8 common problems with 6-Speed Transmission on Silverado 2015

Chevy 2015 Silverado is an excellent truck for its incredible power and goodness at towing. It comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 6-speed is a significant upgrade over the previous 4-speed unit. Unfortunately, several common 2015 Silverado 6 Speed Transmission Problems happen frequently.

So, what are the possible Silverado 6-speed transmission difficulties? leaking/dirty/burnt fluid, whining noise, jolting, slipping transmission, shift flares, and others. You should inspect your truck to identify the problems.

Knowing about these problems may save your wallet and watch well. That’s how I got here; I assure you that you can figure out what is happening with the transmission by reading this article.

8 common problems with 6-Speed Transmission on Silverado 2015

A Glance of the 2015 Silverado 6 Transmission

The 2015 Silverado has a mighty transmission to improve fuel economy. Chevrolet has used the 6-speed transmission to provide maximum user performance with good towing capabilities.

General Motors manufactured the 6L80 transmission (also known as Chevy 6 transmission) in 2006. It was designed to work efficiently in RWD, AWD, and 4WD applications. Experts say this new transmission can improve fuel economy by up to 2 mpg in the city and 5 mpg on the highway. This is a significant improvement that helps save money at the pump.

Besides, it provides quicker acceleration and more responsive shifting. This is especially beneficial when towing a trailer or hauling a heavy load.

8 common problems with 6-Speed Transmission on Silverado 2015

Nothing is free, especially when it’s to technology like the 2015 Silverado 6-speed transmission. It may remain fine when it’s newly bought. But you can face different issues on the road or on trails.

Here are the problems I am talking about:

  • Leaking Fluid from Transmission
  • Burnt or Dirty Fluid
  • Gear ShiftingProblem
  • Hard Downshifts
  • Whining Noise
  • No Shift into Gear
  • Slipping Transmission
  • Transmission Shuddering

#1- Leaking Fluid from Transmission

Transmission metes out power from the engine to the truck wheels. It helps to protect the parts of the vehicle from wear and tear. But Chevy 6-speed transmission can get leaking fluid problems. It can reduce the overall performance of the truck.

You can quickly identify the leak of the fluid. It’s because the fuel of the transmission is bright red. Besides, experts recommend checking fluid levels daily. Low fuel levels may reduce the functioning of the transmission.

#2- Burnt or Dirty Fluid

Silverado 6-speed transmission can get this problem too. While you check its fluid, you may find the fluid burnt or contaminated. If you see the fluid has gone dark or thick, your transmission may face overheating. Also, burnt or dirty fluid can cause increased friction among the parts.

#3- Gear Shifting Problem

Any automatic transmission helps to switch its gear when you increase the vehicle’s speed. But shift flare happens when the transmission fails to shift smoothly. In the 2015 Silverado, you may get the engine revs rising but fails to provide the regular, expected speed. However, shift flares happen occasionally. You may experience it between the same two gears.

#4- Hard Downshifts

It is the opposite of shift flares. When your Silverado 6 transmission fails to shift its gear to a lower level while you loosen the throttle, you may get your engine to rev unexpectedly or at an unusually high rate besides putting extra stress on it. Mostly, this problem occurs due to the failure of a downshift solenoid. To identify the problem, you should check if the engine light is working.

#5- Whining Noise

It’s pretty annoying to unusual noises from the vehicle we ride regularly. If you own Chevy 2015 Silverado truck, you may get irritating grinding noises. When you shift the transmission into drive, you will get this whining noise but no impact on the gear. Then, every part will fail to work well when you give it several throttles. It does not matter if you provide the reverse or manual gears throttles.

Mostly, the deformed, plastic check valves with less pressure are the reasons for this whining noise. Moreover, faulty sensors and solenoids can be other reasons you get the problem. Sometimes, faulty dried and rusted seals can make your engine noises.

