Replacing All of Your Transmission Fluid

[stuzman]

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right location for this topic and if not, the mod can move it as needed.

I ran across this article a few years ago and thought it would be helpful for anyone wanting to replace all of their transmission fluid. This method will replace the fluid inside the torque converter along with what's in the heat exchanger. I've used this method several times and it works very good.

I've found that it works easier with three people. One to start and turn off the engine. The second person will monitor the flow of fluid going into a 5 gal bucket and the third person will pour the oil down the filler tube.

I made a few adjustments to the article by taking a plastic five gallon bucket and marked the inside of the bucket with a permanent sharpie. This was accomplished by drawing a line with 1QT beside it on a strip of duct tape. Then fill a measuring cup for a quart of water, pour its contents into the bucket and then place the duct tape with the line in aligment to where the top of the water is in the five gallon bucket. Repeat this procedure for the 2nd QT and continue this procedure until there are 14qts marked out on the inside of the bucket. When all of the lines are marked, empty all of the water.

After the pan dump and filter change, pour the approximately seven gts of pan oil into the bucket. I always pour my pan contents into the 5 gal bucket and see what it measures. Once you've done this once, you can record the amount needed for future changes. Now there are about seven more qts to replace.

In the article, it says to disconnect both the supply and return lines from the radiator. I found that its only necessary to disconnect the supply line which is on the bottom of the radiator. The line will not be long enough to get into the bucket so I use a piece of tygon plastic tubing from Lowe's that just slides over the tubing fitting and then let the tubing lay into the bucket along with the oil removed from the pan.

I found that the oil pump in the transmission will pump a lot faster than you can pour oil and the engine will have to be turned off a couple of times during the process to catch up. I try to not let the bucket's contents get over two quarts ahead of me pouring the oil in. If so, I turn the engine off so I can catch up with the bucket's contents.

You will want to have near 14qts in the bucket which means 7qts will be added. You will notice that as you get close to the 14qt mark, the fluid will turn brighter which means that new fluid is coming out. At this point, all of the fluid has been exchanged. Turn off the car, reconnect the supply line to the radiator and you're done. The link to the article is here http://www.amsoil.com/faqs/atf_and_f...procedures.pdf

One other thing. I wouldn't do this method if you've never serviced your transmision and its experiencing problems. In that case, I would do what most people here recommend. Drop your pan, change the oil along with the filter and hope for the best.

Terry

[dsmuts]

You could just over fill your trans with about 10 quarts. That's what i did

[stuzman]

You could just over fill your trans with about 10 quarts. That's what i did

If you just dropped the pan and changed the oil, it looks like you came in just about 2.5 qts too much.

You'll have to know what your total capacity is for your car. In my car, the specs are as follows:

Bottom Pan Removal: 7.4qts
Complete Overhaul: 10.0 qts
Dry: 13.4 qts

And even with these values, I found that I run a little closer to 14 qts instead of 13.4 qts

That's why I mentioned approximate values for the qts. You could always come in a couple of qts shy of what you think your fill capacity is and then do a final check when the fluid is warm, etc.

Terry

[matt5112]

Overfilling is suddenly a good thing?

[BillBoost37]

Overfilling causes foaming and that causes dead trans.

Terry.. you are putting the old fluid in the bucket, and filling the trans after the pan drop, before you begin the flush correct?

While I'm more a fan of doing two pan drops closer together.. this is a good write up.

[dsmuts]

I meant over fill it if your gonna pull off a line and run it in the bucket

[Scottydoggs]

i dont know why you wouldn't use 2 buckets, dump 14 quarts in one bucket, and pull both trans lines, stick hoses on each line, one sucks it in and the other pushes it out, the one that pushes fluid out goes to the empty bucket the line that sucks it back goes into the full bucket of new fluid. when the bucket that was full of new fluid is empty , you are done.

your way makes it sound way harder than it should be.

[stuzman]

Overfilling causes foaming and that causes dead trans.

Terry.. you are putting the old fluid in the bucket, and filling the trans after the pan drop, before you begin the flush correct?

While I'm more a fan of doing two pan drops closer together.. this is a good write up.

That's correct Bill. The fluid from the pan drop goes into the bucket. Refill the tranny with the engine off to what was removed. Start the engine and begin the flush.

Terry

[stuzman]

i dont know why you wouldn't use 2 buckets, dump 14 quarts in one bucket, and pull both trans lines, stick hoses on each line, one sucks it in and the other pushes it out, the one that pushes fluid out goes to the empty bucket the line that sucks it back goes into the full bucket of new fluid. when the bucket that was full of new fluid is empty , you are done.

your way makes it sound way harder than it should be.

Scott, the method you mentioned should work also. I only followed the article and did what it said. And your method would create less hassle.

Terry

[Logan541]

i dont know why you wouldn't use 2 buckets, dump 14 quarts in one bucket, and pull both trans lines, stick hoses on each line, one sucks it in and the other pushes it out, the one that pushes fluid out goes to the empty bucket the line that sucks it back goes into the full bucket of new fluid. when the bucket that was full of new fluid is empty , you are done.

your way makes it sound way harder than it should be.

This way would not flush the trans cooler

[Scottydoggs]

This way would not flush the trans cooler

you could blow it out, and its going to leak out when you take the lines off anyway.

[Logan541]

you could blow it out, and its going to leak out when you take the lines off anyway.

I was wondering about blowing it out but worried if it would damage the radiator I usually disconnect the return line and pour fluid in as it is pumping out then drop the pan change the filter examine the pan and refill soemtimes I will l (If I have other work to do on the car and its up on stands anyway) leave the pan off until all the other work is done over a two day period you can get almost an extra pt to pt and 1/2 out of it