Transmission

[aeserrato]

Good day:
I have a Silhouette 2001 and I have a few questions about transmission?

How often di I have to do the transmission service?

Do you recommend it?

If it true that the gasket can be reusable if it is not leaking?

How many quartes does the transmission need?

thanks in advance for your help

[MagicRat]

The transmission should be serviced about every two years if it's used as a daily driver. If you do any trailer towing, get a transmission cooler.

IMO regular trans servicing and using a cooler are the best way to avoid transmission trouble down the road.

A service consists of removing the fluid pan on the bottom, changing the filter and cleaning out the pan itself. Be sure to clean and reinstall the disk-shaped magnet to the inside of the pan. If no magnet is in place, get one. It's a helpful item, but for some reason, most mechanics simply throw these things away.

A new gasket is always required when the pan is removed.

Do not let a mechanic talk you into using one of those flushing machines that simply suck out the fluid from the dipstick tube. They are simply an easy money - maker for a mechanic, but do not do a great job.

If you change the filter yourself, be sure the old filter o-ring on the filter neck comes out with the old filter. If in doubt, look in the hole in the transmission and make sure it is not there.

I would suggest after the fluid change, add 4 quarts of fluid them start the car and check the level with the engine running in Park. Add fluid until it is at the proper level.

[merc81]

"
A new gasket is always required when the pan is removed.
"

In this case, that is not so. The gasket is great guns expensive for this thing and, at least for the 4t60e tranny, the manual tells you to just clean and reuse the old gasket. The gasket will not come in the box with the new filter, or if it does, it won't fit. If your gasket will not come off cleanly -never had one that didn't- you will be spending about $60 for a new gasket.

I do mine every fall and the gasket is in great condition. Its made to be reused.

[greenway1964]

Transmission shifts hard in all gears sometimes. What causes this