I took my leaking and slipping tranny to a shop. After his quick look under my car and topping off the fluid... 8 miles down the road I had no running gears. I have reverse . This is our text...tell me what to do please I love my car!!!


ME:
exactly what fluid did you put in my transmission ? Just wondering because I didn't have any dex 6 all I had was power steering fluid and you never came back in and you said you topped it off. It's really important that I know so maybe I an fix it. I ran code and tried to reset but it didn't seem to help. Maybe your scanner can reset it since it's better than the scanner I have.

MECHANIC:
I did not have any fluids, except power steering. Filled it up past full. I checked your transmission level while " not running" which is highly inacurate.

ME:
It says dex 6 is all your suppose to use in the manual.

MECHANIC:
It is synthetic. You must run it. If it is slipping, anything goes. Type-F is best for it.

?????? IS HE FOR REAL?

 

Just responded to your other thread, im confused here.

Did he admittedly put power steering fluid in the trans? Or is he claiming he topped off the steering fluid?

 

As mentioned, his statement about what he did with the PS fluid is not clear to me. The transmission is a closed system, unless you have a leak OR are changing fluid (routine service), there really should be no reason to "top it off". BUT, if he topped off your trans with PS fluid:
1. - He admitted to NOT being a reputable mechanic. That can make him liable for issues.
2. - How much did he "top off"? I am NOT an expert in mixing fluids, but say he put less than half a quart in, I would guess given how diluted it should then be with about 7ish quarts of trans fluid, issues are minimal in the short term. But I would NOT leave that be. And I would make him pay to have the fluid removed (by another shop that knows not to mix fluids).

 

I am just jumping in hear a second to address the F-type fluid comment from the mechanic. I have been told by at least two tranny builders over the years that F-type can be used in older transmissions with a lot of miles because it has the same properties of Dex, but no detergents that can destroy old seals. I have used f-type in in a few 4L60Es. I would assume this would work in the 4L65EHD as well, but not sure enough to say. I will add everything else the mechanic said is why I never go to oil change shops. I take stuff like transmission issues to including fluid changes to the dealer or Aamco nowadays.

 

To go one step further in that - stuff like this is the reason why I do absolutely every auto job I possibly can myself.

I've had enough screw ups from the dealer (actually 3 different ones across 2 states) fixing stuff under warranty that I honestly don't trust them any more than any other shop. Some of the incompetence and flat out lack of care for the vehicle/job have really soured my opinion of them.

 

I have heard that also. I also talked at length to a tranny shop about the hesitation in the 4l60Es. While few believe in "snake oil", he said he has had a great deal of success using GM Automatic Transmission Seal Conditioner, about $28 a bottle. As most here know, the seal around the solenoid is the problem. He said put it in and drive it for a month. Worth a try. GM should be held liable for this nonsense. My 05 Monte Carlo does this and has 165K on it. Had to replace my wife's tranny in her 2012 Malibu (6 speed) at 154K miles and I serviced it every time I changed the oil. Easy to do. $4800 later she has a new GM tranny. It was $4200 to rebuild. They have really gone downhill.

 

A lot of people back in the day talked about using that or Lucas Slip Fix. To your point, since its already broken you've really got nothing to lose by trying it.

 

Exactly, and I had that thought too. I viewed the top ranked fixes and Prolong was rated the best. Did nothing. Jury still out on the GM.