Change that Transmission Fluid!

[Custom88]

I just wanted to pass along a warning to fellow Aurora owners that you really need to get your transmission fluid changed if you have not done so and are over 40,000 miles. I just had my 2001 done today and was real surprised on the difference that it made. My 2001 has 45,500 miles on it and the fluid was surprisingly dark. I think a large source of the problem is that there is not an external transmission cooler on the aurora and it has a 3.27 gear ratio which is the highest of any 4t65E transmission besides some Grand Prix's that saw the 3.33 gear ratio. Because of the lack of the cooler the transmission reaches higher temperatures than it really should. I remember that the previous tranmission to the 65E was the 60 E and those all had heavy duty transmission coolers from the factory.

I had the transmission flush done which replaced over 90% of the original transmission fluid. Typical pan-drops+ filter changes only change about 30% of the original fluid. The shop I took my Aurora to was called Marathon Auto service and the transmission service they performed on my car was a BG transmission flush. What they do is they disconnect the lines going to the transmission cooler located inside the radiator and connect it to a machine. the car is started and the machine allows the transmission's own pump to pump out the old fluid. There is a piston that measures the rate in which the fluid is leaving the vehicle and a pump from within the machine pumps new fluid into the transmission until the fluid is totally clean. I opted for the cleaner and conditioner as well instead of just the fluid change. The difference is they put a cleaner into the transmission then drive the car for about 5 miles. Then they change the fluid out, then put a conditioner into the transmission. They'll then take it for another five mile drive to make sure everything is alright. It was.

I just really have to recommend you 4t65E transmission owners get your fluid flushed if you hvae over 40,000 miles because of what mine looked like! I think I'll get it done once a year to be safe. THe total cost for me was $113.04 for the flush, cleaner, and conditioner.

On the right is my transmission fluid before the service. The fluid on the left is my fluid after the flush.



the fluid on the right is my mom's 2000 SSEi's fluid at 58,000 miles before a flush. the transmission is the 4t65E-HD.

The fluid on the left is after the flush.

[MBowen574]

Good Lord! These cars don't have external tranny coolers? I thought that was more or less de riguer. Hell, the Galant has one...

[Custom88]

well, it is external in the sense that it's in the radiator, but it does not have it's own "radiator" to cool the fluid. Many Heavy Duty transmission applications would add this cooler to keep the transmission cool. The radiator type coolers aren't that great because that means the fluid can only cool down as much as your coolant will allow. Basically your transmission cannot run any cooler than the engine in that type of setup.

[MBowen574]

Odd... I know the G has its own transmission radiator. It's a smaller cooling assembly right below the passenger-side headlight. Also, a big problem with Galant transmissions blowing up has to do with the (rubber) trans coolant lines getting clogged up with this-and-that. Pitfalls to both designs, I suppose.

[stevensolds]

Glad i have a tranny cooler. Prolly wouldve wore the trans out considerably more without. I also have an engine oil cooler too...woot

[Custom88]

you mean from the factory, or aftermarket?

[Aurora40]

Just a note, but tranny fluid tends to run quite a bit hotter than your coolant does, like 50-100 degrees hotter. So those in-radiator coolers still work well, plus they dissipate and transfer heat well.

I've heard a few of you mention these oil coolers, but I'd love to see a picture of one. It seems an odd thing to have on a luxury car. GM typically uses oil-filter adapter coolers anyway, not oil-to-air coolers. If you indeed have an external cooler, what's the oil capacity? I've never seen anything listed except 7.5 quarts. An external oil cooler would raise this capacity a fair bit. My LT5 has a 12 quart capacity, due in large part to an external (and quite uncommon on Corvettes) oil cooler, though only about 8-9 quarts will drain out of the pan.

In fact, even my 1987 Z51 Corvette, which even had an external power steering cooler, only had an oil-filter-adapter oil cooler (non-Z51 Corvettes had no cooler at all). While I certainly can't say the classic never had an external oil cooler from the factory, it would be surprising and impressive indeed. I think oil coolers, even the oil-filter-adapter kind, are pretty great. The adapter kind also probably helps the oil warm up faster as it will circulate warm coolant passed cold oil when the engine is cold.

[oldsauroraman1]

Actually the cooler a transmission runs the longer it will last. The consumer mindset is that T-mission coolers are for vehicles that pull campers and trailers - not so.

[MBowen574]

aurora40 said:

I've heard a few of you mention these oil coolers, but I'd love to see a picture of one. It seems an odd thing to have on a luxury car. GM typically uses oil-filter adapter coolers anyway, not oil-to-air coolers. If you indeed have an external cooler, what's the oil capacity? I've never seen anything listed except 7.5 quarts. An external oil cooler would raise this capacity a fair bit. My LT5 has a 12 quart capacity, due in large part to an external (and quite uncommon on Corvettes) oil cooler, though only about 8-9 quarts will drain out of the pan.

Not sure how much it'll hold, but here are pictures of my Trans oil cooler. Keep in mind, it's on the Galant, not the Aurora. If it's odd on the Aurora, I think it's even more odd on the Galant, but perhaps it's because there were (far) more sporting versions of this car sold in other countries. Who knows. Anyway, here they are:

[MBowen574]

Ugh. The G's front bumper looks like poo in those pictures...

[Aurora40]

mbowen574 said:

Not sure how much it'll hold, but here are pictures of my Trans oil cooler. Keep in mind, it's on the Galant, not the Aurora. If it's odd on the Aurora, I think it's even more odd on the Galant, but perhaps it's because there were (far) more sporting versions of this car sold in other countries. Who knows. Anyway, here they are:

I'm talking engine oil cooler. All Auroras have a trans oil cooler, as stated. It's integrated in with the radiator.

[auroralover]

My 3.5 now has 46000 miles on it, and the tranny fluid looks just as pink as your new fluid, which I am glad about. Don't need tranny problems...

[MBowen574]

aurora40 said:

mbowen574 said:

Not sure how much it'll hold, but here are pictures of my Trans oil cooler. Keep in mind, it's on the Galant, not the Aurora. If it's odd on the Aurora, I think it's even more odd on the Galant, but perhaps it's because there were (far) more sporting versions of this car sold in other countries. Who knows. Anyway, here they are:

I'm talking engine oil cooler. All Auroras have a trans oil cooler, as stated. It's integrated in with the radiator.

Ohh... Geez...

I went out and took pictures esp. for you, too!

[Aurora40]

mbowen574 said:

aurora40 said:

I'm talking engine oil cooler. All Auroras have a trans oil cooler, as stated. It's integrated in with the radiator.

Ohh... Geez...

I went out and took pictures esp. for you, too!

LOL! Well, I appreciate the effort.

[Aurora5000]

I change my tranny fluid every 20k, I unhook the top line at the tranny, run it down into a drain pan for 30 seconds, refill with a gallon and do it again X 4. Use 16 quarts and it is basically the same thing you do. Remember, the enemy of the transmission fluid is heat.
Now, where are the transmission fluid storage pans located?

They are wraped around the ENGINE on the side and back. The transverse system gets the fluid a lot hotter than a rear mounted traditional auto tranny. Think about it.

[oldsauroraman1]

aurora40 said:

I'm talking engine oil cooler. All Auroras have a trans oil cooler, as stated. It's integrated in with the radiator.

The internal transmission oil cooler in the radiator has been in GM vehicles dating way back to the 1950s. An external transmission oil cooler will cool the transmission fluid better and keep it at a much lower operating temperature - thus extending the life of the transmission.