Flush transmission mileage ?

[Ghost10]

Now I know I could get my answer from google, but would rather hear it from someone here.
2018 5.3 with 51k am I due for a tranny flush and new fluid? At my last visit for an oil change I was faced with a upsale to flush the tranny. Thing is it’s fine, park into reverse no clunking shifts smooth as butter. “Except when I want to feel like I’m in a race car and use tow haul”, all gears seem to be fine. So why fix something that ain’t broke? Where and how do I check the fluid what should o be looking for on the dipstick if there is one? I know with oil if it’s honey colored we’re good, if it’s brown it’s going down.

 

[tom3]

I'm not a fan of that flush deal. But if you're going to keep the machine for the long haul I'd get the filter changed with a refill soon. I like to look at the stuff in that pan to really know what's going on in the tranny.

 

[swathdiver]

Now I know I could get my answer from google, but would rather hear it from someone here.
2018 5.3 with 51k am I due for a tranny flush and new fluid? At my last visit for an oil change I was faced with a upsale to flush the tranny. Thing is it’s fine, park into reverse no clunking shifts smooth as butter. “Except when I want to feel like I’m in a race car and use tow haul”, all gears seem to be fine. So why fix something that ain’t broke? Where and how do I check the fluid what should o be looking for on the dipstick if there is one? I know with oil if it’s honey colored we’re good, if it’s brown it’s going down.

Your fluid was wore out a few thousand miles ago. Check your manual. I had mine analyzed at 36K and Blackstone Labs said it had about 10K of life left in it.

Don't think of it as a flush, flush is bad. Fluid exchange is good. Dropping pan and changing filter is good.

 

[CMoore711]

OP - Don't view the transmission maintenance as a "If it ain't broke don't fix it". It's a maintenance item, something that needs taken care of. More of a "Maintain it at the recommended intervals so that it doesn't break..."

As mentioned by others fluid exchange and filter replace.

 

[Ghost10]

OP - Don't view the transmission maintenance as a "If it ain't broke don't fix it". It's a maintenance item, something that needs taken care of. More of a "Maintain it at the recommended intervals so that it doesn't break..."

As mentioned by others fluid exchange and filter replace.

So you by chance know what it cost for that kind of service? Many years ago I paid $400+ for tranny service because it needed it. After that I had transmission issues from slipping to not shifting correctly and I’m worried this is going to happen again.

 

[Miami-Dade]

So you by chance know what it cost for that kind of service? Many years ago I paid $400+ for tranny service because it needed it. After that I had transmission issues from slipping to not shifting correctly and I’m worried this is going to happen again.

Only let a Chevy-GMC Dealer [with 5 star reviews] change your fluid. I generally hear horror stories from friends after so called transmission shops change their fluid.

Paramus Chevrolet gets around 300 bucks to change it.

 

[Ghost10]

I got a quote of $285
I’m still nervous as hell but this show also does dyno tunes and my family has known this shop for ever

 

[gooffeyguy]

You're nervous about getting the trans fluid changed at 51k miles?

 

[Jeff_]

It's really easy to do yourself.
What I've done is use a harbor freight hand pump with a tube down the trans fill tube to pump out whats in the pan.
Then, just crawl underneath and unbolt the pan. Then slap in a new filter, bolt the pan back on, and fill it back up.
(The pan doesn't come off completely, but enough that you can pop the filter out and pop a new one in).

 

[fr8bil]

It's really easy to do yourself.
What I've done is use a harbor freight hand pump with a tube down the trans fill tube to pump out whats in the pan.
Then, just crawl underneath and unbolt the pan. Then slap in a new filter, bolt the pan back on, and fill it back up.
(The pan doesn't come off completely, but enough that you can pop the filter out and pop a new one in).

