Okay a few questions...

I'm told that you're not supposed to mix regular transmission fluid and full synthetic. Any truth to that?

Also, what were saying about having two buckets and all that in another post?

 

Ive never heard or seen, any info at any class, that you cant mix these fluids. We do it every day at work and have no problems.

The bucket with 2 hoses is for flushing the whole system (almost) if you get behind on servicing. You pull one transmission cooler line off and attach a hose to each side. Start truck and keep putting new fluid in the trans. It will pump out one quart a minute so you need to keep adding close to that. What this does is changes and cleans the whole system. Don't do this if you are having problems because you will be wasting your money and time. You will use ten to fifteen quarts.

 

I bought 2 of these today...

This is the stuff you recommend, right? It doesn't say anything about it being full synthetic. :?

 

Neutral when you lift the vehicle? Why?

 

That's the way I've learned. I guess I've never really asked why. The truck rolls to the level spot and jack up from there.

 

I've always left it in park, made sure the area where my hydraulic jack sits is smooth and then jack up the vehicle. The jack will roll slightly but in my opinion that is safer because the vehicle will remain stationary in it's position in the driveway for safety.

 

This is the stuff you recommend, right? It doesn't say anything about it being full synthetic.

You are very right it doesn't say it if full synthetic but it is. The valoline rep said they don't put that on the bottle because they don't want people think that it will not mix with what they have. Also don't want people think it will cause a leak. Witch it will not do. Its good oil i recommend it.

 

I wanted to get a tranny fluid change and they told me that they have been saying not to change the filter anymore duecto all the additives in the oil. The service tech from the dealer told me that. so is that true? It has 131,000 miles on it and i don't know if the previous guy had it ever changed

 

Its your choice. Save a little on serving and spend alot on a rebuild the choice is yours.
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO MAKE TRANSMISSION LAST LONGER
1. REDUCE HEAT install aux cooler
2. SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION
if you don't you will pay someone like me to rebuild it sooner than later.

 

If you want the trans to last, dump the low bidder oem atf as soon as possible and in install a high end synthetic ATF. All ATF's by any of the big name oil companies are basically the same, nothing special about them but the advertising hype IMO. The make everything to a price point, not they best they can.

Nor would I add anything to the ATF. Straight to the point, If you must use an additive then you are not using the right ATF.

I also have to disagree with the OP as to where to buy your filters. From my experience in the oil business for better than 30 yrs, the only thing shop's care about it how much something cost them, not weather its the best quality or not. I know many shops that buy the cheapest filters they can buy, the cheapest atf they can buy and charge the most they can.

 

Is there any benefit to draining the torque converter? Getting ready to do a trans filter/fluid change. I was planning on just removing the pan and draining the converter. Is this not worth it if I'm not doing a system flush?

Thanks

 

Nvm.. I answered my own question. Pulled it apart and there is no way to drain the torque converter after removing the trans pan. Looks like I'm just doing a filter and fill. lol

 

just used this guide and it worked great. you forgot to mention the pan is a pita to get off tho...

 

Nvm.. I answered my own question. Pulled it apart and there is no way to drain the torque converter after removing the trans pan. Looks like I'm just doing a filter and fill. lol

You have to purge the fluid to change it completely. That is, pump out the old while adding new fluid thru the filler tube. That is the only way to completely change the fluid. Its relatively easy to do as I have done it many times for customers over the years but I now send them to the pro's as they can do it faster.

 

While I have done them in the past, I've read too many negative things about transmission flushes, and my service manual says nothing about flushes either. I recently dropped my pan to change filter and replenish fluid to normal levels. If it's good enough for GM then it's good enough for me!

 

I am not talking about a flush using a machine or chemicals, I would never let anyone flush my transmission and I never recommend anyone do that. Flushes using machines can be dangerous because the shops rely on the machine to be the expert and often have amateurs operate it who would might not even know the color of ATF.

