replaced trans fluid and filter

[barkingspider]

Vehicle: 06 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD
Miles: 75,500 approx.
Old: factory fill Dex VI
New: Supertech Dex VI $4.79 qt
Trans filter: Wix $14
Gasket: Felpro $5

The manual says replace transmission fluid at 100K miles normal or 50K miles severe, I decided to do it at the mid point of 75K. FYI, I don't tow or do any extreme driving. Just normal use.
Dropping the pan was a bit of a pain and I made a little bit of a mess but not too bad. The factory fill was a little brown but no burned smell. There waere some shavings on the magnet but I think it looked normal.

The Wix filter was almost the same as the Delco, but the Wix had a metal bottom. I went with the Wix because the dealer wanted $56 for Delco filter. I also looked at the Purolator but it was shaped nothing like the Delco, it was probably the wrong part number.
DELCO


WIX



I did not like the gasket that came with the Wix filter so I bought a Felpro, its just better quality I think. The Wix gasket is the one that is snaked.


I drained the oil that was in the pan, then I disconnected one of the transmission lines at the transmission cooler, turned the car on and pump out the old fluid while filling with new fluid through the dip stick tube. I did this until the fluid being pump out was bright red (new fluid). It was about 11-12 qts. I made sure the fluid level was good and cleaned up the mess. The car runs the same as before the fluid change...normal

 

[demarpaint]

It looks fine to me.

 

[Dufus2]

Wix makes a good filter for most applications. I avoid the cheap transmission filters from places like Autozone because you do not know how they hold up for 50K and beyond.

 

[RF Overlord]

You did the right thing. Your transmission thanks you.

 

[tommygunn]

You should've picked up an aftermarket transmission pain that has a drain plug!

 

[barkingspider]

tommy, I thought about it and its only like $40. But, I think its best when I change the fluid, I should also change the filter which means I need to drop the pan anyways. The drain plug would make it a cleaner drain but I think I got it now and wont make too much of a mess next time. It'll be a while before I do the transmission fluid again, maybe then I may get a drain plug pan.

 

[catso]

I've seen inexpensive kits to add a drian plug to your pan.

 

[Donald]

Put in a Magnefine inline filter and then your internal filter will almost never need changing. Your ATF needed to be changed. What about the other 66% of your ATF thats in the TC?

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: barkingspider
I think its best when I change the fluid, I should also change the filter
Actually, that's not true.

Most wear in an automatic transmission occurs in the first 10-15,000 miles from new. It is this wear material the filter is designed to catch. After that initial period, the amount of wear material generated drops way down, so changing the filter after the first time really doesn't do anything.

Now, I'm not suggesting it NEVER needs changing again, only that it doesn't need changing at every fluid change, especially if done frequently. I do a drain & fill every 3rd OCI, so that would be 15,000 miles. Obviously a complete fluid exchange doesn't need doing as often.
Originally Posted By: barkingspider
which means I need to drop the pan anyways.
Adding a drain plug makes dropping the pan WAY less messy, though.

 

[barkingspider]

Donald, I did pump out the old oil in the TC using the vehicle. See the bottom of my original post. I will look into a magnefine.

casto, I saw a kit for $6, its a drain plug. All you do it drill a hole in the existing pan and install the drain plug. I think I would rather pay $40 for the pan with the plug already installed.

 

[Drew99GT]

Hey Barkingspider, I'm curious as to the condition of the factory gasket. I've read they can be reused several times on most GMs since it's good quality rubber with a metal backing with metal gussets for each bolt. Was yours in good shape, or was it not solid enough to reuse? Thanks

 

[stevejones]

I have generally reused GM transmission gaskets - they're very well made!

 

[artificialist]

I can re use a GM OEM gasket more than once, they typically hold together for 10 years or more.

I have never seen any aftermarket transmission gasket as good as one from the dealer, and that applies to every car I have worked on.

 

[barkingspider]

The old gasket came out in one piece. I guess I could have re used it. The felpro was just $5 so it wasn't a big deal if I replaced it.

 

[wirelessF]

There must be a rare batch of GM trucks with an ATF drain bolt. Only downside is that alot of the guys trying to undo the bolt end up stripping it since its super tight from the factory. My 02 Silverado has a drain bolt but I can drain/refill 2 qts at a time.

Originally Posted By: Donald
Put in a Magnefine inline filter and then your internal filter will almost never need changing.


All the ATF plumbing is hard line. I wanted to add one to supplement the pan filter but don't want to risk leaks by cutting and plumbing another filter.

 

[David1]

Why put CHEAPO Wallymart Supertech Transmission ATF in a CADDY Transmission???

I mean you could of got VAVLVOLINE MAXLIFE and that would of been much better and probably not much more $.

I have seen people add Supertech ATF if they were low, but never do a Transmission service with that stuff.

Did you notice a difference?

did it shift good?

I hope you have a temp gauge on the AT.

 

[LotI]

Originally Posted By: David1
Why put CHEAPO Wallymart Supertech Transmission ATF in a CADDY Transmission???

I mean you could of got VAVLVOLINE MAXLIFE and that would of been much better and probably not much more $.

I have seen people add Supertech ATF if they were low, but never do a Transmission service with that stuff.

Did you notice a difference?

did it shift good?

I hope you have a temp gauge on the AT.

Super tech has Dexron certification J-60340 so what's your beef? Are you so name-driven that because it's from Wally World it's automatically bad?

Maxlife isn't on the list that I see. Read the post, the OP says there's no change in operation.
Dexron-VI license holders

 

[Jim Allen]

Donald and RF Overlord above are right. After the first change, the pan filter isn't as necessary. If you add an inline cooler line filter, like a Magnefine, you would practically never need to drop the pan.

 

[barkingspider]

David, supertech Dex VI is 100% safe and will do exactly the same thing as the factory fill Dex VI. I have all the confidence in the world with Supertech. I have also used their motor oil, both dino & syn and it worked flawlessly. I understand what u are saying, I thought the same way about cheap wally oil. But many years ago, I experimented with it and its good to go. It shifts fine, no better or worse than normal. I like Val maxlife atf too and I use it my transfer case with the same confidence. Perhaps on the next transmission oil change, I will use maxlife atf, a new pan with drain plug and a new transmission filter since I'd be dropping the pan. It'll be over 7 years before that happens as that's how long it'll take me to drive 75k miles

 

[Vikas]

The original fluid seems to be in very good condition based on the color only.