Auto Trans fluid change

[sirhk100]

I read about the Auto Trans oil change method of running extended tubes into 2 five gallon buckets. One empty and one full of new ATF. This sounds really easy. My qustion is about changing the filter. Performing this method it seems to me that you would have to waste good ATF or something. Do you guys just not change the filter or what? Any tricks or info before I try this would be great. By the way, I'm a little paranoid about the tranny no sucking up the new fluid out of the bucket and then having to figure out how to get the new fluid from a 5 gallon bucket into the tranny. Anyone with experience with this procedure it would be great to hear the tricks involved.

Thanks

 

[Bruce L]

The only info I can offer is that I did the standard fluid/filter change. I drained it from the bottom and put in a filter and gasket. Be careful with the pan bolts. They're easy to strip the thread!

Then refilled from the top.

 

[sirhk100]

The method I'm refering to supposedly changes all the fluid, not just the 5 quarts or what ever the book calls for. This supposedly changes the fluid in the torque converter and everything. It requires something like 4 gallons of fluid.

 

[tbomb]

if you get under your truck and remove the dust cover, you can see the torque converter. some years of X's have a drain plug on the converter, but i dont know which years...for all i know, they all have em. if you have the drain plug, you wont need to do this "displacement balance" technique (i think thats what its called.) you can just drain the torque converter and the tranny separately. good luck, and let me know how it goes, im doing my tranny in about a month or so.

 

[sirhk100]

I think this is going to be next weekends project. This weekend I'm going to attempt to get my sway bar hooked up by making my own lengthened link pins and since I'm lengthening them I'm go to attempt to build my own disconnect system.

 

[Rhett]

sirhk100 I too have read about the "two buckets" method of changing ALL of the ATF. I would like to hear from someone that actually did it that way. I am sure some people here have done that.

Whatever you do, don't use those Jiffy Lube flusher machines. All they are good for is subjecting your trans to high pressure, and consequently busting your gasket seals. Plus they got ATF on my clearcoat. Yeah, it left a permanent mark. Now, older and wiser, I never let anyone touch my truck unless I know they know what they're doing.

 

[sirhk100]

i'm in the same boat as you with this 2 bucket thing. I want to hear from someone that has actually attempted it because I'm not to sure that the tranny will create a vacuum and actually suck the new fluid out of the bucket. If it works though it sounds easier and cleaner then crawling under and dropping the pan. It also sounds way more thorough.

 

[go off road]

You can just undo one of the trans cooler lines and use some hose and flush the old oil out as you add new oil, the oil in the pan goes to the converter and from the converter to the trany cooler so if you run 2 gallens you will see the trany oil come out clean as for the trans filter it is just a screen you can clean it and chenge the pan gaskit and clean the pan and check for metal but if its just and 30K or 60K service and the pan gaskit is not leaking the a flush will be ok.

Wade

 

[Lowrider]

Hey Guys, I tried the 2 bucket method over the weekend. It didn't quite work. Seems like it did not create enough suction in the bucket with the clean fluid to take it up. The waste bucket filled quite rapidly, but as soon as the fluid level in the trans sump dropped below the filter, it stopped putting any more fluid out and didn't take any up. I assume that unless you stop air from getting into the trans sump, this technique will not work. I had to go to plan B which invloved me putting the clean fluid back into the quart containers and putting it in one at a time through the filler while someone cranked the engine. If you are quick, you can keep it going in fast enough without shutting it down too much. As long as you suspend the line over the waste bucket, you can visually tell when the fluid starts to look clean. It took about 13 or 14 quarts to run clean. Probably less because after all the little spills there must have been at least a quart on the driveway, truck and me. Try to rig a large funnel to make life easier and line up all the quarts with the caps off before you start pouring.
I switced from regular fluid to Mobil 1 synthetic and I can notice a difference in the shifts both up and down. It is a bit smoother(I assume this is good)!

 

[sirhk100]

That's exactly what I wanted to here!! Someone with experience doing it. I thought the process sounded too good to be true. I'm going to be doing mine with in a couple weeks cause I want to put in a temp. guage so I figure that's the perfect time to go and do the full flush also. Thanks for being the Guinea Pig on this one!!

 

[Maniak]

The problem is that the pump in the tranny isn't a suction type pump. The pump will push the fluid out but there isn't any pump on the other line to suck it back up. I too learned this about auto trannies after I tried the 2 bucket fluid change.

The only way I know to have it work is to use a seperate fluid pump to pump the fluid back in.

~Mark

 

[rockylaurence]

I know what happened!

The pump needs positive pressure (not self priming). Next time, elevate the new fluid above the trans and use gravity to create "Head Pressure" (positive) at the intake. You may also have to prefill the intake hose also, because if it sucks air it may loose it's prime. OOOOR! just do it the normal way. I change 5 quarts every 12K. I do recommend the good stuff (synthetic) because it is changed less frequently than motor oil.

 

[mdrut]

I also change mine the old fashion way..Most of the 91-94 models have a drain plug on the torque convertor..Drain it and you will only be left with about a quart in the system..And don't over tighten the drain pan..

 

[sirhk100]

This will be my 1st time ever messing with a Auto tranny and a torque converter. I've rebuilt manual trannies but never owned an Auto. Sorry if this question is stupid but, Once I pull off the access plate so that I can see the torque converter will I be able to reach up and spin it manually to get to the drain plug or will I have to crank the engine over a little at a time?

 

[Stephen S]

You'll have to have someone bump the engine over a little at a time while you watch for the plug to pass.

Does anyone know if the 95+ trucks have a dust cover on the transmission?? I'd like to change the fluid in mine and get it all out ot the torque converter too. I slid under there a few seconds for a quick look yesterday, but I didn't see a dust cover like my old Ranger had. Anybody know about 95+ trannies?

 

[sirhk100]

Here's the next stoopid question. Once I get it all drained what's the process of filling it? How does the fluid get into the torque converter? Can I just pour like 10 quarts in then start it up and check it or what?

 

[Stephen S]

No, you can't just pour it all in. I think you just pour in as much as you can, then start the engine, the spinning torque convertor will then fill with oil quickly, so be ready to pour more in. Continue to pour the fliud in until you get it all in there.

I THINK this is right. If I am wrong in any way, someone please correct me.

 

[aldive]

Much easier to take it to a Jiffy Lube type establishment. No mess. Sure it costs more, but some things are simply not worth doing yourself.

 

[MikeP]

Oil Extractor Pump

What about using an oil extractor pump to remove the fluid from an auto transmission? I see the pump from Griot's Garage for about $70 (item no. 10122) at Dead Link Removed
If the oil pump hose would fit down far enough into the transmission - this "might" work.
Mike in Seattle, 91 XLT 4x4

 

[sirhk100]

That's an idea!! Would that thing get all the fluid or just that in the sump? Would you still have to drain the torque converter or would this get that too? I guess you still have to figure out the filter too. Why couldn't they just make the filter external like the motor oil filter??????