A6 service???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 52
From: East Tennessee
A6 service???
The original owner had the dealer flush the fluid at 75,000 miles. I'm nearing 130 and thinking I should service it again. My question is what to have done.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
Last edited by Mark H; Oct 5, 2016 at 12:12 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
As a general rule for most cars, automatic transmissions need to be serviced every four years or 48K miles. The C6 owner's manual - you DO know where that is, right? - Additional Required Services table says to change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every 50K miles.
Ideally, this means to drain the fluid, drop the pan, do a thorough inspection looking for burnt fluid, any bits of metal, etc., replace the pan (and possibly the gasket), and refill with DEXRON-VI automatic transmission fluid. Many dealerships skip the pan removal & reinstall steps to save time. As long as the old fluid is clear and unburnt, that abbreviated process is OK.
The A6 transmission is very well designed, rugged and reliable. Mine has handled an Edelbrock E-Force 600hp supercharger for more than four years without any problems at all.
Ideally, this means to drain the fluid, drop the pan, do a thorough inspection looking for burnt fluid, any bits of metal, etc., replace the pan (and possibly the gasket), and refill with DEXRON-VI automatic transmission fluid. Many dealerships skip the pan removal & reinstall steps to save time. As long as the old fluid is clear and unburnt, that abbreviated process is OK.
The A6 transmission is very well designed, rugged and reliable. Mine has handled an Edelbrock E-Force 600hp supercharger for more than four years without any problems at all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 66
From: Orlando Florida
The original owner had the dealer flush the fluid at 75,000 miles. I'm nearing 130 and thinking I should service it again. My question is what to have done.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 52
From: East Tennessee
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I just posted 6l80 fluid change info on the tech forum. You might want to read it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 52
From: East Tennessee
I just posted 6l80 fluid change info on the tech forum. You might want to read it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html
I've checked out a couple of youtube video's on how to change the fluid. I'm starting to think about doing it myself, however I'm still not sure how comfortable I will be under my car with it running!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
If your car was flushed at 75...
All the crud is still on the bottom of the pan, in the filter and stuck to the magnets.
I personally would drop the pan and wipe it clean and wipe off the magnets.
Then I would put a new filter on and refill with new fluid.
Flush does a good job of loosening or unlodging stuff caught in the filter.
That could be bad during next weeks drive.
All the crud is still on the bottom of the pan, in the filter and stuck to the magnets.
I personally would drop the pan and wipe it clean and wipe off the magnets.
Then I would put a new filter on and refill with new fluid.
Flush does a good job of loosening or unlodging stuff caught in the filter.
That could be bad during next weeks drive.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,098
Likes: 1,606
From: Edmond Oklahoma
It is easy to do yourself. There are YouTube posts on exactly how.Tthe fluid is fairly expensive at about $30 a quart. I think you need three or four quarts. the tranny pan drops easy, just be sure you suck most of the fluid out before you drop it, otherwise you will have a mess. The plug on the tranny pan is not a drain plug. It is an overfill check plug. Easy to do in about two hours. Check YouTube.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 52
From: East Tennessee
If your car was flushed at 75...
All the crud is still on the bottom of the pan, in the filter and stuck to the magnets.
I personally would drop the pan and wipe it clean and wipe off the magnets.
Then I would put a new filter on and refill with new fluid.
Flush does a good job of loosening or unlodging stuff caught in the filter.
That could be bad during next weeks drive.
All the crud is still on the bottom of the pan, in the filter and stuck to the magnets.
I personally would drop the pan and wipe it clean and wipe off the magnets.
Then I would put a new filter on and refill with new fluid.
Flush does a good job of loosening or unlodging stuff caught in the filter.
That could be bad during next weeks drive.
Replaced my front wheel bearings back in August after watching your video. Makes things a lot easier when you know what tools you will need and have a back up if you have problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
Whatever you do don't read the post from Cmonkey. You will need seven quarts. Wal-Mart Valvoline Synthetic is more than good enough for a Vette (6.97per QT.) . Get the AC Delco ATF Filter. Don't worry about replacing the ATF filter seal. It is a PITA to ge out and harder to get back in. The old one will be as pliable as the new one. At 150K miles when I pulled mine, it was still good and I just wasted time on it.
