Thank you. I watched 3 videos on this process for my Equinox, and this was by far the best, most detailed and easily understood of the videos on the subject.
This is a GREAT video, very simple to follow, informative, and straight to the point. One little tip: on vehicles in general with a fill plug and drain plug, it's always wise to at least break the full plug loose first. That way you don't drain it, and come to find that you have no good way to fill it...
This is the fourth Chevy equinox we have owned. I do this drain and fill every 30,000 miles. It is very cheap to do and I’ve never had a transmission problem! Here Is A Tip! I let it drain for 12-24 hours and it gets another quart out before I refill the transmission with max life.
Thank you for giving the instructions throughout the process. I own a 2012 Equinox and 2017 Traverse and this video will certainly take care of the Equinox...now on to the Traverse.
Thank you for this, very informative. I am concerned it may cause slipping on my 2012 equinox v6 160k kms (100k miles)? If it does what would be the solution? Would slipping get better with time?
@@alexg8460 braking system is garbage (abs, traction control, GMs trac or whatever the hell it's called etc) is always failing and needing parts replaced. Engine oil doesn't leak, but burns. For those shitty ass ecotec engines you need to add oil very frequently (known issue, that GM doesn't fix) the exhaust manifold has a tendency to crack along the same spot every time and needing replacement several times throughout the life of the vehicle (makes the ECU think the catalytic converter throw a code). Honestly, that whole line of cars makes me fuckin hate GM....
My 87 year old father and 90 year old mother own a 2013 Equinox. Car Burns oil and they have to top it off each month. It's now leaking transmission fluid slowly and my Dad needs to add some periodically. Problem is trying to check it and see the level. It's damn near impossible. I've owned other cars and checking the transmission is much easier than this. Other cars I've owned have a small dipstick attached to the cap which you can use to measure the level. This car doesn't have it. Much too complicated. Why can't they make these cars easier to work on? Sheesh!!!
wow, can't believe how black that tranny fluid was, almost looked like black motor oil..i'm going to be doing the same thing on my GMC Terrain but i think i'm going to measure the exact amount out and put the exact amount back in..Lowes sells clear measuring buckets with liter/oz markings on them!
Could you do this again on the 3.0L all-wheel drive....😶...... I'm having a hard time finding someone who's done a transmission fluid replacement not a flush just a fluid replacement for a 2010 Chevy equinox all-wheel drive 3.0L engine everybody and their dog has the 2.4L transmission fluid replacement...
I’m afraid of changing my fluid in my 2011 equinox because I have had mechanics tell me that after changing fluid and tranny filter they would not even back off the rack because they went way beyond the service window. But I don’t think just changing the fluid would hurt it. What is your take on this?
You can’t change the filter on these without separating the transmission but as for fluid, it is possible changing could cause slipping, when you go way past service the clutches have wear particles that flow in the fluid that keep the parts gripping and once those particles are removed it has nothing to grip on and could cause slipping, it’ll it’s not broke don’t fix it. Might be safer to leave it alone
@JonathanOrtiz-qw5iu you pull the level plug that is behind the drivers side front wheel while it hot , running, and setting level. Then you add fluid thru the top filler cap till it starts to drip out the side hole.
The service tech at the GM dealer should be able to look under your vin number to see if it is recommended based off its past service history, it can be bad to change your fluid if it has not been done regularly
So starting the car wont hurt it as u turn it on get out and get to pouring it in i was gonna do this and still wanting to the guy at the store when i got the fluid said it can hurt and burn it doing that way i dont see how so jist asking may do this weekend
According to the service manual that’s how to do it but don’t leave it running without fluid, as long as you don’t drain the torque converter it still has fluid in the transmission, it says to add while engine is running and mine turned out fine so good luck with yours.
@@joebecker1955 it’s only running for a second before adding fluid, of course it’s bad to run anything without fluid but it will still have fluid in the pump and converter and it’s the only way to check the fluid correctly. If you fill it then crank it it blows it everywhere i already had tried it so I looked at the manual which said to start it then add to get correct level
@@1194video i figured it wasnt on that long before filling it. Thanks for the info after it drains out i have to jack it up can i still fill it jacked up since have to take wheel off to get to tje side bolt so see if its full
@@1194video I just did mine. Took just under 4 quarts. Mine was black as well but it was the first change in 143k miles. My shifts are somewhat more positive like when the car was new. I plan to repeat at each oil change until it comes out red.
