Does the triple flush work?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Before attempting a DIY of that magnitude (both labor and $$$$) I would try every option to persuade GM to do it as a goodwill gesture. That's assuming it's out of warranty, but if not it's GM's problem to fix.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 894
Likes: 667
St. Jude Donor '17
The problem with DIY is that the dealer has a pump to pump all the fluid out of the transmission. You can only remove 4 qts or so at a time manually which might be better than nothing, but then you’re going to be stuck with 8qts old and 4qts new.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 894
Likes: 667
St. Jude Donor '17
Just an update for everyone. I have 10k miles on the car after the triple flush. The wavering RPMs have never returned, but the rumble/shudder never completely went away. I have two sets of wheels that I use, one rumbles from 50-60mph and the other from 60-80 mph. I am content with it. I have come to think of it as torque converter damage that has occurred but is now stabilized. We will see.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 630
My guess is the flush is to remove metal shavings. The problem there is the metal shavings are indicative of damage. Whether it 'works' or not probably depends on how much damage was done before the flush was done. AFM is the devil.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
If you do this yourself, drop the pan replace the filter.
The fluid is 10.00 a quart. Your local dealer should be able to sell it to you for that price.
If you drop the pan, plan on seven quarts.
When my dealer did mine, 42K miles, they used ten quarts and new filter.
The car has been fine since. Now at 51K miles.
I am going to do it again at 60K miles.
I thought it came back at 60-68mph, but it was a bad Michelin rear. Michelin replaced the tire.
The fluid is 10.00 a quart. Your local dealer should be able to sell it to you for that price.
If you drop the pan, plan on seven quarts.
When my dealer did mine, 42K miles, they used ten quarts and new filter.
The car has been fine since. Now at 51K miles.
I am going to do it again at 60K miles.
I thought it came back at 60-68mph, but it was a bad Michelin rear. Michelin replaced the tire.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 49
From: Mt. Juliet TN
Just an update for everyone. I have 10k miles on the car after the triple flush. The wavering RPMs have never returned, but the rumble/shudder never completely went away. I have two sets of wheels that I use, one rumbles from 50-60mph and the other from 60-80 mph. I am content with it. I have come to think of it as torque converter damage that has occurred but is now stabilized. We will see.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,581
Likes: 252
From: SE TEX
I thought I posted my latest results in here but.....
So previously (my last posts) the dealer only did a regular flush and reprogram, NOT a triple flush. That did not help in the least. The next time they were supposed to change the converter they ended up doing the triple flush. It definitely helped, but unfortunately only for a while. Around 8k miles later the problem was slowly coming back.
So previously (my last posts) the dealer only did a regular flush and reprogram, NOT a triple flush. That did not help in the least. The next time they were supposed to change the converter they ended up doing the triple flush. It definitely helped, but unfortunately only for a while. Around 8k miles later the problem was slowly coming back.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 60
From: Whitman Ma
Interestingly, I just had the problem come back on a cruise this past weekend. I had the shudder diagnosed last October with about 2500 miles on the car (2016 Z51), brought it in and had the triple flush done.
Got the car back and it was great, smooth as butter on the highway, no flutter or shudder.
This past weekend, I took the car out for a longer cruise, and about 20 miles in on the highway I felt the shudder.
Switched my dash over to watch and sure enough was fluctuating 200 rpms from 1400-1500 and there was a noticeable shudder when shifting between v4 and v8 mode.
I'll be off to the dealer this week to see what we can do about it.
Got the car back and it was great, smooth as butter on the highway, no flutter or shudder.
This past weekend, I took the car out for a longer cruise, and about 20 miles in on the highway I felt the shudder.
Switched my dash over to watch and sure enough was fluctuating 200 rpms from 1400-1500 and there was a noticeable shudder when shifting between v4 and v8 mode.
I'll be off to the dealer this week to see what we can do about it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14,606
Likes: 219
From: Ohio
I had my 2015 A8 in for the "triple" flush, but the dealer said GM now only requires a "single" flush.
They did the single flush, definitely better, and I added the Range device.
No problems so far.
They did the single flush, definitely better, and I added the Range device.
No problems so far.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
You know, I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but Tadge Juechter stated that even though there are 3 different parts numbers for the TC, there is no difference. I was just a new number for the production parts batch list.
Mine has been the best Automatic I have owned. I have 68,000 miles on the car.
Me thinks that some are just improperly manufactured with defects and slip through quality control because they have no way of actually testing them under stress.
Mine has been the best Automatic I have owned. I have 68,000 miles on the car.
Me thinks that some are just improperly manufactured with defects and slip through quality control because they have no way of actually testing them under stress.
Last edited by joemessman; Jun 7, 2018 at 06:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I thought I posted my latest results in here but.....
So previously (my last posts) the dealer only did a regular flush and reprogram, NOT a triple flush. That did not help in the least. The next time they were supposed to change the converter they ended up doing the triple flush. It definitely helped, but unfortunately only for a while. Around 8k miles later the problem was slowly coming back.
So previously (my last posts) the dealer only did a regular flush and reprogram, NOT a triple flush. That did not help in the least. The next time they were supposed to change the converter they ended up doing the triple flush. It definitely helped, but unfortunately only for a while. Around 8k miles later the problem was slowly coming back.
Something tells me another dealer is in your future. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 2,689
From: Pacific Northwest
Talked with my Tech today. He verified that the triple flush is no longer GM recommended. But what is now SOP is a drain, then use high air pressure to push out the last few drops of remaining fluid, then new fluid.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 41
From: Delray Beach Florida
exactly how long is the torque convertor covered under warranty ? shoudnt GM put out a TSB on this condition if they know about it for preventive maint. if so many c7 are experiencing these issues ?
(Sorry Im new to c7's and not quite sure what to look for - I would have thought this would be a power train issue and covered component
(Sorry Im new to c7's and not quite sure what to look for - I would have thought this would be a power train issue and covered component