With the discussion of 50K to 100K miles for a trans fluid change I would like to say don't wait that long.
Look at JayTee's youtube video posted above, in Reply #11.
At the 4 min. mark you can see the new fluid going in and black slime coming out of the oil level plug hole.
That was hard for me to watch, that tranny is living on borrowed time.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at your dealer service
department. Contact your dealer for
additional information or the
procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information on
page 12‐12.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Scheduled
Maintenance on page 10‐2, and be
sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10‐7.
So on page 10-2 the @ 50,000 miles:
Automatic transmission fluid
change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly
or mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. See
Automatic Transmission
What the hell is a Severe Service?
Then on 10-2 @ 100,000 miles:
Automatic transmission fluid
change (normal service). See
Automatic Transmission Fluid on
page 9‐12.
What the hell is a normal Service?
Then on 9-12:
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at your dealer service
department. Contact your dealer for
additional information or the
procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see Service
Publications
Special Procedure?
Are they talking about the drain and filter swap or a transmission flush? I saw the 'procedure' that was posted from the service manual earlier.
Right and what is so "difficult" about draining the fluid and adding more (I am referring to what they say in the manual). By normal and severe do they mean do it at 50,000 because it is severe? It almost sounds like they refer to two different procedures.
I thought they had two filters one that was serviceable and one that was not?
A very nice video of the trans being taken apart.
this one is in spanish.
But note that at
9:40- he splits the tranmission in half----
10:05 -he points the the fluid pump
10:23- he points to the filter- "Filtro de Aceite" he calls it.
So if any of you take your vehicle to a Spiffy lube shop-- (or any shop) and they say they did a trans fluid AND filter change and you have a charge for an actual filter on your invoice.........
Rock auto lists that filter for the 2010 models. Usually their inventory is on. Is this for the Aisin instead. I did end up watching that video, is there anything under that black cover?
The method rbarrios uses does not completely change all the fluid in one change. I'm not trying to be technically correct, but to share the concept: only about 1/2 of the total transmission fluid can be drained out while the other 1/2 of the fluid is captured in other places throughout the transmission, mostly in the torque converter. GM specifies a special (very expensive) tool that pumps in the new transmission fluid at the same rate the old fluid is being pumped throughout and out the transmission. (This procedure is necessary because the transmission is sensitive to low or high fluid levels.)
But I agree with rbarrios and do exactly the same thing he does - more frequent transmission fluid drain/refills to mostly replenish the transmission fluid. The price of several gallons of transmission fluid is much cheaper than buying the exchange machine, and I prefer not to allow another technician work on my transmission. The math for the frequent drains/refill is something like:
1st fluid change: 50% changed after first drain/refill. Drive a few hundred miles to mix the old/new fluid.
2nd fluid change: 50% is drained out again, but about 25% was old fluid and 25% was new fluid. Refill brings this to about 75% new fluid and 25% old fluid. Drive a few hundred miles again.
3rd fluid change: 50% of total is drained out again. After a refill, this leaves about 12% old fluid and 88% new fluid.
4th change gets to diminishing results with about 6% old fluid and 94% new fluid.
And yeah, doing these fluid changes is wasting lots more new transmission fluid. But I recycle mine for whatever that's worth. :cheers:
Agree with above, I did two drain and fills so I got about 75% of the old fluid out. The fluid looked pretty clean even after the first but I think doing at least two if not more is the way to go. Just to pass it along, this is the cheapest GM approved Dexron VI fluid I found
It's twelve quarts which is enough to do two drain and fills. The only other cheaper fluid I found is Valvoline MaxLife ATF which is sold at walmart for around $17.00 a gallon (4 quarts), however it is Dexron VI compatible but not officially approved by GM so if your car is under warranty it is best to stick with GM approved fluid to keep the warranty good.
The method rbarrios uses does not completely change all the fluid in one change. I'm not trying to be technically correct, but to share the concept: only about 1/2 of the total transmission fluid can be drained out while the other 1/2 of the fluid is captured in other places throughout the transmission,
take note-- the Dealer will have this exchange machine... it simply swaps the fluid-- new fluid in-- while old is removed simultaneously.
Other shops-- want to use the machine that CLEANS....
This machine puts in some chemical cleaner and cleans the trans and then fluid is put it.
the problem?
GM considers anything other than DEXRON VI-- a contaminant.
GM does not recommend the use of these cleaning machines on this transmission.
a while back someone posted this on the Traverse forum... in the drain/refill thread...
--------------------------------
"The equation you're looking for is x=0.5^n. Where "x" equals the amount of the original fluid left after "n" times of draining and replacing half of it's original capacity.
For example:
Drain and fill #1: x=0.5^1=0.5=50%
Drain and fill #2: x=0.5^2=0.25=25%
Drain and fill #3: x=0.5^3=0.125=12.5%
To get 95 % changed:
ln(0.05)/ln(0.5)=4.32 times --> so you would have to change it 5 times to have 95%+ new fluid. Of course, this is based on the assumptions that you always get 5 quarts out and that 5 quarts is half of it's total capacity."
so I just did another drain and refill.
took me 35 min.
Silly me. I thought this was my 2nd.... but in my Log book I noticed I did the 2nd already. So this was my 3rd.
No wonder the fluid was not as dark as I expected.
These are the intervals I have performed a trans fluid DRAIN/REFILL.
38,724
40,827
46,286
Ill probably do the next drain/refill around the 70,000 mark.
this is the oil that came out yesterday. New on the left- 'old' on the right.
For reference, this was the previous fluid that was drained.
Just curious, when you say this is your 3rd drain and refill do you mean a total of three so far?
The reason I ask is because most people are doing two almost back to back to get 75% of the old fluid.
In that case it would be a total of 6.
Crazy that you can do a trans drain and refill in the same time as changing the engine oil.
I plan to start doing a back to back drain and refill at 30K and every 30K after, haven't hit 30K yet.
Keep the good posts coming.
The drain bolt is close to the front of the vehicle. Within arms reach.
I did not need to raise vehicle.
lay down and reach with your wrench to undo the bolt.
I would not push a vacuum hose into the fill tube to drain.
The dipstick goes into the side cover not the pan or bottom of the trans so you won't get much out.
Also, in the side cover is the control valve body, speed sensors, wiring, and other electronics.
Good place to leave alone.
See link below for a good article on the GM 6T70 with pics.
A forum community dedicated to GMC Terrain, Chevy Equinox, and Cadillac SRX owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, reviews, and more!