Transmission fluid exchange...an anecdotal experience

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

NickTransmissions

Sin City
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2023
Posts
1,096
Reaction score
2,644
Location
The transmission bench
it would have been very interesting if you could have sent a sample of that old fluid off for testing.
The analysis will read/say something like "3-4 clutch pack is 90-95% wiped".

@abrasumente - the 4L60e is fabricated at the factory largely from TP with a bit of Brawny or Bounty thrown in on the late model units (GM listening to customer feedback, lol).

All kidding aside, check out the Supermatic 4L75e. Its a GM crate trans you can buy off the shelf that's rated to 650 hp/650 lbs torque and advertised as an alternative to the 4L80e.

The unit I'm putting together this coming week (in that pic above) will have a better, stronger Sonnax input drum, better 3-4 clutch pack, billet steel rotor and stronger output shaft than the '75E but otherwise will be very similar.
 

j91z28d1

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2022
Posts
3,129
Reaction score
3,868
@j91z28d1 I still have the first gallon I changed out actually. I'll get Blackstone to send me a kit. Good lookin out on that.

@NickTransmissions I'm looking for around 600 at the crank. I don't have the wallet to take it any further than that, especially with wanting it dead reliable. Again, I was under the impression that the 60e is fabricated from toilet paper and Double Bubble but if it can be built to withstand that amount of power, it would for sure save me a lot of headache and fab work.

@B-train I hooked a 5' length of 3/8 clear tubing to the top line coming out of the radiator after I cut it. Secured with a few worm clamps and ran the tube into a bucket. I had my wife operate the ignition and let the transmission pump til I started seeing bubbles in the clear tubing, I'd have her shut it off at that point and pour roughly the same amount of new fluid back into the dipstick tube. Each time it pumped out roughly four quarts before I started seeing air. I think I ran seven gallons through it before I started seeing the fluid change color. It was NASTAY.


interesting. I was picturing you cut the line and put a hose in one bucket and the other hose in the fresh bucket and let it suck the clean in.

there's a old tranny flush machine in the corner at at work. I read thru the manual once and that's how it works. goes inline and let's the tranny pump the old out and suck the new in.

I meant to use it.. but never got around to it and the 2 autos I have now all the fluid comes out with a pan drop. no converters. well I do have a 4l60 but I really need to sell that cause I don't have indoor place to store it.

I don't think anyone has ever actually used the thing on a piece of work equipment lol
 
OP
OP
abrasumente

abrasumente

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2023
Posts
51
Reaction score
96
interesting. I was picturing you cut the line and put a hose in one bucket and the other hose in the fresh bucket and let it suck the clean in.

there's a old tranny flush machine in the corner at at work. I read thru the manual once and that's how it works. goes inline and let's the tranny pump the old out and suck the new in.

I meant to use it.. but never got around to it and the 2 autos I have now all the fluid comes out with a pan drop. no converters. well I do have a 4l60 but I really need to sell that cause I don't have indoor place to store it.

I don't think anyone has ever actually used the thing on a piece of work equipment lol

@j91z28d1 That's not a bad idea either but I'd be busy having a heart attack worrying about pump cavitation. I was already trippin just touching the pan lol

@NickTransmissions good lookin out on that 75e. I'll pay that seven days a week for a quality unit if it means I don't have to monkey around with trying to adapt an 80e. Hopefully Blackstone doesn't tell me it's hanging on by a thread because it'll be a few months before I'll have the coin for all that.
 

Charlie207

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Posts
1,673
Reaction score
3,328
Location
LFOD, New Hampshire
Here's one example build (next week's project). The video(s) should be on my channel by end of next weekend)

Just subbed to your channel. (I used to love watching the AT teardowns on the Precision Transmission channel before they got a billion subs then went private $$$).

Do you do any work on the 6L80s?
 

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
11,942
Reaction score
24,325
Location
Elev 5,280

NickTransmissions

Sin City
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2023
Posts
1,096
Reaction score
2,644
Location
The transmission bench
Just subbed to your channel. (I used to love watching the AT teardowns on the Precision Transmission channel before they got a billion subs then went private $$$).

Do you do any work on the 6L80s?
Thank you, @Charlie207 !
Yep - getting ready to publish a 6L80E tear down and inspection video in about 30 minutes or so...going to start a separate thread w/the link and a whole bunch of 6L80e information, references etc...
 

Airman68

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2022
Posts
88
Reaction score
156
Location
Kaukauna, WI
I dont want to start an agument because people seem to be sensitive to brand/type but what kind of fluid did you flush/fill it with? I know there are a lot out there and I'm assuming Dextron VI? The fluid is super expensive these days.
 

OR VietVet

Multnomah Falls
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
20,798
Reaction score
36,846
Location
Willamette Valley
I dont want to start an agument because people seem to be sensitive to brand/type but what kind of fluid did you flush/fill it with? I know there are a lot out there and I'm assuming Dextron VI? The fluid is super expensive these days.
Dexron 6 is the way to go. It mixes with the old as well.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,420
Posts
1,867,770
Members
97,090
Latest member
daddyoh

Latest posts

Top