Topic: 02 Tranny filter & fluid, need to change.

[Fowlhunter]

OK, here's the deal. I want to change the fluid & filter in the tranny before I make my trip to PA next month so I go to Auto Zone's website to look up the parts needed and they list two different filters, one for a shallow pan and one for a deep pan. Which one do I have, I want to say deep but I'm not sure?  Also how many quarts will it take me to fill it?
One more question, once I have it filled up with clean fluid do I check the level with it running in neutral or running in park???  I can't seem to remember??   

Thanks, FH

[Main One]

I don't know or remember

[bluedevil]

Im looking...

[farmguy]

If you do a fluid exchange and back-flush, you don't need a filter. My mechanic says you can do 3 backflushes at 35,000 mile intervals before you need a filter.

[chevyman]

If you do the filter change. and add the fluid (not sure how much it holds) but when checking it the tranny needs to be  warm/hot and your truck needs to be running.

[Main One]

If you do a fluid exchange and back-flush, you don't need a filter. My mechanic says you can do 3 backflushes at 35,000 mile intervals before you need a filter.

Dang - he wants to charge you a lot more than GM recommends, at least for my 03.  If my memory holds, my manual doesn't recommend changing transmission fluid until 100,000 miles.

Some folks question whether backflushing does more harm than good.  Although it probably doesn't hurt if you do it every 35,000.

[MyBigToy]

If you drop the pan I believe you'll need somewhere around 6 qts. You check the fluid level with the tranny completely warm and in Park, after cycling through and momentarily pausing in every gear and then returning it to Park.

[02_Z71]

I am fairly confident that you need the shallow pan filter. I have changed my fluid twice and I got both filters to make sure that I have the correct one and just took back the filter that I did not use after I was done. You will need about 5 qts of tranny fluid after you are done replacing the filter. If you have not looked into the procedure yet, you might want to take a look at the procedure before you try this. It is a pain because of the transmission shift linkage has to be removed in order to get the pan off.

After you have completed the filter replacement and filled up the fluid, start the truck, then check the fluid again. You will probably need to add a bit more. Then let the truck run for a few minutes to warm up, then cycle the gear shift in and out of drive, reverse, park, etc a few times, then check the fluid again you will probably need to add a little bit more fluid. After you actually drive it the first time and get to normal operating temps, check the fluid again.

[Fowlhunter]

Dang - he wants to charge you a lot more than GM recommends, at least for my 03.  If my memory holds, my manual doesn't recommend changing transmission fluid until 100,000 miles.

Some folks question whether backflushing does more harm than good.  Although it probably doesn't hurt if you do it every 35,000.

I plan to drop the pan and get rid of the old fluid and add new!!!  No backflushing here. 

[Fowlhunter]

If you drop the pan I believe you'll need somewhere around 6 qts. You check the fluid level with the tranny completely warm and in Park, after cycling through and momentarily pausing in every gear and then returning it to Park.

Very good Joe!!!!  I couldn't remember the correct procedure.     Do you know if it's the deep or shallow pan?
Thanks