Get the <10.00 quart pump from eBay. It makes filling a snap.
The first time I did mine. I was really nervous about rolling under a running car.
As long as you have four jack stands securely placed under the car you will be OK.
Do it when somebody is home... That way they can call 911 to have the car removed off of you. J/K!
Get the <10.00 quart pump from eBay. It makes filling a snap.
The first time I did mine. I was really nervous about rolling under a running car.
As long as you have four jack stands securely placed under the car you will be OK.
Do it when somebody is home... That way they can call 911 to have the car removed off of you. J/K!
Last edited by MikeERWNC; Oct 7, 2016 at 09:58 AM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 524
Likes: 76
From: El Paso Texas
The original owner had the dealer flush the fluid at 75,000 miles. I'm nearing 130 and thinking I should service it again. My question is what to have done.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
A. Another flush, which you hear bad things about.
B. Fluid and filter change. Which, I'm leaning toward.
C. Drain and replace fluid only.
D. Leave it alone because it will only be problems.
I will have a local shop perform the work, cause I really don't want to be under my car with it running on jack stands to drain the excess fluid.
You can buy the AC Delco filter/ fluid in gallons from Amazon or GMparts direct.com for much less than the stealerships. I bought two transfer pumps from Harbor freight at about 5.99 each. Used one to suck out most of the old fluid and the other to fill new. I also bought an offset wrench at Sears that makes getting the 4 bolts above the cross member easier to get out. I still had to lift the differential about an inch. Best regards
Pro
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 524
Likes: 76
From: El Paso Texas
Whatever you do don't read the post from Cmonkey. You will need seven quarts. Wal-Mart Valvoline Synthetic is more than good enough for a Vette (6.97per QT.) . Get the AC Delco ATF Filter. Don't worry about replacing the ATF filter seal. It is a PITA to ge out and harder to get back in. The old one will be as pliable as the new one. At 150K miles when I pulled mine, it was still good and I just wasted time on it.
Get the <10.00 quart pump from eBay. It makes filling a snap.
The first time I did mine. I was really nervous about rolling under a running car.
As long as you have four jack stands securely placed under the car you will be OK.
Do it when somebody is home... That way they can call 911 to have the car removed off of you. J/K!
Get the <10.00 quart pump from eBay. It makes filling a snap.
The first time I did mine. I was really nervous about rolling under a running car.
As long as you have four jack stands securely placed under the car you will be OK.
Do it when somebody is home... That way they can call 911 to have the car removed off of you. J/K!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
I have changed mine three times with three different brands of fluid.
At 160K miles, no difference. The transmission is just happy to get fresh fluid.
The first time I went to the parts counter and they gave me Mobile 1 at the dealership.
At 160K miles, no difference. The transmission is just happy to get fresh fluid.
The first time I went to the parts counter and they gave me Mobile 1 at the dealership.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I often wonder how some people tend to think that some fluid is better or cheaper than OEM, but fail to understand they're not getting a complete change.
A while back, I ran across whoever bottles the fluid for AC Delco, but not knowing for sure if the formula was identical to their brand, I didn't care much.
GM spent a lot of time (aka my money) testing the 6l80. They could have contracted with anyone to supply them and the dealers with the formula that worked best and put the AC Delco brand sticker on the bottle.
There are at least 3 known Chevy dealers in the Phoenix area that have backdoor online parts stores. To save time and effort on my part, I print out the online price from the dealer 12 miles away and take it to the dealer 3 miles from me, to get a price match. The $10.90/quart just magically became $6.50/quart. You gotta love Google and the internet.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,147
Likes: 452
From: Port St. Lucie West Florida
Awhile ago I asked my dealer about a trans fluid change and what is involved. They said they flush and no filter change. I won't be going there for the trans fluid change. They do not replace the filter. I do not want a flush
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
As a general rule for most cars, automatic transmissions need to be serviced every four years or 48K miles. The C6 owner's manual - you DO know where that is, right? - Additional Required Services table says to change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every 50K miles.
On pages 6-6 and 6-7, it says to change fluid & filter every 50K in case of severe service.
Severe service is defined as:
(h) Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
− In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
− In hilly or mountainous terrain.
− Uses such as high performance operation.
Otherwise, it says to change fluid & filter every 100K miles.
