By Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 03:44 am: Edit

I need to change my tranny fluid and have heard that the fluid change is much more important than the actual filter change. Heard on here that the filters are rarely dirty etc. Can I just drain and replace the fluid without much cost and hassle? Anyone do this with good/bad results? How do I drain..just open the drain bolt?

By al hang on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 05:21 am: Edit

open the drain bolt and fill thru the dipstick.

By Daniel on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 06:36 am: Edit

Jorge,
Remember that you will not be able to drain all of the transmission fluid by simply pulling the plug. A fair amount stays in the torque convertor and will cause you to overfill if you add the full amount (something like 9 qts.) listed in the manual.
I have done one change and ended up with, I think, 3 full quarts left over. I will drain it again and re-fill. I figure after three times, I will have all fresh fluid.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 07:15 am: Edit

Daniel is correct , you should do it twice to get it clean. Its pretty easy so no big deal..

kyle

By lynden on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 07:18 am: Edit

I was wondering about this too. When I got to thinking, the torque converter holds a lot of fluid, how do you know how much to drop in??? Do you just put some in, check, put more in, check, so on and so on??? I might try to find a service center w/ that slick dialysis machine that others talked about, the one that sucks out old fluid and pumps in new. Would that get all the fluid??? or would there still be some left in the converter??? Maybe Daniel has the right idea of just changing a few times in 500 miles or so, that would ensure clean fluid throughout.

Thanks for any thoughts.
Lynden

By Tom P. on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 07:51 am: Edit

This works well on a Friday night, prepping for a Saturday shop day.

Warm up the fluid on a short drive, then remove drain plug and drain fluid. Refit drain plug and let sit overnight. You'll drain out another quart in the morning. Do this two or three times and you have a high percentage of new fluid.

As far as how much to put in - measure what you take out, then put that back in minus one quart. Check the dip stick and add the last quart 1/2 pint increments. Check the dip stick between increments - You do not want to overfill.

By lynden on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 08:40 am: Edit

One more question, I don't have an owners manual, how do you check? Warm and in Park??? Thanks... I know, dumb question.
Lynden

By dgj95lwb on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 09:41 am: Edit

Same trans in my 95 lwb- manual says Cold and in park. My comment: prime the system first by running the selector thru all the gears, each for a second or 2, then back into park. Now check level. Cheers..

By Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 10:14 am: Edit

whats the danger in overfilling? Just curious