What I was talking about is just replacing the existing fluid with all new fluid as if you are changing to a synthetic ATF and don't want old fluid mixed with the new synthetic ATF. The fluid is pumped out with the engine running letting the trans pump do the work. You just open the trans cooler lines and let the old fluid flow out while replenishing with new. Nothing dangerous about it and a safe and effective way to replace all the fluid. You trans is circulating the ATF all the while its in operation anyway so there it no way to harm anything.

Don't condemn it, its a proven and safe method of replacing ATF. Most all professional trans experts will tell you the only safe method.

 

how often should you replace your trans oil i just turned 50 Thousand miles on my truck and am just wondering what is reccomened?

 

The owners manual says to change ATF and filter every 50,000 for service service and 100,000 miles for normal service. Look in the back of the manual under Maintenance.

Most vehicles are operated under service service although the owners might disagree. If the majority of your driving is short trips around town, idling, stop and go, towing, hauling heavy loads, hot-rodding, have engine modifications, over-size tires etc then you fall under severe service.

Note-Dropping the pan and replacing the filter and the contents of the pan only will leave about 1/2 to 2/3 of the old ATF in the system.

 

alright i might be doing a tranny fluid and filter change i the near future...thanks for the info

 

one question is it very hard to mess this up? like what do you clean the pan with what happens if you get dirt on the filters or other related questions?

 

I am not talking about a flush using a machine or chemicals, I would never let anyone flush my transmission and I never recommend anyone do that. Flushes using machines can be dangerous because the shops rely on the machine to be the expert and often have amateurs operate it who would might not even know the color of ATF.

What I was talking about is just replacing the existing fluid with all new fluid as if you are changing to a synthetic ATF and don't want old fluid mixed with the new synthetic ATF. The fluid is pumped out with the engine running letting the trans pump do the work. You just open the trans cooler lines and let the old fluid flow out while replenishing with new. Nothing dangerous about it and a safe and effective way to replace all the fluid. You trans is circulating the ATF all the while its in operation anyway so there it no way to harm anything.

Don't condemn it, its a proven and safe method of replacing ATF. Most all professional trans experts will tell you the only safe method.

So what's the quick "How To" on this? Where do you bust the cooler line (at the front?) and is this a 2-man job?

 

transman thanks for the info, I am conteplating trying the trans pan/fiter myself or not, the 02 z-71 deep pan it looks like the pan does not come down very easy and some web-post I have read said the pan drop is a bear and having to drop y-pipe and linkages cat heat shields etc..

 

I am not talking about a flush using a machine or chemicals, I would never let anyone flush my transmission and I never recommend anyone do that. Flushes using machines can be dangerous because the shops rely on the machine to be the expert and often have amateurs operate it who would might not even know the color of ATF.

What I was talking about is just replacing the existing fluid with all new fluid as if you are changing to a synthetic ATF and don't want old fluid mixed with the new synthetic ATF. The fluid is pumped out with the engine running letting the trans pump do the work. You just open the trans cooler lines and let the old fluid flow out while replenishing with new. Nothing dangerous about it and a safe and effective way to replace all the fluid. You trans is circulating the ATF all the while its in operation anyway so there it no way to harm anything.

Don't condemn it, its a proven and safe method of replacing ATF. Most all professional trans experts will tell you the only safe method.

I recently had this method done at a local, trusted shop. They ran the truck with a cooler line unplugged, replaced the fluid, filter and cleaned out the pan. I had them use AMSOIL fluid, and a WIX filter. Not only did I have zero issues after this procedure, but the transmission performs much better than before.

 

Ok question I have read mixed info, does the exh pipe have to be dropped for the trans pan removal on a 02 Silverado ext cab short bed z-71 4x4 w/deep pan, has rideg in back of pan. I read your posting and all the other threads it sounds like a bear.Some websites are saying to just pry over the shift linkage as opposed to removing the entire shift linkage any thoughts on that. Some are saying the pan can be manipulated around exh pipe. please provide the procedure for this task on that truck if possible, thanks, Jim

 

I just did it on that exact truck, and I did it without moving the exhaust and just bending the linkage out of the way. It takes about an hour and a half if you are very thorough. I didn't even bother with messing with the drain plug as it was stripped and the socket wouldn't allow me to put any torque to it. I will fix it next time.