Transmission fluid flush/change at 160,000 miles

[steve45]

I NEVER change transmission fluid and would not be afraid of this vehicle. I've had a few transmission failures in my nearly 2 million miles of driving, and NOT A SINGLE ONE WAS DUE TO NOT CHANGING THE FLUID. Every failure was due to some sort of part breaking inside.

Replacing fluid that old with new is just asking for leaks and slippage. Don't do it and don't worry about it.

BTW, I generally buy my vehicles with 80-100K miles and sell them at 200-300K. Oh, I don't change spark plugs anymore, either!

 

[rv8pilot]

In 2015 I bought a 2001 Yukon XL with 231,000 miles, original engine and transmission. The trans shifted fine with no slippage noticeable. Along with all the other fluids except engine oil neither the trans fluid or the filter had ever been changed. The fluid was still fairly clean and had a tinge of red. I dropped the pan and found little crud in it and not much on the magnet. I changed the filter and flushed the fluid with approximately 3 gallons of inexpensive fluid. I drove on this for a few hundred miles and repeated the process with the correct synthetic fluid. I now have close to 250,000 miles on it including a cross-country trip and it continues to operate properly as does the engine.

 

[rico387]

I had a trans flush done on my high mile K1500 against advice. A month later, I was shopping for a new transmission. On a high mile trans, a “spill and fill” is best.

 

[NathanS]

I also do not recommend flushing a trans that’s never had a flush before. Just drain replace filter and refill is all that’s needed. I would not let this keep me from buying as long as it shifts fine now.

 

[Meccanoble]

I NEVER change transmission fluid and would not be afraid of this vehicle. I've had a few transmission failures in my nearly 2 million miles of driving, and NOT A SINGLE ONE WAS DUE TO NOT CHANGING THE FLUID. Every failure was due to some sort of part breaking inside.

Replacing fluid that old with new is just asking for leaks and slippage. Don't do it and don't worry about it.

BTW, I generally buy my vehicles with 80-100K miles and sell them at 200-300K. Oh, I don't change spark plugs anymore, either!

Your transmission failures are most likely related to not changing fluids. I'm sure you werent doing anything crazy when "the part breaks inside". The transmission just gave up after all the abuse. I find it hard to believe you can survive 200k miles without changing plugs or tranny fluid but definitely doable with 100k miles.

I do agree you risk revealing your issues by changing the fluids at high mileage.

 

[dnt1010]

I have been looking at my recently acquired 200k mile 2009 Tahoe 2ML70 4 spd trans for a couple of weeks. It currently seems to be shifting fine but I cannot determine from the service records that came with it if the trans fluid has ever been changed. I see a drain plug in the trans pan and I am thinking about just draining the pan and refilling with same amount of new fluid so I can get a good look at the fluid. I wonder how much will drain out when I pull the plug? If the fluid looks nasty I may pull the pan look for sludge and replace the filter.

 

[thompsoj22]

I have been looking at my recently acquired 200k mile 2009 Tahoe 2ML70 4 spd trans for a couple of weeks. It currently seems to be shifting fine but I cannot determine from the service records that came with it if the trans fluid has ever been changed. I see a drain plug in the trans pan and I am thinking about just draining the pan and refilling with same amount of new fluid so I can get a good look at the fluid. I wonder how much will drain out when I pull the plug? If the fluid looks nasty I may pull the pan look for sludge and replace the filter.

approx 3 to 4 qts will drain. just pull the dipstick and place it on a clean white paper towel to determine fluid color. the fact that it has a drain plug increases the odd's of at least drain and fill's have been performed. Careful poking the bear that is perfectly content and not making a fuss.

 

[dnt1010]

Good thinking. I will pull the dipstick and try the paper towel test. I have some Dexron VI that I used in the tranaxle to compare it to. Hopefully it will be comparable. Will get that done tomorrow after the kids open presents. I bought a Christmas present for the ** )on sale at my local TSC). Jeff Foxworthy would probably say "You Might Be a RedNeck if you run a Hook and Shackle Rear Hitch on Your **" Hahahahahaha

 

[thompsoj22]

Good thinking. I will pull the dipstick and try the paper towel test. I have some Dexron VI that I used in the tranaxle to compare it to. Hopefully it will be comparable. Will get that done tomorrow after the kids open presents. I bought a Christmas present for the ** )on sale at my local TSC). Jeff Foxworthy would probably say "You Might Be a RedNeck if you run a Hook and Shackle Rear Hitch on Your **" Hahahahahaha
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you have to determine if the stigma,ghost stories,fear tactic's and reality of doing a trans flush is worth the risk. as posted above, he flushed and had a great result which could also be your experience. IMO since the vehicle is new to you, just drive it and get to know it for say 10k miles and see if any issues come up. If the trans performs perfectly during that time than drop the pan and do a filter and partial fluid replacement, if that go's well for 10k miles than do a complete flush without removing the pan as you have a drain plug and the filter only having 10k miles will be good.

 

[Lancem]

Just did a flush on my new to me 2000 Suburban with 250K. Fluid was very dark but not burnt, no idea of the history. Since the flush several thousand miles of heavy towing and not a problem, I'm glad I did the flush and at the same time added an additional cooler.