| Author | Message | ||
     Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 752 Registered: 04-2002 |
Alright, here is the situation. I've got a '96 Discovery with 145k on it. I've never changed the transmission fluid, and I kind of doubt it was changed before I owned it. On a couple of occasions over the past 10k I've had to add a quart/quart and a half to it. While under the truck last night, I noticed •••••• fluid covering up the transfer case on the bottom side. Should I even bother with a complete transmission fluid and filter change, or just do the "4 quart easy" fluid change. Also, if I did opt for the 4 quart change, would I just undo the drain plug at the bottom of the sump and only about 4 quarts come out? I've never dealt with transmissions before so any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.. RS | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 56 Registered: 02-2003 |
Robert, Coming from someone who ignored their transmission fluid change quite like you have, my truck is now at the shop awaiting a $2500 rebuild. I fear you may have done the damage already. I hope you have better luck than I. -P | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 753 Registered: 04-2002 |
Ouch! How many miles on your truck? | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 758 Registered: 04-2002 |
anyone else care to chime in? | ||
| John Cronin (Jec) New Member Username: Jec Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
The 2 to 3 quarts in 10k sounds a little scary. Can you tell if it's coming out of the rear seal on the transmission, or from somewhere else? (you may need to clean it all off to find the leak) How does the ATF on the dipstick look - old and dark? Few shops can do a "complete" ATF change unless they pump it out of the torque converter. All you need to do is unscrew the drain plug and you should get more like 5.5 quarts out if you let it drain overnight from hot. Be careful not to put more back in than you took out. Run that for a week, then do it again, and you have close to 75% new fluid. If the current fluid looks bad, maybe even do it a third time - it only takes a few minutes. As for the filter, it's a pain, but if you really don't think it's ever been done, it would probably be a good thing to do. But ... if the leak is coming from the rear seal, and you think you might want to repair that, you might just change the fluid several times now, and then do the filter when you do the seal or whatever. Also, I think that letting a transmission get "a quart or quart and a half" low is pushing it. Until you get the leak cured, try checking the fluid level more often and try to keep it within the operating range on the dipstick (which, if I recall correctly, is either 1/4 or 1/2 quart) Good luck. John | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 534 Registered: 10-2002 |
I changed the ATF in my 88RRC once when I switched it over to syn. I freaked out when only 4-5 quarts came out and the manual said it held 10. I guess you know, most of the fluid remains in the torque converter. After I drained it, I attemped to run more of the old fluid out but putting in a quart, running it a few minutes, shifting through the gears, draining, and repeating this process a few times and finally filling it up. From what I understand, they are pretty robust hopefully you just have a bad seal somewhere, but you are supposed to change the fluid every 20K. I have also heard that in older rigs, changing the filter could further cause problems by disloading foreing matter that can then recirculate in the system. It's also a bitch to change since you have to remove one of the chassis cross members. What I did was easy, just pull the plug and let it flow out. You refill through the "dip stick" That's about all I know. I don't think it would hurt to at least try to change the fuild. Good Luck, hope you don't have any major problems. -John | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 59 Registered: 02-2003 |
Robert, I have about 112k on the truck. To be fair, I have NOT done due diligence on the transmission, and it has seen quite a lot of wading and other hard use. It's clearly my abusive use and not cleaning up after myself. I stress though that unless you want to share my fate, you remain diligent about changing the fluid and filter. -P | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 759 Registered: 04-2002 |
I've always kind of believed in what John was saying above. Since the transmission has been neglected, changing the filter now may not be a good idea. Anyhow, when I was under my rig for my oil change, diff fluid, swivel fluid change the other night, their was •••••• fluid all underneath the tfer case. I'll at least do the multiple quart flush this weekend. Not sure that I have time for a filter/reseal on short notice. Thanks guys.. RS | ||
| Tbow (Tbow) Member Username: Tbow Post Number: 105 Registered: 12-2002 |
Robert. NO NO NO.. CHANGE IT NOW.. You can not hurt the transmission by changing the fluid and filter at this point. On the contrary, it will help. What ever damage is alread done and to continue and neglect will only shorten the life even more. When you replace the filter, tear it apart and look to see what's in the filter and at the bottom of the pan. Also, drain the oil into a clean oil pan or take about a cup coming out of the plug and put it in a glass jar and look at it in the sunlight. If you see sparkling silver metal filings then you probably have bearings that have started to lose their hardface. If you see sparkling brass filings then your bearings are starting to go. It is normal to find some but not too much. You'll also find kind of a dark grey muck on the bottom of the pan. that is your clutch packs wearing down. I would suggest that you change the oil and filter. Then run it a week, then do it again, oil and filter, run it a week and then just change the oil. The reason I recommend the second oil/filter change is that you'll be flushing out more "shit" that could clog up the new filter and the third oil change just fluid only to dilute the old oil even more. After than, I would recommend oil changes every 12K miles and a filter every 24. I don't recommend the quick flush systems because they usually don't change the filter and you got to change the filter. One final note, the transmission unlike an engine does not burn oil. It only leaks. If your adding a quart every 10K miles, then that is what your leaking on the ground. | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 760 Registered: 04-2002 |
I guess I'll be buying a couple of filters and 300 gallons of DexronIII. Thanks for the tips guys. |
