Tranny Service

[autoxr]

Well I did it!

I decided to drain the pan and do some preventative maintenance. I was a little disappointed, the drain hole is really not a true drain hole. It is recessed into the pan for ground protection (my guess); therefore, not all the trans fluid comes out.

To top it off, the drain plug doesn't have a magnet on it either. Heck, GM gives us one in the oil pan but not for the tranny.

Here in lies the trouble. Well, somewhere I read that when the tranny pan is drained, it takes5 quarts. I drained the tranny pan (what I could) and added 5 quarts. I didn't pay attention when it was draining (there in lies another opps) as I was changing the interior air filters (these were dirty!) and other tasks.

What I have now is a tranny overfilled. Is this a problem? I cannot fathom it foaming since it is cold outside , plus I am not towing anything nor pushing the AV. I will drain it and refill but can anyone help....
1) How much fluid do I need for a pan drain?
2) Anyone know where I can get a magnetic tranny drain plug (NAPA P/N or ??)

I would like to wait until the weekend but I do not want to destroy the tranny. I am thinking it will only come out the vent.

Thanks!!

 

[avz66]

2) Anyone know where I can get a magnetic tranny drain plug (NAPA P/N or ??)

[/quote]

Try www.superplug.com and see if they make one for the tranny
I got a magnetic oil plug for my 2000 Silverado

 

[colek]

The good book says 5qts for a pan removal. It doesn't list just a pan drain & fill. The total transmission holds 11.2qts. For a discussion on total transmission service (which I highly recommend) click here Transmission Service

I would remove any excess fluid from the system ASAP.

 

[WS6Y2K]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought the drain plug was to drain the oil from the pan so you would not get oil all over the place when you removed the pan from the tranny. The last couple of GM trannies that I have drain had a magnet inside the pan that kept all the metal shavings. I think if you drain the pan, replace the filter, and clean the magnet it will help a whole lot more than just draining the oil and putting new oil. It is not hard to do this just takes a little time and patience. The hardest part is removing the oil filter. There is a O ring at the top so you have to pull it hard and might have to get some needle nose pillers to remove the metal shim.

Not sure how many miles you have but the book recommends service at 50K miles. I like to do mine at about 40K miles. I am still under 36K miles but getting close real quick.

Good Luck,

 

[farmguy]

A very good mechanic recommended to me that you should drop the pan and change the filter at 30K to get rid of any metal shavings accumulated in the break-in period. After that he says the best method is the reverse flush available at many oil change places. This gives you a 100% fluid replacement and cleans the filter by backflushing.

 

[autoxr]

I ended up draining two (2) liters out. It is right in the middle of the dipstick marking when cold.

I will probably end up dropping the pan at 25K. Power flushing I have mixed feelings as I understand that one machine is used for multiple vehicles, how does one know that there is not a different type of tranny fluid, say for a Honda or Ford, still in the machine?

If anything, I may flush myself at the cooler connection and let the tranny pump change the fluid. This will take two (2) people in my thinking, one to add and one to make sure everything is AOK.

Thanks for your responses!