#6- No Shift into Gear

Sometimes the Silverado 6-speed transmission may fail to shift into gear. Again, the transmission components may rub against each other, creating a whining sound while shifting the gear. If you get this problem, you should contact the mechanic as soon as you can. Usually, this problem indicates any adjustments to engine parts or wide-ranging repair tasks.

#7- Slipping Transmission

The 2015 Silverado has a short transmission line. Sometimes the accelerator pedal sensor fails to work rightly. Hence, it may lead to the truck’s failure to start. The transmission strays far from its core function when this happens, spreading power to the whole truck. Then, it malfunctions the accelerator pedal, which prevents the driver from moving at his preference.

The distance of pushing the accelerator pedal depends on the throttle position sensors. Generally, it transfers the info to the computers to maintain engine speed and fuel flow. That throttle position sensor can detect whether the pedal is pushed down or not. When you get your truck providing less performance, possibly the sensor is not working well.

One more thing you should know is that a defective connector can malfunction the throttle position sensor. You may need to repair the wire that connects the sensor if it’s broken.

#8- Transmission Shuddering

During the winter season, your 2015 Chevy Silverado transmission may shudder unexpectedly. Usually, this problem occurs when you ride the truck at low RPM. The shuddering mostly pauses between 2nd-3rd for 3-4 seconds. Mostly it happens when you shift gear for the first time in the day. Therefore, this shuddering stops when the fluid becomes hot after moments.

Do you need to replace the transmission? Is it worth it?

Replacing any transmission is a bit expensive. Mostly, the replacement cost of a Chevy 6-speed transmission is almost close to replacing an engine. That’s why people prefer to repair to save some money. However, you should be aware of some points.

Repairing does save you money but leaves several risks. Maybe one part is repaired, and another part is getting faults. It happens because any faulty part is lying in the transmission, putting more pressure.

Still, if you want to replace the full Silverado transmission, you may need to pay a minimum of half of what you pay at a dealership when you prefer any sole seller.

5 Tips to Avoid 2015 Silverado 6-Speed Transmission Problems

Transmission problems are just a barrier to using the Silverado 2015 truck properly. With every problem you get with the transmission, you may suffer a lot. Therefore, below instructions, you can maintain the health of transmission to avoid those problems:

Plan Routine Maintenance

If you want to keep your transmission performing for years, you should plan routine maintenance. Experts suggest changing transmission fluid every 30K-60K miles for manual and 60K-100K miles for automatic transmission.

Flush Transmission

If you keep the level of transmission fluid low, the truck may face future difficulties. So, it is better to address transmission fluid levels and avoid driving when the level is lower than recommended. Sometimes, a seal replacement may fix the problem.

Stop Fully before You Shift into Drive

Suppose you want to back out of a parking spot or reverse the truck. You should stop fully before you shift it into drive.

Use the Brake Wisely

Generally, the transmission works harder when you drive the truck on the brake pedal. You should use the emergency brake when parking the truck on an incline. It will reduce stress on the linkage of the parking.

TuneUp the Engine

Always tune up the engine to keep the transmission active. You may ask any mechanic how to tune a truck engine and transmission for better help.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado Transmission Problems >> Check out the video below:

Conclusion

2015 Silverado 6-speed transmission problems are hard to avoid as they can appear anytime. You should inspect the problems first, like how it is impacting overall performance. Repair the components if repairing can solve the problem. Otherwise, you may ask the experts about the issues you are facing.

Lastly, regular maintenance is an initial step to avoid those problems in Chevy 2015 Silverado truck with 6-speed transmission.

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Who Worked on This post?

Anderson

Chef-Editor

Anderson is an experienced auto mechanic with over 10 years in the industry. He is skilled in diagnosing and repairing a wide range of vehicles, from sedans to trucks and SUV

Syed Ahmed

Writer

Syed Ahmed has been working as an auto mechanic editor for the past five years. He has a background in mechanical engineering and a love for all things automotive

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