make sure you clean off the magnet in the rear diff - it's a circle magnet located right on the bottom of the pumpkin. Flush it all out with brake cleaner etc.
 
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Dan17

Dan17

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I'll be installing the Sure Cool System and a new tranny filter and new o-rings as needed. I don't see why using tranny fluid to lub the o-rings is a bad idea. Do any of you?
 

OR VietVet

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I'll be installing the Sure Cool System and a new tranny filter and new o-rings as needed. I don't see why using tranny fluid to lub the o-rings is a bad idea. Do any of you?
I would do the same thing for the o-rings. Just a thin film, not gobs of it.
 
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Dan17

Dan17

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I'm in the process of installing the Sure-Cool System and I have not seen or heard of any required torque spec's for the 13MM bolt securing the tranny thermostat block to the tranny or the 10mm bolt holding down the plate for the two lines going into the thermostat block.

Should these two bolts be torqued?

BTW, the tranny filter and seal are now installed. Fun job.
 
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Dan17

Dan17

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The fluid's have been changed and the Sure-Cool System installed. What a difference in tranny fluid temperature.
This was my first time working on a Tahoe, thanks for the help guys.
 

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