I took my Million-Mile Chevy, with 1,227,411 miles on it, to the GMC dealership here in Gilbert, AZ, for a transmission fluid change. I had driven over 138,000 miles (3 years) without changing the oil, although I typically go 150,000 miles between oil changes.
Since I’ve not been driving over the road the last couple of years and driving short trips…I decided it was time to change the transmission fluid.
Note: See how many parts are inside a 4L80 transmission.
I’ve driven over 1,318,000 miles using Amsoil synthetic automatic transmission fluid, and my transmission has never required an overhaul or a single repair.
Even though the dipstick showed the fluid was still bright red, I was concerned about the condition of the transmission filter. Was it still filtering efficiently?
Adding to that is the sizzling hot summers here in the Phoenix desert, sitting and idling in traffic when it’s 115 degrees…places additional stress on the engine and transmission fluids.
A Complete Transmission Flush
Can Make Your Transmission Almost Immortal
I talked to the service manager at the GMC dealership and was told they had a machine that would do a complete transmission flush. That is what I was looking for.
By doing a complete transmission flush you can remove almost all of the old oil. However, I’ve had customers remove the transmission oil pan or the drain plug if it has one, add 4-5 qts of new transmission fluid and run their vehicle a couple of days. Drop the oil pan again, or drain it, add the new ATF oil. Go a couple more days and do it again. The goal is to dilute the old transmission fluid with enough new ATF to get that bright red color.
I was a little concerned about taking my van to a different dealership. The Chevrolet dealership in Greenville, OH had taken great pride in servicing my 99 Chevy van for 1.2 million miles and had few issues with their work performed on my van.
The transmission holds 14 quarts of oil. I went online and placed my order with Amsoil. A 
two and one half gallon jug, a one-gallon jug, and four quarts…totaling 18 qts of the Synthetic Transmission Fluid and a Wix transmission filter.
Note: It’s a good idea to order an extra quart of ATF and keep it on hand. Avoid giving it to the technician, as they might use it. This way, you’ll have a spare quart available in case you need to add more transmission fluid later.
On the day I took my vehicle to the GMC dealership, I asked the service manager if I could speak with the technician who would be performing the transmission flush. She had no objections. After our conversation, the technician showed me the flushing machine and explained how it worked.
I Was Anxious To See The Magnet
I asked him to let me know when he dropped the transmission oil pan. I was interested in seeing what the inside bottom of the oil pan looked like. I was very interested in viewing the magnet located at the bottom of the pan.
Why? Metal shavings. That’s the purpose of the magnet—to collect them. If you find a substantial amount, it indicates significant wear on your transmission and suggests a potential repair might be needed soon.
About 30 minutes later…the technician had me come back to his work station where he was working on my van. He’d just dropped the transmission oil pan. I got to see firsthand the inside bottom of the pan. The oil pan was clean. No debris or sludge. Then I spotted the magnet.
The magnet would reveal the condition of my transmission. Initially, I couldn’t see anything on it, so I rubbed my finger around the magnet. To my amazement, there were no metal shavings—only a light film of black powder. The magnet was clean!
The technician even remarked on how clean everything was. I couldn’t help but bubble over with enthusiasm once again about the ‘remarkable toughness’ of Amsoil transmission fluid.
Original Transmission At 1,318,000 Miles…Still Shifts Smooth As Butter
At 1,318,000 miles the original transmission in my 99 Chevy van still shifts as smooth as the day I purchased it.
Here is an interesting story: The fella in Wisconsin that drove his 91 Chevy pickup truck 1 million miles…went through 5 transmissions! Estimated bill: $17,500.
How Often Should You Change Your Transmission Fluid?
Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid in your vehicle should be changed every 100,000 miles. The only exception to that is…if you drive over the road for a living, then you may be able to drive 150,000 miles between transmission oil changes.
Be sure to check your fluid levels each month if you’re driving lots of miles. The correct way to check your transmission fluid level…the engine and transmission must be hot. With the engine running, pull the transmission dipstick, wipe it clean…re-insert…then pull it out.
You might need to repeat this process two or three times to get an accurate reading. You’ll notice engraved markings on the end of the dipstick. The oil level should be between the two marks, indicating ‘full.’ If it’s below the lower mark, add 1/4 quart of transmission fluid until the level is back between the lines.
In case you can’t find a transmission dipstick on your vehicle, be aware that transmission oil dipsticks are gradually disappearing. Many vehicles now have a “screw-in plug” located under the vehicle on the side of the transmission, which you remove to check if oil needs to be added. My advice—if you’re not a DIY enthusiast, take it to a dealership or repair shop for inspection.
If you’re using Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid, be sure to take a quart along just in case the technician needs to add fluid.
If you want to have peace of mind about keeping your vehicles for 500,000 miles ‘PLUS…I have proven the Amsoil synthetic fluids will make your vehicle almost immortal.
Common Fixes for a Transmission that Shifts Hard
It only takes 5 minutes to order online or by phone and have the product shipped to your doorstep in 2-3 business days. In 20 minutes…you can have your dealership or local repair shop change your oil and add the Amsoil synthetic oil and filter to your engine. And just that quick, you’re up and running. And that’s not all. The best is yet to come.
How To Purchase Amsoil Products At Rock Bottom Prices
Amsoil Synthetic Oil gives your vehicle’s engine and drive train:
~better performance…
~longer life and dependability…
~Increased MPG…
~increased horsepower…
~ fewer repairs and maintenance…
~lower emissions…
~less waste oil…
~a cooler-running engine…transmission and differential…
And for you…a fatter wallet and peace of mind!
Have questions? Or need help in selecting the right oil and filters for your vehicle or equipment? Feel free to contact me anytime at (937) 417-1127 or jbs777@gmail.com. If you reach my voicemail, simply leave a message or text, and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
You can call Amsoil toll-free at 800-777-7094 Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm CST to order products. You can also call tech support at 800-777-8094 ( press 3) to help you get the right oil and filters for your vehicle or equipment.
Thank you for using my ID#516778 when ordering.
Happy Trails
John Schlimmer
www.MillionMileChevy.com