Do you know if the transmission filter is serviceable I read somewhere online that in order to replace the transmission filter the transmission has to be opened up completely?
I put in 4 quarts of fluid and fluid was coming out the full fluid level bolt. I measured how much came out and it was about 5 quarts. Should I add another quart?
Thanks for your vid! I had the car jacked up in the front so once I put the wheel back on and had it level I was able to add the last quart thanks again!
That is incorrect on the equinox. If you fill the transmission then crank it it will blow it out by raising pressure inside the transmission then give you a false reading. You must crank it before adding, the transmission is not fully flushed from fluid when cranking, the converter still have fluid so will not cause damage.
@@1194video the converter isn't going to drain anything out of it without the pump being able to pump fluid into it in the first place. All cranking it without fluid does is damage the pump and all the bearings/bushings running dry without lubrication. Gm says to fill til it comes out of check plug put plug back in crank it cycle gears then remove plug and fill until it comes out again.
The only way to flush completely is to be running the engine while adding fluid and not stopping until the fluid starts to come out clean which Iv very costly so I did the standard flush not the full
I have never changed the fluid on my 2014 Equinox and it has 186,000 miles. Do you recommend changing it now? the transmission shifting seems to work fine. Thanks.
This transmission fluid was filthy. I just did 5 liters in my 2015 with 100,000km it was not this bad. But I simply measure what came out and poured in the same amount. But next time I will check the level after l change another 5 liters then run it for a couple months again until it is red.
How much fluid did you end up putting in?.You are putting cold fluid mixed with hot fluid how is thst the same if that stuff expands and may not be the right amount.What if you catch the old fluid and put the same amount of cold fluid back in?.
Any reason when doing this procedure, the car won't start? Started the car while draining and went to shift through the gears. The car started running rough and shut off. Never ran rough before.
If it’s up in the air and the wheels start to spin it could set off the stability trac where it thinks it’s loosing control from traction control but to reset that you can unplug the battery for a few minutes and reconnect it, but other than that I can’t imagine why it would run rough since your doing a transmission service, nothing to do with the engine
In your video you show the fluid coming out with then engine stopped, so it is flowing out a lot since fluid is settling to the bottom. We want to check the oil coming out the side to stop adding oil while the engine is running correct?
The manual states to start vehicle and start adding til it starts to flow then to put plug back in, or at least that’s how I did mine, it says if you add while not running it will not pump fluids through to give correct level so by running it wil circulate so you can add til it starts to pour from drain.
Ouch! Usually if it’s been maintained regularly it’s a good idea to continue the maintenance but on older cars if you change the fluid after it’s never been maintained after a bunch of miles it starts slipping. There are tiny particles from wear that accumulate in the fluid and it helps the clutches hold but once changed there are no particles to hold so it slips.
Hey! Thanks! For the advise, I'm going around the video again because the transmission is kind of jerking sometimes, nothing crazy, but enough to make me look for a possible solution, I've been thinking about removing the fill line plug and putting an additive to the transmission like lube guard as there is no record of the transmission fluid being fully changed. What do you think? I'm currently at 120,000 miles.
So can that fix slipping issue. Known as flare? Had a guy say it was 2 quarts low. So he added. I was told by him and another guy it needed rebuild. The last guy said try it and see after adding 2 qts. He didn’t say anything about a change though. So would changing maybe help?
@@endicotto by changing the fluid it would drain out the particles from wear that are helping the transmission clutches to catch, if you change the fluid it will make it worse
Get some lubegaurd the red bottle it’s for transmissions that slip or shift hard,I bought a 2010 equinox with a bad slip in the transmission I put lubegaurd “the red bottle” and new Gm fluid and fixed it,runs so smooth now
So I just saw your reply. 2 quarts fixed the slip. But I had a transmission fluid change not a flush. It is recommended after 40k and I’ve got over 80. So it works better than ever after the change.
Not exactly, a flush would be when your running the transmission while adding fluid as it’s draining til it all comes out clean, a flush will clean not only the trans but the torque converter of its old fluid.
