How to Change the Transmission Fluid in an Oldsmobile Bravada

Replacing the transmission fluid in your Oldsmobile Bravada is a good way to keep the transmission working properly for the life of the vehicle. This simple maintenance project should be done every 30,000 miles as part of the preventive maintenance on your SUV, more often if you use your Bravada for heavy towing. Check your owner's manual for the maintenance schedule applicable to the way you utilize your truck.

Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels and set the parking brake. Lift the front of the Bravada with a floor jack, and position jack stands under the frame. Lower the truck onto the jack stands and remove the floor jack for maximum working room under the vehicle.

Place a drain pan under the transmission pan located at the bottom of the transmission. Using a 10-mm socket and socket wrench from the set, remove the bolts that attach the transmission pan to the transmission case. Be careful removing the last few bolts and allow the fluid to drain into the drain pan. Remove the pan and gasket from the transmission.

Remove the transmission filter by pulling with a twisting motion. Additional fluid will drain out of the transmission when the filter is removed. Use a screwdriver to carefully remove the round seal located inside the opening that the filter snaps into in the transmission.

Clean all traces of the old gasket from the pan and the transmission with the gasket scraper and clean the pan with a parts cleaner. Wipe the transmission sealing surface dry with a shop rag. Glue the new gasket to the transmission pan with adhesive.

Push the new seal, included in the filter kit, into the transmission. Push the end of the new filter into the transmission until it's completely in place. A slight tap with the palm of your hand may be needed for this. Install the trans pan and filter. Bolt the pan and new gasket to the transmission with the 10-mm bolts previously removed.

Raise the truck, with the floor jack, until it clears the jack stands. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground slowly.

Fill the Bravada transmission with 4.5 quarts of Dextron 3 transmission fluid. Start the engine and, with your foot on the brake, run the transmission through all of the gear positions. Place the transmission in park, and check the transmission fluid. Add fluid one pint at a time until the fluid level is in the crosshatch area on the dipstick.