50,000 mile G8 Transmission service

[SRG8]

My G8GT hit 50k miles, and was wondering what type of Transmission service this car needs? I am guessing a Flush and Refill.

Called the local dealership here for this service. They told me I need to change the transmission filter and transmission pan gasket (obliviously lol). At this point I was like what? So I ask the girl how much this is going to cost and she tells me around $390. She looks up the transmission filter and tells me there is only 4 left in the US. So I had her order me one anyway just in case for future use.

I had the feeling that the G8 only need a flush and refill and not drop the pan to change the filter.

If someone or Charlie could clarify.

Thanks.

[Chewy]

Did you check the manual?

I was thinking that Dexron 6 had MUCH larger change intervals.

[RapidG8GXP]

From what I read in the manual, the transmission filter/fluid is good for 100k.

Of course, the manual also states more frequent servicing if, for instance, the car is used for towing, driven in dusty conditions, severe stop-and-go driving, taxi service (?), or severe hard use (racing perhaps?).

[MANOFSTEEL69]

I'm just floored at hitting 50,000 miles.....Wow. I was pissed that I hit 20K, lol.

[SRG8]

yeah I didn't want the G8 to hit 50k... In the manual it says:

(h) Change automatic transmission
fluid and filter if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
− In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
− In hilly or mountainous terrain.
− When doing frequent trailer
towing.
− Uses such as found in taxi,
police, or delivery service.

I really don't think I need to do this service but after reading that I might do it to be safe. This G8 was a former rental car so not sure how hard it was driven for the 13k miles it had when I brought it last year.

[Chewy]

Always better to be on the safe side. The price is because the Dex 6 is STUPID expensive.

Try a NON dealer service shop. Probably cost you less.

Chris

[SRG8]

Thanks man, I will check around the area.

I would do this in my garage but don't feel like messing around with the transmission fluid.

[MGM GT]

I would go ahead and change it out, its not that expensive (at least not as much as a new trans).

Old saying with trans fluid... if you haven't changed it by 100k miles then DONT!

[sweetair]

Thanks man, I will check around the area.

I would do this in my garage but don't feel like messing around with the transmission fluid.Getting the fluid out is not the problem. Getting it back in is the issue. I tried. The tranny also needs to be at a certain range of temp while doing this.

[zosoboogie]

Wow 50k damn that's a lot of miles I just hit 12,345 miles

[Tjay74]

Transmission flushes are not reommended at all, I would never do one unless you want more issues than you started out with.

Also as stated the G8 A6 transmission is not a simple drop the pan and fill system. Once the fluid is out there is a very specific fill procedure that requires the car to be up on a lift in level ground and once filled up to operating temps before you try to measure the fluid.

I would see if maybe Charlie can post up the procedure, not saying it cant be done at home but you better have 4 jack stands and a way to pump the fluid up into the pan through the fill port in the transmission pan.

[edfiero]

You could always just have the FLUID changed out now, and then when you hit 100k, go for the drop the pan procedure and get the filter at that time.

And as far as flushes go... Rather than saying all flushes are bad, we need to be more specific. In general I think a fluid flush is a good thing, because if you do not flush, there will be old fluid in the lines, and in the Torque Converter and Transmisson cooler, that is not going to come out without a flush.

A basic flush is nothing more than running clean fluid thru the system to push out the old fluid. What you might not want to do is to have them flush a bunch of chemicals thru the system in an effort to try to clean it. That is not necessary and could cause issues.

[Seattle09GT]

I haven't even broken 10K miles and my G8 is one year old. That's a first for me for any car I've ever owned - I still have the new car smell - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - new car smell.

I'm a fan on tranny fluid of doing a 50K change and on coolant doing a 75K mile change (half interval of the owner's manual). Some say wasting money (and on the other hand I follow the oil life monitor, after four GM vehicles with it over 11 years I trust the thing).

I don't see a need to do the filter or drop the pan for a fluid swap out at 50K miles. I think you can do that at 100K as recommended.

[Gordon Freeman]

She looks up the transmission filter and tells me there is only 4 left in the US.
Isn’t this a 6L80E transmission? Is the filter in the G8 somehow different from all other vehicles?

[GT-610]

390??????? my dealer wants a buck and a half! doing it tomorrow

[Panzer Leader]

The G8 V6 5 speed AT has two (2) filters. I will probably change out everything when I get back from the National Meet.

[Napalm]

First off thread necromancer.jpg

Secondly: I had my car flushed by machine (at a GM dealer, for warranty) it cost 189, and they put in an additive when they open the taps. I figure its good insurance. so far so good?

[Sephiroth]

First off thread necromancer.jpg

Secondly: I had my car flushed by machine (at a GM dealer, for warranty) it cost 189, and they put in an additive when they open the taps. I figure its good insurance. so far so good?

Dexron VI is already a synthetic specification(that GM has ratted to 100K..). I would not have used the additive, it's absolutely not necessary, and in my experience, they can do more harm than good down the road.

[texn884]

Whatabout the BG products that they use when you flush the tranny? I never had any issues on my two other trucks and cars, that is what the GM shops use.

Any thoughts? Mie still has the original fluid it has 71,173 and is still looks like new. I plan to change it when it hits 100,000. Mine is all highway miles and a few very high speed runs here and there.

