Tranny maintainence and flushing?????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 265
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From: Albion NY
Tranny maintainence and flushing?????
I've got 64,000 on my 96 and have no idea if the tranny has ever been serviced. Should I just drop the pan and drain oil and change filter using synthetic or should I have the dealer do a tranny flush and full replacement of fluid. I didn't know if it would jar crap loose and cause more problems :confused: :confused: . It works fine now. The only wierd thing is that when you shift to D or R it takes a second to engage. Not long, only a second. I didn't know if this was normal. So here's the deal, not broke don't fix it(flush)? Or it can't hurt???? Thanks a lot in advance....
Bart
Bart
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
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From: Lafayette LA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
Good luck. Everytime I see this question, the answers cover the entire spectrum - from instant death to the best thing that could happen.
I have changed it on cars with 100,000 miles with no problem. I figure if a clean filter and fluid will kill it then I need another one soon anyway.
I have changed it on cars with 100,000 miles with no problem. I figure if a clean filter and fluid will kill it then I need another one soon anyway.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 265
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From: Albion NY
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (olephart)
I am definately going with a clean filter and fluid, but was unsure about the tranny flushing. Is changing the filter pretty straight forward or is it a pain to get right without leaking or anything? Any quirks I should know about?
Thanks
Bart
Thanks
Bart
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
If you just drop the pan and change the filter, you only replace 1/4 to 1/3 of the old fluid.
If you want to get it all, you can go to a place with a flushing machine. I think Wal-Mart does it pretty cheap. I don't know enough about these machines, but have heard that some of them, if operated improperly, can hurt the tranny.
To get it all yourself, you drop the pan and change the filter, then replace pan and the 4 quarts that drained out. Next you drop the tranny output line to the radiator and put it in a 5 gal bucket. Start the car and the old fluid will pump into the bucket. Add fluid to keep even with the amount discharged. You can stop the engine every 4 quarts or so to catch up. One you get 2.5 gallons in the bucket, you are close enough.
I guess, as an alternative, you could do the filter and 4 quarts and put a drain plug in while the pan is off. Then you could drain the pan (4 quarts) every 50 miles or so 'till you had mostly clean fluid blended in with the old stuff. Pobably have to do it 5 or 6 times.
Changing the filter is not hard, but some of the new one's look different and don't seem to fit correctly, but they are OK.
[Modified by olephart, 11:00 PM 4/9/2002]
If you want to get it all, you can go to a place with a flushing machine. I think Wal-Mart does it pretty cheap. I don't know enough about these machines, but have heard that some of them, if operated improperly, can hurt the tranny.
To get it all yourself, you drop the pan and change the filter, then replace pan and the 4 quarts that drained out. Next you drop the tranny output line to the radiator and put it in a 5 gal bucket. Start the car and the old fluid will pump into the bucket. Add fluid to keep even with the amount discharged. You can stop the engine every 4 quarts or so to catch up. One you get 2.5 gallons in the bucket, you are close enough.
I guess, as an alternative, you could do the filter and 4 quarts and put a drain plug in while the pan is off. Then you could drain the pan (4 quarts) every 50 miles or so 'till you had mostly clean fluid blended in with the old stuff. Pobably have to do it 5 or 6 times.
Changing the filter is not hard, but some of the new one's look different and don't seem to fit correctly, but they are OK.
[Modified by olephart, 11:00 PM 4/9/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
Good luck. Most dealers do not have the machine to completely exchange the fluid. You can ask for a flush and they will tell you that they flushed it, but all they do is drop the pan and add 4 quarts.
Keep an eye on those bastiches.
Keep an eye on those bastiches.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Albion NY
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (olephart)
Thanks for the warning, I just got back from the dealer. I could not get prices because they were uncertain of the type of fluid to put back in. Do these cars use synthetic fluid from the factory? What do you guys rcomemd putting in?
Thanks
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
The owners manual sez Dextron III ATF. I see a lot of posts where people are using Mobil 1 synthetic - don't know GM's official stance on this. I know it's real pricey, but probably good if you beat on it or don't have a tranny cooler.
I'd be getting a little concerned if the dealer didn't know what to use. On my first and last trip to a dealer I had the tranny serviced (along with my butt and a few other things) I think it was $75. This was not a complete flush, but included an overfill at no extra charge.
I'd be getting a little concerned if the dealer didn't know what to use. On my first and last trip to a dealer I had the tranny serviced (along with my butt and a few other things) I think it was $75. This was not a complete flush, but included an overfill at no extra charge.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Albion NY
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (olephart)
I thought that GM went to factory fill synthetic in the tranny and therefore eliminated the tranny cooler... :confused: :confused: I am not sure where I heard this and wasn't sure. But if the manual says Dextron III ATF then I guess that's what I'll put in it. Is this what you put in yours?
Bart
Bart
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
I thought that GM went to factory fill synthetic in the tranny and therefore eliminated the tranny cooler... :confused: :confused: I am not sure where I heard this and wasn't sure. But if the manual says Dextron III ATF then I guess that's what I'll put in it. Is this what you put in yours?
Bart
Bart
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
By changing the fluid for the first time, I ended up shortly rebuilding my tranny at 60K miles on my Vette and now my Syclone needs one at 44K miles. I wouldn't change or flush the fluid, unless you have the $$$ for rebuild.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Albion NY
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (dgoodhue)
Thanks for the input guys. I don't have the money right now for a rebuild so I'm trying to research this VERY carefully. Anybody have any thoughts on the 1.0-1.5 second hesitation when I put it into D or R. Doesn't seem to slip or shift wierd just a one second pause before it engages. I didn't know if it was cause of the electronic shifting. Thanks
Bart
Bart
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: Tranny maintainence and flushing????? (Bartman)
Like I said earlier, you won't get a clear answer to your question. People on both sides have good examples to support their belief.
The Dextron III is out of the owners manual for a 96. I don't know what they are putting in the new ones. You have a tranny cooler (of sorts) built into your radiator. Mine didn't keep the tranny temps where the owners manual recommended (170-190) - usually ran 210-220 in the summer. Heat kills trannys, so I put an aftermarket cooler on and bypassed the radiator - life is good now.
What fluid do I have in my tranny? Who knows? When I bought it at 17,000 miles I had the dealer service it. Haven't done anything since. I'm assuming it's mostly Dextron III from the factory and 4 quarts of whatever the dealer put in it (sigh). I'll flush it and use Mobil 1 at 35,000. I would normally use the Dextron III, but temps get high on the road course and I think the Moble will be better.
The Dextron III is out of the owners manual for a 96. I don't know what they are putting in the new ones. You have a tranny cooler (of sorts) built into your radiator. Mine didn't keep the tranny temps where the owners manual recommended (170-190) - usually ran 210-220 in the summer. Heat kills trannys, so I put an aftermarket cooler on and bypassed the radiator - life is good now.
What fluid do I have in my tranny? Who knows? When I bought it at 17,000 miles I had the dealer service it. Haven't done anything since. I'm assuming it's mostly Dextron III from the factory and 4 quarts of whatever the dealer put in it (sigh). I'll flush it and use Mobil 1 at 35,000. I would normally use the Dextron III, but temps get high on the road course and I think the Moble will be better.