Tranny oil/filter change

[97GreenGTP]

I have a 97 GTP with 121,000 miles which i have owned since 60,000 miles. I havent ever got the tranny oil/filter changed(hope i would have visited this site as soon as i bought the car)
My BIG question is:
Should i get the oil change done now.Its a big gamble.My tranny runs fine.If it fails after oil change,the oil change may cost me more than the worth of the car.If i dont get the oil changed, the tranny may last another yr or so and then fail.At that point the car will be one yr older and may be alright to ditch it.
Please advice.I will appreciate a response from anyone who has done the oil/filter CHANGE at such high miles

[richtazz]

Check the condition of your fluid. If it still has a reddish/pinkish color to it, you're fine to do your filter change. If the fluid is dark brown with an acrid/pungent smell to it, it's too late and the risks outweigh the possible benefits. It all boils down to how burnt the existing fluid is. Also, as I've stated before, under no circumstances do a fluid exchange, or your trans will be toast at this point, regardless of the current fluid's condition. Only change the filter and the fluid that comes out when you drop the pan.

[troy1]

A trans fuild change or flush done buy a professional shop will not hurt anything. pulling pan changes nothing inside but the fuild and filter. Flushes are the same way they do not hurt the car some people say they do but your fuild pumps around now, during the fush and afterwards it does not go into any imagineary new directions nor does it losen up depoits becuase you already have. The transmission fuild is flowing to all those parts and areas the deposits form. Just dont let them put any additives in the fuild after or during the flush and you will be fine


Also a professional shop is not Jiffy lube or anything like it OK!!

[GTP Dad]

I disagree with troy1. If you have 120K miles on the transmission DO NOT FLUSH it unless you plan on replacing it in the near future. Flushing a high mileage transmission is just asking for trouble. Change fluid and filter only!

[ericvrose]

And I agree with GTP Dad. Except it doesnt have to be even close to 120k. I had 56k on mine when the dealer flushed it and a month later they were replacing it at their expense. And then they said it's a good thing I had it flushed earlier because the warranty may not have covered the replacement if I did'nt have "proper maintenance" done. I told them flat out their proper maintenance is why I need a new tranny.

[maxwedge]

Good advice GTP Dad, right along the lines of a GM powertrain engineers recommendation.

[regalfriend]

like Rich said the color of the existing fluid will tell you how bad the fluid is...Pink is good...brown, or dark brown is bad...At this milage a flush would be a bad idea....just remove the filter and some of the fluid...whatever comes out in the filter change and reseal pan.120,000 on a stock tranny is pretty good...your car has the 4t65e-HD...a very expensive tranny......also be careful what shop you use...when you go for a $50 tranny service they may see you as a potential future customer for a rebuild and may help your tranny fail a little faster....

[troy1]

why is everyone so scared of flushes whats the differnece???? they both are doing the same thing putting new fuild in. Maybe they use shit fuild or putting those stupid chemicals in. Do not believe a flush will kill your car done to many never have comebacks. I dont use a "power flusher" or chemicals but do a filter change with it.

[jessep28]

I don't think its so much the whole concept of the flush. It's just that the machine that flushes the transmission fluid at most places usually has been hooked up to other cars. Most people who flush thier transmission do it when a problem arises and they want a quick fix. All that junk that was in their transmission is now being circulated through your transmission.

MANY have reported failure and need for a rebuild only weeks after a flush.

I guess they couldn't hurt if the flushing agent is new, you know who is doing it, etc. However, most places that do it are like Jiffy Lube and have poorly trained personell, bad equipment etc etc..

Better to be safe than sorry.

[troy1]

I could definitely see contaminates from other cars messing stuff up. I agree with the quick fix people that think new fuild is gonna help yea right!!!! I simply pull the pan change the filter fill it up to recommend level and tap into the return cooling at the trans or rad. start the car and let the transmission pump the old out as I add the new. I would like to see a GM powertrain engineers recommendation! after all they invented DEXCOOL

[97GreenGTP]

Hey Troy,
After listening to views of experts like BigL,Bnaylor, richtazz, I am not even doin what GM engineers recommend. I would like to go by the real life experience of some grandprix experts.

[troy1]

So what am I just a dumb certified transmission rebuilder I guess.