@@carlosbandeira4753 Apenas para permitir que ele fluísse, mas não estava dirigindo o carro, mas o tinha no ar, se você correr um muito longo, isso poderia causar danos, é por isso que eu não demorei muito
I am a newbie at this, would this apply to a 2017? I havent had a chance to look at the engine yet but in a world of inflation, seems like I can save some money by doing it myself correctly. Thanks, this video was awesome!
The dipstick was the engineer that designed it
I'm just happy they added a drain plug
You can say that again.
Non existent or what?
💯💯💯🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thank you. I watched 3 videos on this process for my Equinox, and this was by far the best, most detailed and easily understood of the videos on the subject.
Is this the same for a 2018 AWD
This is a GREAT video, very simple to follow, informative, and straight to the point.
One little tip: on vehicles in general with a fill plug and drain plug, it's always wise to at least break the full plug loose first. That way you don't drain it, and come to find that you have no good way to fill it...
I'm done with this type of vehicle,I hate the equinox,cost me too much,with the prices of fixing it I can get me something better.
This is the fourth Chevy equinox we have owned. I do this drain and fill every 30,000 miles. It is very cheap to do and I’ve never had a transmission problem! Here Is A Tip! I let it drain for 12-24 hours and it gets another quart out before I refill the transmission with max life.
Good tip!
Would this tip depend on where you live? Would high humidity get moisture om the gears? Genuine question?
Thank you for giving the instructions throughout the process. I own a 2012 Equinox and 2017 Traverse and this video will certainly take care of the Equinox...now on to the Traverse.
Here’s a tip. Drain the fluid at ambient temperature. Measure the amount. Re fill the EXACT measured amount. Carry on living your life. You’re welcome
Can’t believe how easy this job is and how fucking sketchy this dip wad is doing it. Also needs to be done a few times to get the full fluid change
Thanks, you're the first one I found on UA-cam that explained everything and what to do with these types of transmissions. Thanks again!
Glad to help
Real informative my brotha, thank you.
Thank you for this, very informative. I am concerned it may cause slipping on my 2012 equinox v6 160k kms (100k miles)? If it does what would be the solution? Would slipping get better with time?
Thanks bro, really helped me out. Good simple details
Your the best outstanding!!!
Just bought an Equinox, this video was real helpful brother! thank you.
Very welcome!
Appreciate it. Best video of explain with details. thank you
I need to change mine, but to be honest, I can't wait to get rid of this damn thing. Worst vehicle I've ever owned
What problems have you had with it?
@@alexg8460 braking system is garbage (abs, traction control, GMs trac or whatever the hell it's called etc) is always failing and needing parts replaced. Engine oil doesn't leak, but burns. For those shitty ass ecotec engines you need to add oil very frequently (known issue, that GM doesn't fix) the exhaust manifold has a tendency to crack along the same spot every time and needing replacement several times throughout the life of the vehicle (makes the ECU think the catalytic converter throw a code). Honestly, that whole line of cars makes me fuckin hate GM....
My 87 year old father and 90 year old mother own a 2013 Equinox. Car Burns oil and they have to top it off each month. It's now leaking transmission fluid slowly and my Dad needs to add some periodically. Problem is trying to check it and see the level. It's damn near impossible. I've owned other cars and checking the transmission is much easier than this. Other cars I've owned have a small dipstick attached to the cap which you can use to measure the level. This car doesn't have it. Much too complicated. Why can't they make these cars easier to work on? Sheesh!!!
My 2011 was going through a lot of oil. GM had a recall on it, and they replaced the rings and pistons under warranty.
Thank you very much for this video! It helped me a lot!
wow, can't believe how black that tranny fluid was, almost looked like black motor oil..i'm going to be doing the same thing on
my GMC Terrain but i think i'm going to measure the exact amount out and put the exact amount back in..Lowes sells clear
measuring buckets with liter/oz markings on them!
Thanks for the step by step
Definitely agree with Tracy in Kansas!!! I've also watched 3 or 4 other vids on the subject. Of the ones I've watched, this is the best!!!
