Transfer case fluid change at 63k 2008 Silverado VMax

v2500 · January 21, 2014

Drain plug off my 08 Vmax with 63k on it. Just shavings stacked up in sludge, no chunks and once off the magnet you couldn't even tell it was metal in all that stuff.

Cleaned off. Nice big magnet on the drain plug, guess there's a reason for that.

I'm pretty persnickety about fluid changes so I did it myself. I was only sort of surprised when I changed the fluid in this one. My '91 v2500 Suburban with the manual shift NP241 had way worse, and it only had 99k miles with very little 4x4 time.

I plant to change it again in 40k or 5 years, whichever comes first. For what it's worth I used Valvoline Dex VI synthetic.

Next project is to do a home transmission flush. Anyone have any tips? My truck has the aux cooler with hardlines going to it so that's a new one for me. All my Ferds have used rubber which made life easy.

kstruckcountry · January 21, 2014

I don't really see the need to flush the tranny. I get then pan dropped, filter changed, and filled back up once a year. I figure that keeps the fluid pretty fresh.

v2500 · January 21, 2014

I'd agree if I knew that was regularly done on this truck, which it hasn't been. Fluid looks okay, but it's ready for a change. I'm going to get the Dorman steel pan with a drain plug to make the future changes easier though.

gmtech4 · January 22, 2014

you have a drain plug already dont ya ?

+100 on post #2 !!!!

forget the aftermarket crap pan ,,,,,waste of money

kstruckcountry · January 22, 2014

I'd agree if I knew that was regularly done on this truck, which it hasn't been. Fluid looks okay, but it's ready for a change. I'm going to get the Dorman steel pan with a drain plug to make the future changes easier though.

If you get a pan with a plug, make sure you still get the filter changed, when you change the fluid. People overlook the filter.

I was planning on getting a bigger pan and cooler, but my tranny stays cool so no reason to.

mike94silverado · January 22, 2014

I change my fluid and filter every 30k

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v2500 · January 22, 2014

you have a drain plug already dont ya ?

+100 on post #2 !!!!

forget the aftermarket crap pan ,,,,,waste of money

The Dorman pan has good reviews, though I'm open to suggestions one with a drain plug. I'd love a Mag-Hytec but their website claims it's incompatible with my truck.

txab · January 22, 2014

The Dorman pan will be fine. We've used them to replace OEM pans for a while.

v2500 · January 22, 2014

Well according to Mag-Hytec their 4L60E-B pan will work on my truck so I'll probably just go that route.

I'm going to change the filter and do a bucket flush off the return line.

Cowpie · February 1, 2014

My drain plug looked like that out of my transfer case at just under 3000 miles when I changed the fluid. The fluid looked nasty too.

I change out all the factory fluids early on, usually within the first 5000 miles. Just me. I am glad I did on my 2013 for sure. Not only was the transfer fluid and metal shavings disconcerting, but the rear diff was a full 1.5 pints low on lube. I think it would be time for GM to address their quality control a little closer.