Transmission oil change

[joefish731]

I have a 2020 Equinox LT with 23.000 miles. Still has original transmission fluid however I have read that other owners when doing a first fluid change have found that the fluid was in very poor condition. Wondering if I should change now while it's in for a oil change. Any suggestions?

 

[PoManNox]

I would do 2 short succession drain/fills now and then one every 30k miles or so.

 

[joefish731]

I would do 2 short succession drain/fills now and then one every 30k miles or so.

 

[PaulD]

I am one of the people who changed the fluid out at 50,000 miles. It was absolutely disgusting. The fluid was black and smelled burnt. I did the two in succession drain/fills and continued with an annual drain/fill. Each drain removes 4 quarts. 2013, 2.4L.

 

[mcycle-nut]

I thought it bizzare that the manual for my '15 says to change the fluid it at 250,000km and not to worry about it unless you see fluid leaks. I ran that by the guy at a tranny shop and he laughed and said he would sell me a new tranny at 250,000km. I take it for regular service, but at this moment I can't remember the intervals.

 

[TwoEquinoxDad]

I have a 2020 Equinox LT with 23.000 miles. Still has original transmission fluid however I have read that other owners when doing a first fluid change have found that the fluid was in very poor condition. Wondering if I should change now while it's in for a oil change. Any suggestions?

Within YouTube search for "Don Smith Equinox". He fully illustrates a DIY method for flushing Equinox transmissions. He states at one point that it may take between 3 to 3.5 gallons of new fluid to flush out most of the old black stuff.

 

[PoManNox]

Within YouTube search for "Don Smith Equinox". He fully illustrates a DIY method for flushing Equinox transmissions. He states at one point that it may take between 3 to 3.5 gallons of new fluid to flush out most of the old black stuff.

He's got some good videos. I watched that one before I did the first drain/fill on my 2021 Equinox. What amazes me with this video is how overfull this transmission appeared to be. It looks like if he let it continue to run out, he would have gotten a quart or more that ran out of the level check plug. A transfusion like this is definitely the most effective way to go and wastes the least amount of ATF. I've run at least 5 gallons of ATF through my 2021 doing basic drain/fills and it still doesn't look like new fluid in there. However it looks a LOT better than it did.

 

[ravenblack67]

I did a drain and fill on my 2020 equinox at 40,000 and again at 50,000. I'll repeat at 80,000. The fluid is very dark. The process is quite simple and does not anything but a socket and a LONG funnel.