Thankyou! I try to be straight to the point if I can
Could you do this again on the 3.0L all-wheel drive....😶...... I'm having a hard time finding someone who's done a transmission fluid replacement not a flush just a fluid replacement for a 2010 Chevy equinox all-wheel drive 3.0L engine everybody and their dog has the 2.4L transmission fluid replacement...
I don’t have an awd to do a video on but the dealer does do them but it’s high
You need gloves
Great video. Very informative and accurate.
Great job at explaining this 👏
I’m afraid of changing my fluid in my 2011 equinox because I have had mechanics tell me that after changing fluid and tranny filter they would not even back off the rack because they went way beyond the service window. But I don’t think just changing the fluid would hurt it. What is your take on this?
You can’t change the filter on these without separating the transmission but as for fluid, it is possible changing could cause slipping, when you go way past service the clutches have wear particles that flow in the fluid that keep the parts gripping and once those particles are removed it has nothing to grip on and could cause slipping, it’ll it’s not broke don’t fix it. Might be safer to leave it alone
@@1194video I will just check to see if mines low and top it off, lol
how did u check to see if your 2011 chevy equinox transmission oil was low ?
@JonathanOrtiz-qw5iu you pull the level plug that is behind the drivers side front wheel while it hot , running, and setting level. Then you add fluid thru the top filler cap till it starts to drip out the side hole.
Did you ever do it ?a simple drain and fill should be harmless. What you want to stay away from is a flush.
Gracias...fue el mejor video q mas aprendi..
Clear and Concise. Great video!
At the 3:22 mark, you see a black piece (before you stop at the drain plug) what is the name of that piece? Looks like a cover.
The axle joint boot?
Nice
Great video man! Simple and to the point.
amazing step by step process
What about the transmission filter? Does this vehicle even have one?
It’s internal you have to take the transmission apart to get to it it’s not serviceable from the outside
Soo I just got to an 100k is it best to do a flush or just a fill I have an 2013
The service tech at the GM dealer should be able to look under your vin number to see if it is recommended based off its past service history, it can be bad to change your fluid if it has not been done regularly
amazing step by step process
Thanks it was very helpful
Thanks Tim
So starting the car wont hurt it as u turn it on get out and get to pouring it in i was gonna do this and still wanting to the guy at the store when i got the fluid said it can hurt and burn it doing that way i dont see how so jist asking may do this weekend
According to the service manual that’s how to do it but don’t leave it running without fluid, as long as you don’t drain the torque converter it still has fluid in the transmission, it says to add while engine is running and mine turned out fine so good luck with yours.
@@1194video okay thank you appreciate it im.just planning on draining like did is all and was worried since i was told that thanks again
@@joebecker1955 it’s only running for a second before adding fluid, of course it’s bad to run anything without fluid but it will still have fluid in the pump and converter and it’s the only way to check the fluid correctly. If you fill it then crank it it blows it everywhere i already had tried it so I looked at the manual which said to start it then add to get correct level
@@1194video i figured it wasnt on that long before filling it. Thanks for the info after it drains out i have to jack it up can i still fill it jacked up since have to take wheel off to get to tje side bolt so see if its full
@@joebecker1955 just be sure it’s level
Excellent
Don't change it! I changed the fluid and now my transmission is slipping
How many miles was the car at?
@mitchament8083 at the time of change 102,000
Would you happen to know how to reset the change transmission fluid light? I really liked the video, very helpful.
Like your explanation
That fluid was bad! How many miles were on that Equinox? About how much fluid does it take to do the drain and fill like that?
Idk how long it had been, it was very dirty, it was low mileage car though. I don’t remember the exact amount of quarts
@@1194video I just did mine. Took just under 4 quarts. Mine was black as well but it was the first change in 143k miles. My shifts are somewhat more positive like when the car was new. I plan to repeat at each oil change until it comes out red.
@@terrywaters6186 did you see positive changes in the way it runs?
@@anthomg6835 I did. My shifts are more positive like when the car was new and it seems like it’s more willing to lock up in overdrive.
@@terrywaters6186 do you know if the transmission filters are serviceable?
This goes for a V6...?...thanks
I’m sure the transmissions are the same on them, mine is a 4 cyl
Do you know if the transmission filter is serviceable I read somewhere online that in order to replace the transmission filter the transmission has to be opened up completely?
