C4 transmission flush
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Your link went to Dex VI and I'm sure that's what you intended BUT your comment 'backwards compatible' ain't accepted as 'gospel' by many or most! Makes you happy then it's fine for @kael but maybe NOT for most. Ain't for me and I don't care about anyone but me!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,406
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OP - how many miles have you and Father put on this car since 'purchase' - everyone wants to mention 'after purchase' Father says it 'slipped' you say NOT - 2 months?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,349
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From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
Actually GM has advised against any vehicle having the trans fluid changed by use of a machine that transfers the fluid by use of a circulation pump . I follow this method for all my vehicles , drop the pan , save and measure the removed fluid , change the filter , install a drain plug in the pan and reinstall it . Then I add the same amount of fluid that was removed . The next time I feel the fluid needs changing the drain plug makes the job a snap as I repeat the process only skipping the filter change until it's needed .This process repeated on a regular basis maintains relatively fresh fluid all the time .
Last edited by F4Gary; Mar 3, 2021 at 06:04 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 147
Likes: 48
From: Rockland County, New York
Do it yourself. When you get a used car the mantra is "if it flows, it goes." It is super easy to change the fluid on these cars. Here's the video I used:
Last edited by bartenderfloyd; Mar 3, 2021 at 06:43 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,406
Likes: 2,744
and bordering on maybe much worse! But you've been there for 'years'! 295 spec has long been considered an outstanding replacement for any DEXIII spec that ain't been available for a very long time. 295 spec is now done by many more than just the TranSynd product that I and others have used for years.Read!!! LEARN!!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Mar 3, 2021 at 09:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Yes you actually are confused and bordering on maybe much worse! But you've been there for 'years'!
295 spec has long been considered an outstanding replacement for any DEXIII spec that ain't been available for a very long time. 295 spec is now done by many more than just the TranSynd product that I and others have used for years.
Read!!! LEARN!!
and bordering on maybe much worse! But you've been there for 'years'!295 spec has long been considered an outstanding replacement for any DEXIII spec that ain't been available for a very long time. 295 spec is now done by many more than just the TranSynd product that I and others have used for years.
Read!!! LEARN!!
Relevance? It doesn't answer the question, assuming you do know the answer. We know it is an approved spec for Allison. I don't know why it is so necessary for a 700R4 over Dextron VI. One I can get easily at any auto parts store. The other, not so easy. You stated you don't think Dextron VI is NOT the right replacement for Dextron III in spite of the vendors saying so. You don't even explain why. What are your qualifications that we need to swallow your words wholesale?
OTOH, maybe I should since you don't seem to know the answer.
Last edited by aklim; Mar 3, 2021 at 09:46 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 876
Likes: 76
There's much more that if a person would like to 'argue/discuss' the '87 in particular.
What are you going to use for fluid? Since there's no readily available Dexron III available I'd be concerned with maybe fluid. Were it me I'd use TransSynd TES 295. Expensive but pretty readily available for anything that still has a spec for Dexron III. It's what I've used for my 4T65e
OP - warm the car drive a few miles - suction whatever can be recovered from the fill tube and check the condition of it! Use what you see or have it analyzed by those that might have a professional opinion as to how to proceed. I'd think most would suggest drain, filter and fill. Start twisting 35 year old flare nuts and think about where you might end up!
What are you going to use for fluid? Since there's no readily available Dexron III available I'd be concerned with maybe fluid. Were it me I'd use TransSynd TES 295. Expensive but pretty readily available for anything that still has a spec for Dexron III. It's what I've used for my 4T65e
OP - warm the car drive a few miles - suction whatever can be recovered from the fill tube and check the condition of it! Use what you see or have it analyzed by those that might have a professional opinion as to how to proceed. I'd think most would suggest drain, filter and fill. Start twisting 35 year old flare nuts and think about where you might end up!
What's the difference between TransSynd TES 295 and AC Delco Dexron VI that's mineral based?
I'm going to be changing the filter in my transmission and so was looking at using AC Delco Dexron VI that is mineral based.
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8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
The active word is "high mileage" vehicles!
Next week 6:14-21 I receive a vehicle I purchased through eBay the car has 23,000 miles on it it's a 1996 c4 automatic I believe the cars have been a garage queen most of it's life. First thing I was advised to do is change out all the fluids. I've had high mileage vehicles before and they always point back to don't change the fluid cuz you're going to lose all the residue from the clutch plates on the automatics, & the transmission will start to slip! A penny for your thoughts about swapping out the gearbox fluid on this 23,000 mi vehicle TIA!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 147
Likes: 48
From: Rockland County, New York
Next week 6:14-21 I receive a vehicle I purchased through eBay the car has 23,000 miles on it it's a 1996 c4 automatic I believe the cars have been a garage queen most of it's life. First thing I was advised to do is change out all the fluids. I've had high mileage vehicles before and they always point back to don't change the fluid cuz you're going to lose all the residue from the clutch plates on the automatics, & the transmission will start to slip! A penny for your thoughts about swapping out the gearbox fluid on this 23,000 mi vehicle TIA!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,716
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Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Psstt, at certain times, DEXRON III didn't exist. Wasn't released until 1993.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON
Did note a likely typo in wikipedia's article, will have to look. DEXRON VI (6)? When was IV (4)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON
Did note a likely typo in wikipedia's article, will have to look. DEXRON VI (6)? When was IV (4)?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 2
To flush or not to flush
I went thru the same situation when I bought my automatic 3 years ago . Transmission fluid was brown at 64k miles.
Took it to a Corvette specialty house and was told that they wouldn't do it and I should just drive the car to the point of transmission failure. That didn't make much sense to me so I went to my friendly Chevy dealer for a second opinion. They advised against changing the fluid
The third stop was at a specialty shop run by Bob, a guy who had made his living for 35 years doing nothing but working on transmissions and here is how he explained it to me. Bob said that would be truth in cars up thru the mid 1980s but transmissions built after that were made to a much higher standard since then. I gave him the go ahead and he drained all fluid and cycled new transmission fluid thru the unit till it came out clean which also meant the torque converter. He then replaced filter, gasket and speed sensor, filled with new fluid and "voila!"--no issues no problems. There's a lot of opinions out there but best to go with experience IMO.
Took it to a Corvette specialty house and was told that they wouldn't do it and I should just drive the car to the point of transmission failure. That didn't make much sense to me so I went to my friendly Chevy dealer for a second opinion. They advised against changing the fluid
The third stop was at a specialty shop run by Bob, a guy who had made his living for 35 years doing nothing but working on transmissions and here is how he explained it to me. Bob said that would be truth in cars up thru the mid 1980s but transmissions built after that were made to a much higher standard since then. I gave him the go ahead and he drained all fluid and cycled new transmission fluid thru the unit till it came out clean which also meant the torque converter. He then replaced filter, gasket and speed sensor, filled with new fluid and "voila!"--no issues no problems. There's a lot of opinions out there but best to go with experience IMO.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 876
Likes: 76
Psstt, at certain times, DEXRON III didn't exist. Wasn't released until 1993.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON
Did note a likely typo in wikipedia's article, will have to look. DEXRON VI (6)? When was IV (4)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON
Did note a likely typo in wikipedia's article, will have to look. DEXRON VI (6)? When was IV (4)?
I plan on changing my automatic transmission fluid with Amsoil ATF Signature Series. I believe that version is a thicker viscosity as they rate it for Dexron II and III. Whereas their "Fuel Efficient" version I believe is a thinner viscosity and it's rated for Dexron VI. I figured it's best to try and stick with a similar viscosity as Dexron II and III since our transmissions were built for Dexron II or III and not VI which is thinner.