when should the TRANSMISSION fluid be changed and a friend of mine was telling me I should get a transmission cooler. I have 41,100 miles and it has probably not been changed b4. AND, I heard they might try to flush the trans fluid and fill like the radiator which is NOT good. Any ideas here would be appreciated.

 

In the owners manual, it says that if you drive in heavy traffic and hot temps,or dusty conditions you should change it every 15,000 miles. But if you dont drive in those conditions, 50,000. Someone else on here said they change it every 6,000 miles. Seems like a little overkill to me, but to each his own. I am going to take mine in to have the fluid and filter changed next week. I was considering having the car flushed, but I would rather have the filter changed. They told me they would flush the fluid, then take the pan off and change the filter for around $200-220. They charge around $100 for either service though.

I have heard nothing but good things about the flushing process, I just would rather have the filter changed.

 

Get a transmission cooler for it, very good insurance against heat, the killer on auto trans. Depending on how you drive I'd say change the fluid every 20-30k. I like to add a drain plug to the pan like all the older cars had. You can get a plug kit from any parts store that you just have to drill a hole in the pan and screw it in. I would drop the pan, add the plug and change the filter. Then just drain the fluid through the new plug every 15k and drain and replace the filter every 30k. Then repeat this process. Later>>>>>>

 

thanks, I can easily change oil/filter, unfortunatly that is where my tech ability ends. I would be way to nervous and screw it up if I did it myself, SO - after the above replies I called the Chevy Dealer service tech and he said they flush/fill the tranny with Northland fluid and do NOT change the filter. Is that good? I would be paying $ 119.00 for this. When I asked him about the filter change he said there is no need for that when flushed. Oh, and NO new gasket either.