tranny fluid

[J-Dizzle]

im wanting to change my atf but i dont know what i want to go with anyone have any suggestions on their preference with their experiances? and also how much do i need as i have only had this car for 4 months now thanks in advance

[Fredless]

Five quarts.

I use the Wal-Mart Supertech Dexron III/Mercon and have been on both of my camaros the past two years of changes for both of them. Also on my exes grand prix.

Go to your auto parts store and tell them you need a tranny filter and pan gasket..and you have the shallow pan (unless you changed it).

Its a bit of a mess the first time you do it, and that ring that holds the tranny filter is a ***** to get out. I always have to be extremely careful in finding some way to pry it out without damaging the transmission itself. When you pull down on the filter, and it slides out, you'll see what I mean. Reference yourself with the new retaining ring that comes in the kit so you know what to pull on.

I change mine around 10-15k because I have stall converters in both camaros. No problems yet with the cheap stuff. For the record, I did waste my money on the royal purple stuff for one change, didn't notice a damn thing in performance. Waste of 35-40 dollars if you ask me. But thats just my opinion. Buy cheap change often is the way I go, and I've got 99k on my 4l60e now and around 50k on my 700-R4 using the Supertech fluid, no adverse affects, many trips the the track.

Good luck.

[HBHRacing]

If you have an auto seriosly look into a trans flush. It's well worth the time

[Fredless]

Originally posted by HBHRacing:
If you have an auto seriosly look into a trans flush. It's well worth the time

I've never done this, but the idea behind it is logical. IMO, not worth 60-80 dollars.

[therock]

get some trick shift from b;m

[HBHRacing]

well, think about it like this.


Would you spend 5 bucks and only change 2 quarts of oil in your motor? No, you would spend 20 and change all 4.5. Same Idea. Should you spend 30 and just change 4 quarts or spend 60-80 and change ALL 10-13 quarts. Yes there is THAT much left over fluid in the tranny when you just drop the pan. you only get about 1/3 of the fluid when you drop the pan. And a flush will clean the filter at the same time. Not to mention that it's spill free and takes a lot less time


EDIT: also. This is not just my personal opinion. This is also my professional suggestion as a expirenced auto tech

[Fredless]

I'd agree with doing that once a year depending on uses and mileage.

I agree with what you're saying, however spending that much money every 10-15k is unfeasable in my eyes.

I know in the manual, it says something like 8-9 quarts(if i recall correctly) if you do a complete overhaul of the tranny...so flushing is a good idea, but like I said, every 10-15k, i disagree.

[HBHRacing]

I would recomend every 30K miles. So even if you drive 10K a year thats every 3 years. I think somone can swing that with no problem. It's not a matter of cost, it's a matter of need. Just like when people don't change their oil the motor blows. When people don't change there rear end fluid, there rear whines and goes bad. Same difference. I personaly don't know why more people don't do this. When you factor the time, expensnce of filter, fluid and gasket, and mess involved in droping the pan to do an incompleate job it just doesn't add up.

Another way to think about it. if you just drop the pan and change 4 quarts how long untill the fluid mixes and it's just as bad as it was when you started? a week? a month? So really you would need to drop the pan 5 or 6 times to get it anywhere near clean. and how cost effective is that?


Do a test. When your ready to change your oil next time. Drian 2 quarts out and change the filter and add 2 new quarts. Drive it for a week and look at the oil. See that it looks just the same as when you started. Now drian 2 more quarts and drive it again. By the time you get clean oil you have chaged WELL over 5 quarts.


If you think about it these ways it just doesnt make sence to not do it.

[GhostRunner]

I'm of the same opinion as HBH.

And at my shop you can get a trans service which includes a flush of 30 quarts of ATF, plus a cleaner, conditioner, and a filter/pan gasket swap for pretty damned cheap compared to every other shop in the area.

I recomend flushes every 30k, and filters every 60k.

Flush, flush/filter, flush, flush/filter.

I do a lot of work for fleets, one of the companies I do have been with us since they started, I've done every oil change, transmission service, diff/t-case service, brake job and other preventative maintenance on their trucks and cars. They've never had a single problem following the 30k/60k schedule. A couple of their trucks have over 200k miles on them now, and the transmissions work just about as well as they did when they were new.

[HBHRacing]

anyone in the repair industry would agree. It just makes sence. I did it to my GF's car at 30K and will do it again at 60K etc etc etc. It's well worth it. If my car was an auto I would do it to mine as well.

[chas]

if you going to drop the pan to change the fluid, change the filter as well. the recommended service interval is 30k or 2 years. this is pretty reasonable.

[My3birds]

to do a complete tranny flush, is it possible to do it yourself, or do you need to take it to an oil change place and have somebody do it for you?
Thanks,
Ron

[HBHRacing]

you need a flush mechine. You can not do it yourself.

[J-Dizzle]

ok thanks for all the input, now i just gotta find a place around here that does it for a reasonable price and does a good job....HBH i think ill be talking to ya more [img]smile.gif[/img] thanks for everything !

[HBHRacing]

Anytime..


If you find a smaller shop with a mechine that doesn't sell many of them you might be able to work them down a little bit in price..