 

[fr8bil]

And then what about the large volume of used/old Tranny fluid left behind in the Torque Converter ? All you're accomplishing is mixing old with new.
Find a reputable shop using one of the "BG" machines that has two " aquariums" mounted on it so the tech can see when the old is completely flushed ( including the contents of the Torque Converter this time ) and only new fluid is exiting into the old/used side of the aquarium. Before that, have them drop the pan and change out your filter. Cheap Insurance for extending clutch life in your Tranny and putting-off the inevitable re-build for a longer time.

 

[Jeff_]

And then what about the large volume of used/old Tranny fluid left behind in the Torque Converter ? All you're accomplishing is mixing old with new.

Right I’m aware of the torque converter fluid etc
After driving around for a bit and then doing the same pump and refill again. Then driving around and pump and refill then it’s essentially all new fluid..

 

[gooffeyguy]

Trans has its own pump, so after changing out the fluid in the pan, disconnect the upper trans line going into the passenger side of radiator. Stick a piece of hose into the fitting (or buy the nipple adapter for a couple bucks) and place the other end into a bucket. Start engine and shut it off right when the fluid coming out of the hose starts to sputter. Add 3-4 qts of fluid to the pan via the dipstick tube and repeat. Do this about 3-4 times, or until the fluid coming out of the hose is clean, new cherry red fluid. Put trans line back into radiator, drive around block and check fluid level, top off as needed.

The trans holds a total of about 12.5 qts of fluid. About 6 in the pan and the rest in the converter. Doing the procedure above using 13-14 qts of fluid will replace/exchange all fluid in the system.

 

[Jonmurphy]

It's really easy to do yourself.
What I've done is use a harbor freight hand pump with a tube down the trans fill tube to pump out whats in the pan.
Then, just crawl underneath and unbolt the pan. Then slap in a new filter, bolt the pan back on, and fill it back up.
(The pan doesn't come off completely, but enough that you can pop the filter out and pop a new one in).

Sucking out fluid is Totally unnecessary You put a pan under the transplant and take out the bolt slowly As the tips slowly the fluid comes out into your drain pan what's so hard about that I don't understand why anybody would want to do it any differently. Exception, Removing the cooler line is a better way Let it pump itself out add a little fluid My pump through again tell you to get clean oil It doesn't cost that much And you should put a Oil filters in this line how to use them in Parallel not series Seriously 1 after the other you put them in parallel Transmission probably last 2 times longer I've been doing this for 25 + years.

 

[Ghost10]

I found a reputable shop that does tunes as well as repairs and the replaced a piston and other goodies in our 2016 Malibu turbo last year. So $285 is a deal I would say. I would rather know who's touching my baby!

 

[Ghost10]

Thanks all for the helpful tips if I was to DIY

 

[gooffeyguy]

I found a reputable shop that does tunes as well as repairs and the replaced a piston and other goodies in our 2016 Malibu turbo last year. So $285 is a deal I would say. I would rather know who's touching my baby!

That's a great price if it includes all the fluid and also changing the filter.

12 qts of fluid is going to run about $80-$100 and the filter about $20.

Not having to get under the vehicle and mess with dropping the pan and the cleanup afterwards is priceless, lol.

If that price is just for a fluid exchange and no filter, not such a good deal

 

[Chickensandwich]

Let the pros do it. If you have issues after the change, you can blame them and they have to fix it

 

[Ghost10]

That's a great price if it includes all the fluid and also changing the filter.

12 qts of fluid is going to run about $80-$100 and the filter about $20.

Not having to get under the vehicle and mess with dropping the pan and the cleanup afterwards is priceless, lol.

If that price is just for a fluid exchange and no filter, not such a good deal

That’s the price for it all including new filter.

 

[RB_Trucker]

I may be a freak situation but I’ve owned my 2019 since new and I am now at 69,800 miles and I haven’t touched the transmission fluid whatsoever. The only thing I have is a black bear transmission tune in it. And my truck is definitely not driven gently and it does occasionally tow a few times a year at least 7000 pounds.
It’s still shifts smoothly, quickly and the temperature still stays where it needs to be even without the pill flip. each situation is different. If I were to do the service I would stick with the severe service interval.