Transmission change
dhspring
07-20-2004, 02:08 PM
Anyone having trouble taking the drain bolt out of the tranny on a 5.3 liter to service the tranny? I destroyed the tiny nut that Chevy installs there and never did get it out, so I took it to the dealer, they said the factory puts 120-130 lb.-ft. of torque on the nut, presumably I'd guess from preventing the owner from changing his own fluid on Sunday in the driveway. At any rate, I got it changed, with a pan drop and filter change only.
Second question is: is a total tranny flush or a pan drop and filter change adequate to keep it performing at it's best? My dealer said a total flush removes all the fluid but they don't drop the pan and change the filter or clean the pan and magnet. But when you drop the pan only, you don't get all the fluid out but you do change the filter (screen) and clean the pan out. Seems like 2 trains of thought each having some merit. Who's an expert on this that can share and opinion, thanks!
Second question is: is a total tranny flush or a pan drop and filter change adequate to keep it performing at it's best? My dealer said a total flush removes all the fluid but they don't drop the pan and change the filter or clean the pan and magnet. But when you drop the pan only, you don't get all the fluid out but you do change the filter (screen) and clean the pan out. Seems like 2 trains of thought each having some merit. Who's an expert on this that can share and opinion, thanks!
Vortec327
07-20-2004, 02:33 PM
When you go to a shop, a typical "tranny service" would be the pan drop and filter change. You would have to specifically ask for a tranny flush to get one and does cost you more but that should include a pan drop and filter change as well.
A flush gets all the fluid out that would stay in the torque converter and cooler lines when doing a pan drop.
A flush gets all the fluid out that would stay in the torque converter and cooler lines when doing a pan drop.
pbergmann
07-20-2004, 04:17 PM
Heres what I have been doing for the last 3 trucks I have had. Take off the lower trans cooler line, slip a 1-2 ft piece of rubber trans cooler line (from any auto store, dont use vac hose) take a 5 gal open pail or suitable container, some how make a mark on the container for 1,2,and 3 gallon.
Run hose into the pail. start up the engine and turn it off at 1 gal, add 4 qts repeat until you flush through 1 case of oil. Its simple, clean and if you do it once a year you will clear out most of the stuff. Its exactly what they call a trans flush except you get to keep the 60 bucks!
I know it sounds too simple but it works! I have it down to 20 minutes!
PS I stripped my pan plug on my 2002 1500 also! they lock tight it in at the factory.
Run hose into the pail. start up the engine and turn it off at 1 gal, add 4 qts repeat until you flush through 1 case of oil. Its simple, clean and if you do it once a year you will clear out most of the stuff. Its exactly what they call a trans flush except you get to keep the 60 bucks!
I know it sounds too simple but it works! I have it down to 20 minutes!
PS I stripped my pan plug on my 2002 1500 also! they lock tight it in at the factory.
mrcutssupreme
07-20-2004, 07:09 PM
Heres what I have been doing for the last 3 trucks I have had. Take off the lower trans cooler line, slip a 1-2 ft piece of rubber trans cooler line (from any auto store, dont use vac hose) take a 5 gal open pail or suitable container, some how make a mark on the container for 1,2,and 3 gallon.
Run hose into the pail. start up the engine and turn it off at 1 gal, add 4 qts repeat until you flush through 1 case of oil. Its simple, clean and if you do it once a year you will clear out most of the stuff. Its exactly what they call a trans flush except you get to keep the 60 bucks!
I know it sounds too simple but it works! I have it down to 20 minutes!
PS I stripped my pan plug on my 2002 1500 also! they lock tight it in at the factory.
That sounds like an excellent idea and a lot easier that messing with dropping the pan. I further learned that a so called "filter" for the tranny is really nothing more than a screen that prevents large particles from entering the internal areas of the tranny.
On the drain plug, the mechanic at Chevy told me one trade secret, the plug appears to be 15 mm in size, but I gathered that there is a special socket they have that fits tighter, is a special sized nut requiring a special socket, and thus no stripping occurs, and along with locktite, they probably use an impact wrench. The things the manufacturer does to get you in the shop!
Thanks for the tip, I'll try that next time and with all my other cars.
Run hose into the pail. start up the engine and turn it off at 1 gal, add 4 qts repeat until you flush through 1 case of oil. Its simple, clean and if you do it once a year you will clear out most of the stuff. Its exactly what they call a trans flush except you get to keep the 60 bucks!
I know it sounds too simple but it works! I have it down to 20 minutes!
PS I stripped my pan plug on my 2002 1500 also! they lock tight it in at the factory.
That sounds like an excellent idea and a lot easier that messing with dropping the pan. I further learned that a so called "filter" for the tranny is really nothing more than a screen that prevents large particles from entering the internal areas of the tranny.
On the drain plug, the mechanic at Chevy told me one trade secret, the plug appears to be 15 mm in size, but I gathered that there is a special socket they have that fits tighter, is a special sized nut requiring a special socket, and thus no stripping occurs, and along with locktite, they probably use an impact wrench. The things the manufacturer does to get you in the shop!
Thanks for the tip, I'll try that next time and with all my other cars.
desertmike1
07-22-2004, 05:22 PM
You also have a drain plug at the torque converter!!!
Mike
Mike
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