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Adding a "Magnafine" External Transmission Filter.....

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#22 ·
mantas said:
I can concur, on my 2011 (first gen) the bottom line feeds the cooler and top line is return.
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Only cost me about a day on my install, luckily I had a magnafine filter I could put in place when I cut the wrong line. The magnafine filter evidently will flow both ways as my magical blow test told me, but the spin on remote filter/thermostat might of given me catastrophic results had I gotten the flow direction incorrect. Checked the flow direction about four times already and once or twice more once I complete the job..
 
Discussion starter · #26 · (Edited)
So I tackled this task today...... Was it worth it? Read on....

So any mod has a risk / reward factor. In this case I'm gaining filtration, at the risk of a hose popping off or other issue with fluid leaks.
It started well, used my tiny cutter to take out 6" of hardline. ( The Magnefine filter is 5", tip to tip)
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Then I hooked up some hoses and started the car, to confirm which way the fluid is flowing
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Without question, on a 2020 Traverse, the UPPER hardline, is the RETURN line.
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The Magnefine filter must be installed correctly in the direction of flow. There is a bypass feature inside, so if the element ever clogs, the bypass will open and fluid will continue to flow. If the Magnefine is installed "backwards", this feature will be eliminated.

So then came what I thought was the easy part. Simple flare job on the hardlines, a few clamps, and I'm done....right?

Wrong. These hardlines are tough! I was going to do a small double flare , which looks like this, but about 1/2 the size. The purpose is to keep the rubber hose from sliding off.
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Well, with the confines of what I had to work with, this just didn't happen, which brings me back to my original comment between risk and reward. I didn't want to just leave the hardlines bare, so I did a little single flare. It looks like this.... Not what I wanted, but better than nothing.
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Because I only could get a small single flare, I double clamped everything, and here's the finished install.
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I'm trying to figure out if this was a waste of time, or not..... so I pull the magnetic drain plug for a look. It has been doing it's job for 8,000 miles / 4 months. Dang! That's allot of crap!
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Discussion starter · #27 · (Edited)
The first streak on the left starts off real wet. That is just the oil on the plug. The next two streaks and the wipes at the bottom is all the debris. It's allot more than I was expecting to see, thats for sure.

Keep in mind this is only magnetic the stuff. There are aluminium wear particles as well as friction materials too, that do not show up on the magnet.

Remember what the goal is.... to keep the non-serviceable internal filter as clean as possible.
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With that in mind, the magnetic drain plug is only doing 1/3 of the job. The Magnefine filter does the other 2/3 and has an additional magnet to catch whatever the drain plug miss's .....

So yes, I'm happy I added it. No, I'm not happy about the single flare / double flare situation. I'm going to pop off the Magnefine filter in 20k miles to open it up for a look. That gives me plenty of time to come up with a better long term solution for the hose connections.

With all this said.... plenty of Traverses go 100k miles without ever servicing the transmission. Clearly adding the magnetic drainplug and doing periodic servicing is a huge step in extending the transmissions life.

So, perhaps this mod is unnecessary? I wont disagree with those who have that opinion.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
For those who are curious, this is the internal, non serviceable transmission filter. Notice the color. It's black , from debris, not red from the ATF fluid.
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For comparison, here is a new one..... white as snow. This is the goal, to let the Magnefine catch the debris, and keep the internal filter as clean as possible, for as long as possible.
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#31 ·
AlisoBob said:
I might not get to this for a bit, but I wanted folks to know this is coming, and my thoughts on how to do it correctly.

I'll be doing it on a 2020 LT3, with the factory tow package. Other models should be similar....

Stay tuned......

View attachment 9256

View attachment 9257
Click to expand...
I received mine yesterday. Now made in China, however it's still better than no filter at all.
 
#33 ·
PoManTraverse said:
Sweet.

Have you decided on an install method yet?
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Yes sir! Today I ordered the 90deg line adapter shown above and had to order the 3/8" tube to 3/8" barbed fittings from Amazon. It seems my local parts store didn't stock them, nor did Autozone or Advanced Auto. I figured they would be a fairly common part. They all have 3/8" to 5/16" but not 3/8" to 3/8".. I spent enough $$$ on gas to pay for one of the two, so I just came home and ordered them from Amazon. I'll have them next Monday - for some reason, not next day. I did buy the right hose and clamps. The line adapter will be here this week, so the plan is to install everything next week after I have all the parts and it looks like the best location is the return line like AlisoBob shows. That make more sense than trying to remote it. I don't want it on its side or a 45, I would rather keep it vertical.
 
#34 ·
I was planning to do this install today until I realized my transmission lines look different than the photos here. There are a couple more bends and some kind of coating/sleeve on the bottom that seems well-adhered. I don't think I have enough straight pipe to cut out to fit the compression fittings and filter.

Image


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It's 2018 Enclave Avenir with towing package.
 
#35 ·
Pilotdog68 said:
I was planning to do this install today until I realized my transmission lines look different than the photos here. There are a couple more bends and some kind of coating/sleeve on the bottom that seems well-adhered. I don't think I have enough straight pipe to cut out to fit the compression fittings and filter.

View attachment 15052

View attachment 15051

View attachment 15050

It's 2018 Enclave Avenir with towing package.
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You should have enough. Here are pics of mine. I would cut the sleeve as far down as I can but make sure to leave enough so the 3/8" tubing compression fitting can reliably clamp. It looks like the Traverse has a bit more room, but I am not positive about it. I would install he filter as close to the top of the return line as you can and see where the bottom fitting fits in. I don't see why you can't loop the rubber trans cooler hose and zip tie it out of harms way, plus you can always cut the hose pieces a little shorter than I did. Also, I did mine after the Traverse sat overnight. When I cut the cooler return line, maybe a cap full of fluid came out. Definitely not enough to worry about the level. HTH

Here are some pics:

10" Piece of Return Line for a "side of the road" repair - if ever needed (but I doubt it):

Installed Filter (also above):

Dorman 3/8" tube to 3/8" barbed fittings.
 
#36 · (Edited)
The filter + compression fittings alone measure 9", plus I'll need probably 1-2" of slack minimum just to get everything in place. So with 11" needed, things would get real tight in a hurry. Did y'all have that sleeve thing too? I can't tell if it's just heatshrink that will cut back easily, or if it's glued on. Fingernail test makes no progress. If I can get that off its probably doable.

At this point I've already refilled my fluid. Does the fluid need to be drained to do the install, or is this line empty when the engine is off?

Image


Image
 
#37 ·
Pilotdog68 said:
Did y'all have that sleeve thing too?
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No, I didn't. I think it's protective plastic so the line doesn't rub on the body or any brackets.

No need to drain the fluid. Like I said in my last post, maybe a cap full came out. Not enough to measure. I let mine sit overnight before I worked on it.
 
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