That is correct
@@1194video thank u so much. Ur video is awesome 🙌 God is Great!
Thank you!
I put in 4 quarts of fluid and fluid was coming out the full fluid level bolt. I measured how much came out and it was about 5 quarts. Should I add another quart?
If it’s running and coming out it should be full, but it’s really up to you on that. I only mentioned what GM called for
Thanks for your vid! I had the car jacked up in the front so once I put the wheel back on and had it level I was able to add the last quart thanks again!
@@jeremiahginter1892 how's everybtjing now
Fill transmission before cranking the vehicle then while it is running check it.
That is incorrect on the equinox. If you fill the transmission then crank it it will blow it out by raising pressure inside the transmission then give you a false reading. You must crank it before adding, the transmission is not fully flushed from fluid when cranking, the converter still have fluid so will not cause damage.
@@1194video the converter isn't going to drain anything out of it without the pump being able to pump fluid into it in the first place. All cranking it without fluid does is damage the pump and all the bearings/bushings running dry without lubrication. Gm says to fill til it comes out of check plug put plug back in crank it cycle gears then remove plug and fill until it comes out again.
@@Bleachanna it’s not a flush just fluid change that I performed. So not necessary to add fluid prior to starting
@@1194video do you add oil to your engine after starting it dry.
@@Bleachanna My direction I give in my video is information from the dealer service manual. The equinox is still running sting so 😃
I followed this and it worked perfectly and drives better now.
I wish my Silverado was this easy! Thanks for explaining it!
What about the rest of the old fluid
The only way to flush completely is to be running the engine while adding fluid and not stopping until the fluid starts to come out clean which Iv very costly so I did the standard flush not the full
This guy is one of the BEST at explaining how to do something! A+
How much fluid did you use?
I didn’t even check quantity just poured til it started to come out to know it was full then capped it off
Dextrose VEE ONE?? How about Dextron SIX.!
What ATF did you use?
Vaboline max life ATF
Does it need to be high mileage atf if your suv has 100k miles on it.
I have never changed the fluid on my 2014 Equinox and it has 186,000 miles. Do you recommend changing it now? the transmission shifting seems to work fine. Thanks.
If it’s been maintained regularly it’s fine to change but if it’s not been serviced regularly it could cause it to slip once changed
This transmission fluid was filthy. I just did 5 liters in my 2015 with 100,000km it was not this bad. But I simply measure what came out and poured in the same amount. But next time I will check the level after l change another 5 liters then run it for a couple months again until it is red.
How much fluid did you end up putting in?.You are putting cold fluid mixed with hot fluid how is thst the same if that stuff expands and may not be the right amount.What if you catch the old fluid and put the same amount of cold fluid back in?.
I did it to the manual not the fluid amount removed, I’m sorry but I do not have an answer for the amount I added.
Nice and easy.
Any reason when doing this procedure, the car won't start? Started the car while draining and went to shift through the gears. The car started running rough and shut off. Never ran rough before.
If it’s up in the air and the wheels start to spin it could set off the stability trac where it thinks it’s loosing control from traction control but to reset that you can unplug the battery for a few minutes and reconnect it, but other than that I can’t imagine why it would run rough since your doing a transmission service, nothing to do with the engine
Its not dexeon v 1. Its dexron 6
You explained the process well
In your video you show the fluid coming out with then engine stopped, so it is flowing out a lot since fluid is settling to the bottom. We want to check the oil coming out the side to stop adding oil while the engine is running correct?
The manual states to start vehicle and start adding til it starts to flow then to put plug back in, or at least that’s how I did mine, it says if you add while not running it will not pump fluids through to give correct level so by running it wil circulate so you can add til it starts to pour from drain.
Do these things have a filter ?
Not that you can change without taking the transmission apart
@@1194video damn , I definitely just going to drain and fill
My 2016 equinox has about 45k miles. Should i change the transmission fluid filter too? I didnt see anything in the manual about it lol
It’s built into the transmission. Have to take trans apart to change it on mine
@@1194video shoot! Thanks for the info! I was gonna have a place change it for me quick but they might charge an arm and a leg to do so lol
Hi will this one work for a 2013 captiva 2.4 automatic ? Thanks
I’m not sure, I don’t wanna give any advice on that particular model without being sure
Thanks for the video!
