To flush tranny or not to flush tranny.

[SeaDog]

On three of my GM trucks At 105K I have had the trans flushed with a machine you waste about 4 quarts of fluid but you get the torque converter flushed out also and had the pan dropped and screen and filter change. have not had any problems.

[mopwr4me2003]

My thought is if it’s time to flush it why not do it. Replace the filter and pan and get clean fluid in it. If it dies after the flush it was just a matter of time before it went anyways. There is a reason they make recommendations for certain things. Why just go off the assumption that if it’s dirty and smells that the trans is cooked? Why not spend around $200 or so vs $2000 to get a rebuilt trans if it’s not really bad? Never understood that concept really.

[Locky]

Ok when I got home tonight I checked the fluid and it smelled fine and a tad dirty but still very transparent. I called 2 transmission shops today and one said do not do a flush, just a pan drop and filter with that many miles and the other place said I should definitely do a flush plus pan drop and filter lol.

[Crusadernoob]

I would find a quality place and flush it, no chemical additives. If it lets go it was going to anyway, if it holds up service it more often. FWIW, 210 isnt too hot. I drain and fill ours every year, along with ALL of the fluids.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by Locky

I have a little over 100000 miles on my 2013 Silverado. I'm debating on if I should have the transmission flushed or drop pan and replace filter and fluid or just leave it alone. Thanks in advance.

Shouldn't you be checking the servicing manual for the right periods for this kind of work. The transfer box should get a complete change of fluid at each major service. It should not need anything between them.

[Locky]

Originally Posted by Murbella7

Shouldn't you be checking the servicing manual for the right periods for this kind of work. The transfer box should get a complete change of fluid at each major service. It should not need anything between them.

What is your definition of “major service”?

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by Locky

What is your definition of “major service”?

Where I am in Australia and where I go for service, a Major Service is every 45,000km (about 28k miles) or so and one in which all oils and fluids are changed including diff, (brake fluid is checked but not changed unless necessary), new air, oil and fuel filters, greasing, tyre and brake checks, (some include tyre rotation for the lighter vehicles) belts checked/changed, tail shaft and universal joints checked and greased, transfer box checked (as well as the fluid change), general check of tub mounting bolts, suspension and any moving/connecting rods, parts and boots/seals, bearings repacked if required, batteries, other electrics, etc. In Australia a regular service costs around $300-$400. A major service costs $3k and up. Lots of oil is changed and that's not cheap here. Remember too that here a Silverado 2500HD costs about $140,000.

[spock123]

On my Silverado diesel I have flushed the transmission twice, the manual says for pulling a camper flush at 67,000 miles. Anyway I have did it twice and changed the outside filter twice. The filter inside the transmission has never been changed

[mopwr4me2003]

Originally Posted by Murbella7

Remember too that here a Silverado 2500HD costs about $140,000.

[emoji33][emoji90] that’s all I can say lol

Tim

[rmoore0852]

Originally Posted by spock123

On my Silverado diesel I have flushed the transmission twice, the manual says for pulling a camper flush at 67,000 miles. Anyway I have did it twice and changed the outside filter twice. The filter inside the transmission has never been changed

Careful with that. Allison service manuals specifically say NOT to use the standard flush machine that most quick lube places use. Without going and looking it up, its something about that machine not working right with the pressures that the Allison runs and starving either the pump or the torque converter, causing damage. That is why Allison provides a drain plug on the pan. The Allison schedule for severe service is external filter and fluid drain/refill every 25,000 miles. For normal service it is the same things, just at 50,000 miles. Filter in the pan is basically just a screen and is only changed at overhaul. Use a TES-295 fluid like Transynd.

[muddyrode]

First question is what motor and tranny do you have?
how does the fluid look and smell if it looks and smells good (not burnt)
i would leave it.
i have got a good friend that owns tranny shop and he considered to one of the best around, got his fame building automatics for pulling tractors
he has always told me , if it looks and smells good don't mess with it
got 216,500 on my 98 silverado half ton and i have never touched the tranny

[spock123]

The dealership flushed out my transmission fluid and changed the filter both times. This time coming up I’m going to let the shop that did the delete on the emissions flush out the transmission. They told me that I didn’t need to change the filter inside the transmission as it was only a screen. That’s all they do is work on engines and transmission and do deletes, mostly on Fords and Chevrolet. They don’t do a delete on Ram. I like to use synthetic fluid in everything, it’s all that’s ever been put in the engine

[Locky]

Here is a picture of what my tranny fluid looks like. The blob is about the size of a nickle.

[mopwr4me2003]

Originally Posted by Locky

Here is a picture of what my tranny fluid looks like. The blob is about the size of a nickle.

If you have the miles on it and you are towing and it has lost it’s red color like it appears, i think it is time for a flush. You are going to get the back and forth on this issue of do it, no don’t do it. If it was my vehicle it would be done.

Tim

[TitanMike]

I have the fluid in my tv's tranny exchanged every 50k. Just had this done yesterday. No pan drop, just a pint by pint exchange of old for new.
Cheap maintenance when comparing cost of service versus cost of replacing the tranny (often times when many miles from home)


Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by Locky

I have a little over 100000 miles on my 2013 Silverado. I'm debating on if I should have the transmission flushed or drop pan and replace filter and fluid or just leave it alone. Thanks in advance.

Both Chevrolet and Allison recommend changing the fluid every 50,000. I am attaching a link to a thread in the Duramaxforum specifically addressing how to do this.

You transmission came with Dexron VI fluid, which is no longer recommended by Allison. Allison recommends Transynd which was actually developed by a now retired Allison Fluids Engineer.

The link I am going to provide has a link to a VERY long thread by this man who recommends the Double Drain method of changing from Dex VI to Transynd.

If you have any questions after reading the threads go ahead and ask, but you will be able to read my opinion in the thread Im giving posted under my name there, "407driver".

Need advice for transmission service - Chevy and GMC Duramax Diesel Forum

[Locky]

I have the 5.3 motor.

[Johnfort]

I'm with bigmurph. I have my GM Tech flush and filter everything I've ever owned over the last 20 years at 50K. Never had a tranny failure.

[Johnfort]

I also have ALL fluids changed/flushed at 50K or 5 years, depending on the vehicle and use.

That includes differential, rear and front ends, power steering, brake fluid. The stuff (fluids) wears out from use AND time.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by DouglasReid

The link I am going to provide has a link to a VERY long thread by this man who recommends the Double Drain method of changing from Dex VI to Transynd.

Everyone has their own ideas but just draining and refilling, even multiple times, often does not get ALL the old fluid out as it's been mixed with the new.

The method that makes the most sense involves a "Fluid Exchange" machine that isolates the old fluid from the new while replacing exactly the same amount of new as was pumped out by the old.

One machine that does this and you can actually see the difference has a trade name of "Viper". Consists of a transparent cylinder with piston that separates the old/new fluid. Pressure from the old pushes the new out in exact amounts. Flushes out the converter and valve body as good as you can get without actually tearing down, rinsing parts, and reassembling.

A lot of quick lube shops use machines like this and as long as they use the proper fluid, not just regular Dexron that the y "dope" with an aftermarket additive to make if supposedly meet the Mfr's spec, they do a good job. Other than hooking the machine inline with a cooling line, the technician is just a long for the ride with the machine doing all the intelligent work.

BTW, the term "Flush" is used which is fine as long as you don't use any Chemicals , just the proper transmission fluid for your transmission All the magic additives are a formula for transmission failure.