Chrispy

EDIT: Just read a flush is a real bad idea.

Just getting a fluid/filter change

i_york

Didn't have a flush, but did fluid drain/refill and filter when I was back in the UK at a local automatic transmission specialist for ~$225. Mileage on the car was around 28k and it was a little over 4-years old at the time... the guy said the fluid and inside of the pan were both spotless.

Cheers,
Ian.

Chrispy

Thanks!

I have been quote 100 so far but am going to check around

NIGHTMARE...2001

A bad idea? I know it's believed to be a bad thing with high mileage, but I hope it's not for low milage...I just had it done one week ago($140 @ the dealership)...no problems so far.
Where did you read this???

SFVetteman

Yes, it's always better to leave some of the old fluid, crud and varnish inside the transmission, lines as well as the cooler in the radiator. Might be better to see if you can partially clean the filter as well

RedRider98

I smell something...I think it's sarcasm!!!

LS9

I change the filter then do a flush .

Rag-Top Rick

I recently read an article written by a well respected technician and this is what his rule of thumb is:
If your milage is at 15k mi or less, then by all means FLUSH and change the FILTER and OIL in the pan, continuing to do so every 15k or less mi thereafter.
If your first service is well over 15k mi, then he recommends changing the filter and fluid in the pan ONLY.

The reason he recommends (filter & pan fluid change ONLY, no flush) after 15k+ mi is, as the tranny wears clutch material and other debries build up and will get transferred to vital areas of the tranny during the flush process, thus resulting in the type of problems I`ve seen mentioned/posted here in the forum.

Please note, I`m not an expert or technician, just passing on info that seemed to make sense.

Rick

Target Chaser

So, I take it that if you don't know the history of the car for the first 30k mi then a filter and oil change only would be recommended vs. filter, oil and flush, correct?

Rag-Top Rick

Correct, per the article I read....... you may be able to find out some history on the car by asking your local Chevy dealer to look your car up via vin number. If any service was done by Chevy their system should have a record of it, otherwise at 30k+mi I`d play it safe and just change the filter and fluid in the pan.

Again, I`m not an expert but I think the article I referred to makes good common sense.


Rick

SFVetteman

What makes you think this guy is a well respected technician?

Chrispy

Smart ***!!!

A tranny flush will force all the debris/**** through your valvebody and other components.

This is from two ASE certified mechanics I have talked with. (They both build LS1 4L60s than handle low 9's in the 1/4. I respect their opinion)

They mentioned the filter does a great job of catching crap. Drain the fluid, clean the pan, change the filter and refill.

SFVetteman

Have they ever used a transmission flushing machine and experienced problems or do they just think it would cause problems? Here’s a guy that’s been doing it since at least ’96 and still swears by it today:

http://www.garage-pak.com/pat-goss-w...nsmissions.cfm

http://www.patgosscarworld.com/modul...d=0&page_id=30

http://www.patgosscarworld.com/modul...d=0&page_id=27

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040307357.html

NIGHTMARE...2001

Interesting information. FWIW, the Chevrolet service dept. in my area, says you can still do it at around 50,000 miles but after that probably stay with the pan/filter change.
When my 2000 SS Camaro A4 w/bolt-ons, was just passed 50,000 miles, I went ahead with it, based on the above dealer information, and now nearing 100,000 miles I still have no problems or slipping.
If it's been driven really hard, I don't know if I would take a chance on it, but I'm a little gun-shy too though after replacing three trannys that were never flushed.
Plan on doing just the oil/filter change next time though, on the SS, but the vette, I'm probably gonna do every 15,000-30,000 miles.

Bills Z06

It just doesn't make sense to do a pan service on the trans. You get only about 1/3 of the old trans fluid out - the fluid in the torque converter, cooler lines and coolant tank in the radiator doesn't drain out. It gets mixed with the new fluid. Let's see, 1/3 new fluid and 2/3 old fluid - that just doesn't make sense to me.

I've been doing trans flushes on my 99 Yukon and never had a problem. It now has 228,000 miles and is still going strong. (My Vette is a 6 speed)

Just be sure your shop doesn't use a solvent based cleaning chemical and you'll be fine. My shop uses products by Wynns.

Chrispy

It depends on a couple things.

1) If you have an aftermarket torque converter, especially one with a carbon based clutch
2) If you race the car alot and have some clutch/band wear

If you have a stock converter, bone stock trans and aren't beating the **** out of the car you should be fine

SFVetteman

Hmmm…if you use a high stall converter, which generates more heat that tends to break down the fluid and cause varnish and/or race the car a lot and have increased wear, which means more particles suspended in the fluid then you only want to change some of the fluid compared to bone stock and easy driving then it’s ok to change it all.

I guess that means if the car is race only, it might be best not to change any of the fluid.

NIGHTMARE...2001

Thanks for the clarification!