Thoughts on changing tranny fluid - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

apstguy · 08-28-2003, 08:36 PM

Has everyone seen this thread? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=65821

What are your thoughts on it as I have heard the same, but am going to change mine this weekend anyways.

What's your thoughts and stories?

**old Rusty C10** · 08-28-2003, 09:09 PM

i already said my piece in the other thread watch out changing it if your fluid isnt cherry red and burnt

**swervin ervin** · 08-28-2003, 10:10 PM

My opinion, for what it's worth, this is a bunch of crap. Change it and forget about it. If it quits, it's because it was ready to quit anyway. Changing the fluid and filter won't make it quit, I don't care what anyone says.

apstguy · 08-29-2003, 12:14 AM

Good. That is the answer I wanted to hear.

Slonaker · 08-29-2003, 01:38 PM

I have had a transmission go out a day or two after I changed my fluid. The shop said that accumulated crud was the only thing keeping an internal seal together. The fresh fluid cleaned it out and it blew reverse.

I will agree with Swervin to the point of saying that the transmission was going to go out anyway. I still regret doing it, though, because I sped the process up. It happened a few days before Christmas, and that was when I could least afford to have it go out.

In general, if something is going to break, I want it to go ahead and happen so I can take care of it. However, some times are better than others. I would say don't change it the day before you take it on a long trip. Why take the chance?

I will only change the fluid now if I know it has been done regularly or if I am prepared to get it fixed if it blows.

Slonaker

RockHQ · 08-29-2003, 10:39 PM

From the point of view of changing the ATF to have the transmission go out immediately afterwards, why even bother wasting the ATF and time when you could just drive the truck to a shop to have the transmission rebuilt? 168000 is a lot but does not necessarily mean it's shot.

aesj2 · 08-29-2003, 11:00 PM

First let me say that the best way to change the trans fluid is to have a trans shop pressure exchange the fluid. Next, auto trannies work on high fluid pressures. Fresh fluid would not harm a properly working trans. What happens with some fluid changes is the old fluid had some type of modifer, like transmedic or stop leak, and with the band-aids removed the trans starts to act funny. The high pressure of the fluid now will blow past seals and cause valve body problems. So. if your trans is questionable, just add the modifers back in.

RockHQ · 08-29-2003, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aesj2
... if your trans is questionable, just add the modifers back in.

No, if your trans is questionable, rebuild it and be done with it.
Having an auto tranny rebuilt is always money well spent IMO.

C-10volvo · 08-30-2003, 05:35 PM

about a month ago i went to a local tranny shop to have my atf flushed because it has never been done before. my truck has 53000 miles and i thought it was time to do so. I agree with mike, if it is going out, new atf and filter wont make it new.

87 STEPPER · 08-30-2003, 06:24 PM

Years ago i had a '79 El-camino i got off a buddy and it had a dead 305 in it i replaced it with a 350 at the time of the eng. change i went ahead and did a trany filter & fluid cng.

Drove the truck for the next 5 days and then the trany started to slip than it wouldn't auto shift any more manual shift was good in all 3 gears & reverse for a few day's and then it just wouldn't do $h!t.

This was a weak @$$ mexican metric piece of crap the worst auto trany chevy ever produced.

Any ways was it a coincidence after the fliud cng. or was it the extra HP of the new 350 or a combo of both i don't really know.

But my buddy told me that the fluid had never been changed and the truck was bought new by his father and it had over 100k on it but before the eng. & fliud cng. this trany showed no ill affect's.

But im another firm beliver in that if it's gonna go then it's gonna go so i say do it

What ever happen's is gonna happen anyway's.

remy · 08-30-2003, 11:43 PM

whatever was gonna happen happened... changed my filter and fluid today and it died... was a 700r4 behind a decent 350 that was rebuilt last year and tuned up two months ago... don't know if the tranny was the original or not... it started acting -odd- a few days ago and started to sound abrasive today... found a few small metal shavings in the pan and a lot of friction material... and i don't know of any REPUTABLE shops around here so i figure i will try to get a new one from one of the companies recommended by you guys...

so, my engine is a 350 pushing close to 400 hp, edelbrock performer intake and 750 q'jet... previous owner put in a beefier cam but i don't know the specs... 83 4x4 used to be a 305(8yrs ago)

any suggestions, guys? please?!

much appreciated...
remy

C-10volvo · 08-31-2003, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by remy

whatever was gonna happen happened... changed my filter and fluid today and it died... was a 700r4 behind a decent 350 that was rebuilt last year and tuned up two months ago... don't know if the tranny was the original or not... it started acting -odd- a few days ago and started to sound abrasive today... found a few small metal shavings in the pan and a lot of friction material... and i don't know of any REPUTABLE shops around here so i figure i will try to get a new one from one of the companies recommended by you guys...

so, my engine is a 350 pushing close to 400 hp, edelbrock performer intake and 750 q'jet... previous owner put in a beefier cam but i don't know the specs... 83 4x4 used to be a 305(8yrs ago)

any suggestions, guys? please?!

much appreciated...
remy

Personally i would go with the th400. if your running low on funds then go get one from the junkyard and have it rebuilt.