[AVIDMOTION]

I have 48,000 miles, at 45,000 I took it to the dealer and asked how much for a transmission fluid change. They said 139 plus tax. Took about an hr. was 150ish with tax. Not sure if they flushed, pan dropped or what, but he said you could not do in driveway because no way to put back in and had to be changed when the fluid was at a certain temp. I noticed an immediate difference though I expected nothing was just trying to help with longevity. Trans shifts much smootherand just feels over all better. I know I feel better having it changed. I cant do anything for 100,000 miles, plugs, fluid, oil, grease,nothing. Next I plan to change out all other fluids with Amsoil products. Can I do the differential in the driveway?

[ULTRA Z]

i thought i had a lot of miles 66,000 but i was at taco bell and a guy in a black 09 was there we got to trading kill stories and all then went and looked at his car he had 84,000 i was like OMG lol thats crazy i thought i had a lot of miles but this guy had me beat

[Napalm]

Dexron VI is already a synthetic specification(that GM has ratted to 100K..). I would not have used the additive, it's absolutely not necessary, and in my experience, they can do more harm than good down the road.

well I looked and they did exactly what GM recommends in the service manual procedures with the GM listed material. It calls for a bottle (I think 4 oz) of an additive to be put into the fluid when the tranny lines are reconnected and topped off. why and what I don't know exactly, but I suspect its a preservative type additive. I'm sure it could do without it, but I have another 41K miles on the factory powertrain warranty so I'll let them follow the book.

When I hit 101K, I will drop the pan. Or just complete rebuild.

And with the tranny flush they do not drop the pan. service guide says not to unless there is evidence or symptoms of damage. IE shits odd, locks in a gear, leaking fluid.

If you are near 50K miles and have never flushed it, I would recommend it. If you are at 12K, 2 years old and drag race I would recommend it. if you are at 20 K and 5 years and don't drag race, then I would consider it.

[Mier]

I'll be getting it serviced at 50k. I've always changed up the fluids at that point in both the tranny and rear-end. I'm at 42k now it's my daily driver so it gets the miles packed on it.

[Sephiroth]

well I looked and they did exactly what GM recommends in the service manual procedures with the GM listed material. It calls for a bottle (I think 4 oz) of an additive to be put into the fluid when the tranny lines are reconnected and topped off. why and what I don't know exactly, but I suspect its a preservative type additive. I'm sure it could do without it, but I have another 41K miles on the factory powertrain warranty so I'll let them follow the book.

I've been advised by my service department that they no longer carry Dexron in quart sizes, it's all in 55 gallon drums (or similar bulk supply) so that may have something to do with it. I still can't think of what it might be, but I don't know of any transmission service procedure from any other manufacturer calling for it. 4oz isn't a lot though. I wouldnt be worried about it a lot then, if anything it's probally an extra detergent package to cleanup any minor tarnish or gunk. It would still be odd as ATF already has a ton of detergents, but that's the only thing I can think of, except maybe something to swell up the seals.

[johnbell2]

Had mine flushed near 30k miles. It turned out to be the last piece to the puzzle to getting shifts the way I wanted them to be. All flare / confusion / whateveryounameit is gone. Had the 1-2 shifts at low speed (~10 mph) tweaked for stop-n-go after the flush and now it's perfect.

In the time I've had the car I'd consider all the hard hours on MoPac "taxi duty". It was due.

[Seattle09GT]

Transmission filters generally capture pretty big chunkies, you don't have to replace them on an accelerated service schedule (so sayeth my mechanic, debate away).

If you're doing your fluid at 50K miles I think it is cheap insurance - and I plan to follow that interval. I will change the filter every 100K miles, which means at 7K to 9K miles a year that I drive the G8, I'll likely never change it during my ownership.

[Napalm]

I've been advised by my service department that they no longer carry Dexron in quart sizes, it's all in 55 gallon drums (or similar bulk supply) so that may have something to do with it. I still can't think of what it might be, but I don't know of any transmission service procedure from any other manufacturer calling for it. 4oz isn't a lot though. I wouldnt be worried about it a lot then, if anything it's probally an extra detergent package to cleanup any minor tarnish or gunk. It would still be odd as ATF already has a ton of detergents, but that's the only thing I can think of, except maybe something to swell up the seals.

I wondered about seal additive too. I also thought it might be a preservative for the clutch packs. eitherway, it was listed as per manuals. To that end I suspect you could easily do without it. Might be a CYA thing based on how long that fluid has sat on the shelf at the dealer. chemistry is very complicated with this stuff now.


Transmission filters generally capture pretty big chunkies, you don't have to replace them on an accelerated service schedule (so sayeth my mechanic, debate away).

If you're doing your fluid at 50K miles I think it is cheap insurance - and I plan to follow that interval. I will change the filter every 100K miles, which means at 7K to 9K miles a year that I drive the G8, I'll likely never change it during my ownership.

I thought I would do the filter think at 100K too. end of the warranty. course what the filter catches depends a lot on th design of the filter. Most auto filters are just mesh screens. but some now come with fibrefill elements.

[dukeofpg]

And with the tranny flush they do not drop the pan. service guide says not to unless there is evidence or symptoms of damage. IE SHITS ODD, locks in a gear, leaking fluid.
.

I like to sit on the toilet facing the paper roll!