1987-1991 Parley with regards to your 1987 to 1991 Bonneville, Olds 88 or Buick Le Sabre Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

tranny fluid change

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-07-2003, 01:52 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
 
grey3800's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
grey3800 is on a distinguished road
Default tranny fluid change

i changed my tranny fluid and filter today, MAN did it need it after looking at what came out. the last time i changed it was 1-29-2000 (i engraved the date on the pan) and im guessing thats about 27ish thousand miles ago. I decided to do it cuz my shifts were getting feeling "hard" and i felt they were unhealthy. Well now that ive test drove it, i think it shifts even firmer. i used Valvoline ATF if that makes a difference.

Anyone care to comment?

thanks

Patrick
Old 09-10-2003, 01:33 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
Ol' Timer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Ol' Timer is on a distinguished road
Default Re: tranny fluid change

Originally Posted by greyfaux89LE
i used Valvoline ATF if that makes a difference.

Anyone care to comment?
Yes! Specifically, which Valvoline transmission oil product did you use. They have one called ATF+3 which should only be used in some Chrysler Products and NOT in your Bonnevile. The ONLY transmission fluid you should use is DEXRON III. Valvoline also has DEXRON III for higher milage cars, which, in your case with 223,000 miles it couldn't hurt. Is this the original trans? With this much mileage I don't think too much you could do, short of rebuilding it, will cure it'* hard shifting ways. But there are products out there that swear(@#$%!) they will fix all your xmission woes like Lucas Transmission Fix. You could also try going somewhere and spending about $80 on a complete Transmission Flush where they replace ALL the transmission fluid and not just appoximately a third of it when you dropped the pan and filter.
Old 09-10-2003, 09:51 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
willwren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

You did it by dropping the pan? If that'* the way you did it, you only got about a third of the fluid. To replace it all, you need to do a flush.
Old 09-10-2003, 11:36 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
 
grey3800's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
grey3800 is on a distinguished road
Default

No worries, i checked the bottles in the recyling bin, they were Valvoline Dextron III. it wasnt the high mileage stuff or any th9ing liek that. Since ive done it, ive noticed that the overall performance of my bonny is great, i am pleased. Yes this is the orig tranny and engine, niether has been rebuilt or worked on by me or a shop for repairs.

I did change it via dropping the pan and i think i got more than a third of the fluid out. The manual says its capacity after rebuild is around 10 quarts. I put in seven to fill it up to the proper level (measureing of course under the correct conditions, engine running, flat surface, etc.).
Old 09-11-2003, 06:57 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
Ol' Timer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Ol' Timer is on a distinguished road
Default

Sounds like you did an excellent job in changing your xmission oil. According to my manual(91 Olds 4T60 Trans) it calls for 6 Quarts with the filter so maybe you coaxed a little extra out of yours. The manual says 11 Quarts after an Overhaul. I was under the impression that it held more than 11 Quarts. Maybe that does not include what'* already in the xmission cooler and the lines leading to it? Anyway, you might want to consider changing the xmission oil one more time next year to get more of the good stuff floating around your system.
Old 09-13-2003, 04:50 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
KEOTOK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Philly
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
KEOTOK is on a distinguished road
Default

Here'* a good one. I've owned my 90 SSE since new (248000 mi) and have NEVER changed the trans fluid. A Trans guy told me at about 110000mi to never change it because it will loosen up crap in the lines and cause a stroke. So far so good.


Borrowed time!
Old 09-14-2003, 05:42 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
MOS95B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MOS95B is on a distinguished road
Default

I did mine not too long ago as well. That'* gotta be the messiest maintenance job I have ever done in my life! And the pan magnet is a bear to get clean!
Old 09-14-2003, 11:28 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Expert Gearhead
 
Jim W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 20,893
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Jim W is on a distinguished road
Default

Its a good rule of thumb to change it every 80 000 km or 50K miles, but always a good idea to keep an eye on the fluid levels and make sure its red
Old 09-15-2003, 08:47 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
Ol' Timer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Ol' Timer is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by KEOTOK
Here'* a good one. I've owned my 90 SSE since new (248000 mi) and have NEVER changed the trans fluid. A Trans guy told me at about 110000mi to never change it because it will loosen up crap in the lines and cause a stroke. So far so good.


Borrowed time!
It'* guys like you that make my transmission just Shudder!!!
Stay the course and don't change a thing(transmission oil that is)
Old 09-15-2003, 09:36 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Expert Gearhead
 
Jim W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 20,893
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Jim W is on a distinguished road
Default

I agree...sheez, borrowed time is right, I hate to be there when that tranny takes a crap on the road somewhere :?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jack
1992-1999
16
09-27-2005 04:59 PM
John Deere Boy
General GM Chat
41
07-16-2005 11:22 PM
CmptrNerd
1992-1999
22
12-01-2004 02:18 PM
BluBonne
1992-1999
15
08-11-2004 01:28 AM
glanghus
1992-1999
7
04-26-2004 09:01 PM



Quick Reply: tranny fluid change



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:25 AM.