2002 TB maintenance at Jiffylube

[jmay6]

Jiffylube would not give me transmission service because they said they don't have a fitting, no one would have it, and that I would have to go to the dealer.

Does this sound logical?

Is this a Chevy trick?

Am I fortunate Jiffylube was up front about this?

jmay6

[wwalbright]

For starters, the tranny is the same 4L60E the General has been using for years in most of its light trucks, and if a transmission can be considered a "standard size" this should be the one. I probably would not return to this Jiffy Joint, myself.

The manual calls for a fluid and filter change at 50k miles (severe duty). I did mine myself (you have to pull the pan to replace the filter) with basic hand tools. As long as you follow a proper service interval--and replace the filter, since the flush you were offered probably didn't include a filter replacement--your tranny will probably outlast the engine because the load the I-6 puts on it is not as much as the small block V8's they stick them behind. Keep in mind that a flush--especially from a quick change joint--still doesn't replace all the fluid, the main reasons quick lubes push the flush is because their grease monkeys can't screw as much up.

Tips: If you do it yourself, get yourself a pan with a drain to put back on (I bought an increased capacity B&M). Also, the service manual says you should remove the shift linkage, but I was able to remove (stock pan) and install (oversized (thick) pan) without the extra steps. I am a nut for vehicle maintenance, with a drain I can change the fluid every 25k miles (lots of people recommend AT services at 30k miles), and the fluid/filter at the recommended severe duty 50k mile intervals. Also, when I did my own service, I filled it with full synthetic and the shifts actually feel more crisp (of course it also holds an additional 3qts. and the new pan aids in cooling the fluid).