Mine just got to 113.000 miles, is it a good idea to change it? I think last owner never changed it
Ouch! Usually if it’s been maintained regularly it’s a good idea to continue the maintenance but on older cars if you change the fluid after it’s never been maintained after a bunch of miles it starts slipping. There are tiny particles from wear that accumulate in the fluid and it helps the clutches hold but once changed there are no particles to hold so it slips.
Hey! Thanks! For the advise, I'm going around the video again because the transmission is kind of jerking sometimes, nothing crazy, but enough to make me look for a possible solution, I've been thinking about removing the fill line plug and putting an additive to the transmission like lube guard as there is no record of the transmission fluid being fully changed. What do you think? I'm currently at 120,000 miles.
About how many quarts for the refill after drain?
It was awhile ago when I changed it so can’t remember so don’t wanna tell you wrong
So can that fix slipping issue. Known as flare? Had a guy say it was 2 quarts low. So he added. I was told by him and another guy it needed rebuild. The last guy said try it and see after adding 2 qts. He didn’t say anything about a change though. So would changing maybe help?
@@endicotto by changing the fluid it would drain out the particles from wear that are helping the transmission clutches to catch, if you change the fluid it will make it worse
Get some lubegaurd the red bottle it’s for transmissions that slip or shift hard,I bought a 2010 equinox with a bad slip in the transmission I put lubegaurd “the red bottle” and new Gm fluid and fixed it,runs so smooth now
So I just saw your reply. 2 quarts fixed the slip. But I had a transmission fluid change not a flush. It is recommended after 40k and I’ve got over 80. So it works better than ever after the change.
@@endicotto that’s great! Glad it went well for you, most of the time it never seems to work out
Great video :)
Man I loved this video. So detailed and easy to follow and understand. Always looking to learn new skills and videos like these make It easy
And the filter , no changed..?
Thanks
Is this the same thing as a transmission flush?
Not exactly, a flush would be when your running the transmission while adding fluid as it’s draining til it all comes out clean, a flush will clean not only the trans but the torque converter of its old fluid.
Pode passar as marchas sem óleo?
No
@@1194video mas no vídeo você passou de marchas sem óleo!
@@carlosbandeira4753 Apenas para permitir que ele fluísse, mas não estava dirigindo o carro, mas o tinha no ar, se você correr um muito longo, isso poderia causar danos, é por isso que eu não demorei muito
Is it okay to just use ramps on the front and not jack the rear, or do you have to jack and level both the front and rear?
Need to be leveled. So yeah you need to jack the rear up, just place all 4 same height jack stands high enough for you to gain access.
The vehicle has to be level
@@shawnshawver4808 Thank you!
@@1194video Thank you!
What year was your equinox
13
Why not list the year of the car?
Simple, most GM cars are interchangeable so year is not specific in transmissions
Thanks
Stop buying gm junk
That I can agree with. But I drive a ford lol this was my n laws car
Is the type of oil you use good or do you recommend another type
I used what was recommended by GM
@@1194video Approximately how much does the transmission need
@@Mahmoud31640 I didn’t measure, I just added til it started running out
How much roughly did you use
I do t know, I just kept adding til it started coming out then put plug back in
@@1194video thanks for the reply, I just wanted to know if you used the full 8 qts or just 4 qts aka 1 gal
@@beastlychase I bought two gallons just because I knew I’d need it later on but didn’t keep check on what was used
Is 2gallons a lot? Because that’s as much as it took! Is that to much? Or does it matter if i put to much?
It does matter, did it start coming out and you stop pouring
Holy shit you've got to be kidding, if that docent start slipping after you change it that'll be a miracle
How many quarts do I need to use?
You won’t know exactly, it’s a fill til it come out of the hole while running
I am a newbie at this, would this apply to a 2017? I havent had a chance to look at the engine yet but in a world of inflation, seems like I can save some money by doing it myself correctly. Thanks, this video was awesome!
@@timvancourt7213 I would assume it’s the same on most gm models
He said Lumina. That car was discontinued 20 years before the Equinox came out
Still same concept even Grand Prix