6l80e pan feedback

[Dustin Jackson]

Just did the transmission filter and the little circle filter gasket thing and wanted a second set of eyes on the condition of the bottom of the transmission pan.

Suburban has 188,000 miles on it. No idea when or if the transmission was previously serviced.

I wiped the magnet off and smeared my finger on the rim there and then drug my finger across the bottom of the pan to try to give an idea of how much build up there was.

 

[B-train]

The fluid is on the used side, but overall the pan looks pretty nornal to me. Clean off the magnet and wash the pan out with brake clean. Wipe off the gasket areas and reuse the OEM gasket. Good to go

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@B-train Any benefit to doing a more through fluid swap other than dropping the pan? I understand a lot of the oil fluid is left in there

 

[B-train]

I have done it both ways over the years (fluid exchange with machine and dropping the pan). Mostly it's been dropping the pan. There are some threads on here about doing a fluid exchange by removing the cooler return line, running the engine until a certain amount comes out, shutting it off, filling X amt of qts through dipstick tube - rinse and repeat a number of times until about 3 gallons is used I think.

Never done that, but I think it's a neat DIY solution, but you need a second set of hands. The other option I would suggest is to put the pan back on and refill - approx 6 qts I believe. Run the truck for a few hundred miles, drain the pan (let it hang and suck oil out), and refill again. This, coupled with a new filter will probably get you many more miles. After that, make a point of every 30-40k dropping the pan and doing the same procedure.

It all depends on your skill set, budget, and time commitment. Personally, I probably wouldn't pay for a dealer flush at those miles with unknown service history. I've had my 8 speed fluid exchanged/flushed 3 times at the dealership, but its never gone more than 40 -50k in between intervals, so it was still relatively clean I would assume. I now have a dipstick in it, so my ability to do my own service has become much easier and I'll do what I mentioned above from here on out.

Long winded.......hope it helps!

Edit: If yours has the transmission thermostat, bypass that thing to keep the fluid in a cooler zone so it doesn't cook itself and the Torque Converter

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Thanks! Just trying to get this 188,000 suburban dialed in appreciate the advice

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@B-train Do you bother changing the trans filter O gasket? I had a hard time and left some grooves in the trans block from it. If I need to do it again I need a better strategy other than hammering a flat head screwdriver until I can grab it with pliers

 

[Rygrego]

@B-train Do you bother changing the trans filter O gasket? I had a hard time and left some grooves in the trans block from it. If I need to do it again I need a better strategy other than hammering a flat head screwdriver until I can grab it with pliers

Last time I had an issue with the o-ring I used a lawn sprinkler removal tool for plastic sprinkler parts and it worked like it was made for it. Inserted it until I contacted the o-ring gave a little twist and out it came flawlessly.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Rygrego Is this the one?

Orbit Sprinkler Pull-Up Tool 26030 - The Home Depot

Orbit Irrigation - Sprinkler Pull-up Tool. - Strong spring keeps your pop-up stem out of the grass for easy maintenance. Allows for easy filter cleaning and nozzle replacement. Corrosion resistant.

www.homedepot.com

 

[B-train]

Last time I had an issue with the o-ring I used a lawn sprinkler removal tool for plastic sprinkler parts and it worked like it was made for it. Inserted it until I contacted the o-ring gave a little twist and out it came flawlessly.

I hate those little buggers. I used to have a right angle hammer tool that would grab the top and then tap down lightly and it would pop out. Definitely a PITA though.

I like what @Rygrego suggested. Never seen that before. But, to sum it all up, I basically see how the old filter pulls out, inspect with a finger, and put a new filter in if all things seem good.

 

[Rygrego]

@Rygrego Is this the one?

Orbit Sprinkler Pull-Up Tool 26030 - The Home Depot

Orbit Irrigation - Sprinkler Pull-up Tool. - Strong spring keeps your pop-up stem out of the grass for easy maintenance. Allows for easy filter cleaning and nozzle replacement. Corrosion resistant.

www.homedepot.com

Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/LASCO-13-200...phy=78697&hvtargid=pla-4584276318528718&psc=1

 

[mike singleton]

Just did the transmission filter and the little circle filter gasket thing and wanted a second set of eyes on the condition of the bottom of the transmission pan.

Suburban has 188,000 miles on it. No idea when or if the transmission was previously serviced.

I wiped the magnet off and smeared my finger on the rim there and then drug my finger across the bottom of the pan to try to give an idea of how much build up there was.

View attachment 469819
View attachment 469820

It's hard to believe that they don't have a drain plug. Now I drop the pan, replace the filter and O-ring every other fluid change. I replaced the pan on my 2011 chev sub with another pan (same design stamped metal) that has a drain plug (which itself is magnetic) and I also replaced the pan on my 2019 Yukon XL Denali with a cast aluminum pan from PPE which has magnetic drain plug, much larger fluid capacity, heat dissipation fins, baffles inside the pan to keep the oil for sloshing around. Same thing here - I change the fluid every other time alternating with a pan drop, filter change.

 

[Gearz]

Used these for years. slip in the hook and pry down easy and the seal pops right out. I think it was the small one it's been awhile.

https://a.co/d/6czYYOl

 

[tom3]

That pan looks great for that mileage. I'd guess it has been changed before. I leave that filter seal in and reuse it, no real wearing and it's bathed in oil.

 

[jaxscuby]

Pan looks fine for the miles..no bent flanges..
magnet not covered with metal shavings...just abit..close to "normal"..
fluid needed changing..

I recently 5~7K miles ago did filter & fluid.
I could not get the pan off. so sucked out fluid with vacuum pump. wiped pan out.
stared at what was on the paper towel..again same as yours...

just spent the weekend swapping torque convertor..hand still cramping from the wrenching..