08-28-2003, 08:36 PM	#1
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	Thoughts on changing tranny fluid Has everyone seen this thread? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=65821 What are your thoughts on it as I have heard the same, but am going to change mine this weekend anyways. What's your thoughts and stories? __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

08-28-2003, 09:09 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	i already said my piece in the other thread watch out changing it if your fluid isnt cherry red and burnt __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

08-28-2003, 10:10 PM	#3
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	My opinion, for what it's worth, this is a bunch of crap. Change it and forget about it. If it quits, it's because it was ready to quit anyway. Changing the fluid and filter won't make it quit, I don't care what anyone says. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

08-29-2003, 12:14 AM	#4
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	Good. That is the answer I wanted to hear. __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

08-29-2003, 01:38 PM	#5
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	I have had a transmission go out a day or two after I changed my fluid. The shop said that accumulated crud was the only thing keeping an internal seal together. The fresh fluid cleaned it out and it blew reverse. I will agree with Swervin to the point of saying that the transmission was going to go out anyway. I still regret doing it, though, because I sped the process up. It happened a few days before Christmas, and that was when I could least afford to have it go out. In general, if something is going to break, I want it to go ahead and happen so I can take care of it. However, some times are better than others. I would say don't change it the day before you take it on a long trip. Why take the chance? I will only change the fluid now if I know it has been done regularly or if I am prepared to get it fixed if it blows. Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado Last edited by Slonaker; 08-29-2003 at 03:34 PM.

08-29-2003, 10:39 PM	#6
RockHQ ROCKET POWER! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Finland, Europe Posts: 509	From the point of view of changing the ATF to have the transmission go out immediately afterwards, why even bother wasting the ATF and time when you could just drive the truck to a shop to have the transmission rebuilt? 168000 is a lot but does not necessarily mean it's shot. __________________ What did i do last nite? I had a wonderful time, That's what they tell me What did i do last nite? 1979 C-10 shortfleet: Olds 350, Th400, 12 bolt Current project: 1969 Olds 455 W-30, needing a rebuild

08-29-2003, 11:00 PM	#7
aesj2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ferndale, Michigan, USA Posts: 94	First let me say that the best way to change the trans fluid is to have a trans shop pressure exchange the fluid. Next, auto trannies work on high fluid pressures. Fresh fluid would not harm a properly working trans. What happens with some fluid changes is the old fluid had some type of modifer, like transmedic or stop leak, and with the band-aids removed the trans starts to act funny. The high pressure of the fluid now will blow past seals and cause valve body problems. So. if your trans is questionable, just add the modifers back in.

08-30-2003, 05:35 PM	#9
C-10volvo Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 1,028	about a month ago i went to a local tranny shop to have my atf flushed because it has never been done before. my truck has 53000 miles and i thought it was time to do so. I agree with mike, if it is going out, new atf and filter wont make it new. __________________ Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3

08-30-2003, 06:24 PM	#10
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Years ago i had a '79 El-camino i got off a buddy and it had a dead 305 in it i replaced it with a 350 at the time of the eng. change i went ahead and did a trany filter & fluid cng. Drove the truck for the next 5 days and then the trany started to slip than it wouldn't auto shift any more manual shift was good in all 3 gears & reverse for a few day's and then it just wouldn't do $h!t. This was a weak @$$ mexican metric piece of crap the worst auto trany chevy ever produced. Any ways was it a coincidence after the fliud cng. or was it the extra HP of the new 350 or a combo of both i don't really know. But my buddy told me that the fluid had never been changed and the truck was bought new by his father and it had over 100k on it but before the eng. & fliud cng. this trany showed no ill affect's. But im another firm beliver in that if it's gonna go then it's gonna go so i say do it What ever happen's is gonna happen anyway's. __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

08-30-2003, 11:43 PM	#11
remy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: RT 40!!! maryland Posts: 35	hello all... whatever was gonna happen happened... changed my filter and fluid today and it died... was a 700r4 behind a decent 350 that was rebuilt last year and tuned up two months ago... don't know if the tranny was the original or not... it started acting -odd- a few days ago and started to sound abrasive today... found a few small metal shavings in the pan and a lot of friction material... and i don't know of any REPUTABLE shops around here so i figure i will try to get a new one from one of the companies recommended by you guys... so, my engine is a 350 pushing close to 400 hp, edelbrock performer intake and 750 q'jet... previous owner put in a beefier cam but i don't know the specs... 83 4x4 used to be a 305(8yrs ago) any suggestions, guys? please?! much appreciated... remy __________________ 83 k10 350 w/edelbrock 1904 Q-jet th400 4wd have a nice day...



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