TN_Explorer
Active Member
- Joined
- October 27, 2004
- Messages
- 76
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Manchester, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 5-1991's; 1-94; 1-2000
Having owned & maintained my Explorer since April 1990, it's only natural that after finding this board I would do more & more of my own maintenance. I began changing the transmission fluid a couple of years ago.
The first time I changed the filter was in the carport. I jacked it up and proceeded to pull the pan bolts and dump 4-1/2 quarts of fluid on the concrete. I was banned from the carport for that adventure, even though it was my wife's Explorer and I was doing this for her.
I got smart and the next time I changed the fluid I went to the base's hobby shop to use their lift and equipment. I put the Explorer up on the lift, rolled a portable drain pan under it, adjusted the drain pan, which is connected by a long pipe to a 5-gallon can on wheels, and began pulling the bolts carefully from one end. With great satisfaction I watched as the transmission fluid all went into the pan. Then I realized the last *&)!# idiot who used it didn't drain the 5-gallon can, as oil and transmission fluid began overflowing the spout onto the floor. With the funnel & tube full, I practiced being all three of the Stooges as I tried to figure out how to make it stop. It took 30 minutes to change the filter and about an hour and a half to clean up the mess! It was even worse than the carport episode, and I was paying rental time on the stall as I was cleaning it up.
I vowed not to do this again, so when I had to rebuild my valve body recently I finally got smart. I pumped most of the oil out first using the engine:
Without all the fluid in the transmisson, I dropped the pan with NO MESS!!! I then installed a kit (AutoZone, $7.99) by drilling a 1/2" hole and bolting it in:
Then I pulled the valve body, put the pan back in place & called it a great day. The next morning the inevitable red pool was oozing out from under the Explorer. Yep, I had forgotten to tighten the drain plug!!!!!!!!!
All of these antics have been worthwhile though, as I have almost no rust problems with any of my tools. As a side benefit, I have discovered that soaking your hair in transmission fluid and washing it with Dawn detergent three times a day leaves it soft and supple and with pleasant red highlights. I expect when women discover this it will become a new fashion fad.
-- Mike
The first time I changed the filter was in the carport. I jacked it up and proceeded to pull the pan bolts and dump 4-1/2 quarts of fluid on the concrete. I was banned from the carport for that adventure, even though it was my wife's Explorer and I was doing this for her.
I got smart and the next time I changed the fluid I went to the base's hobby shop to use their lift and equipment. I put the Explorer up on the lift, rolled a portable drain pan under it, adjusted the drain pan, which is connected by a long pipe to a 5-gallon can on wheels, and began pulling the bolts carefully from one end. With great satisfaction I watched as the transmission fluid all went into the pan. Then I realized the last *&)!# idiot who used it didn't drain the 5-gallon can, as oil and transmission fluid began overflowing the spout onto the floor. With the funnel & tube full, I practiced being all three of the Stooges as I tried to figure out how to make it stop. It took 30 minutes to change the filter and about an hour and a half to clean up the mess! It was even worse than the carport episode, and I was paying rental time on the stall as I was cleaning it up.
I vowed not to do this again, so when I had to rebuild my valve body recently I finally got smart. I pumped most of the oil out first using the engine:
Without all the fluid in the transmisson, I dropped the pan with NO MESS!!! I then installed a kit (AutoZone, $7.99) by drilling a 1/2" hole and bolting it in:
Then I pulled the valve body, put the pan back in place & called it a great day. The next morning the inevitable red pool was oozing out from under the Explorer. Yep, I had forgotten to tighten the drain plug!!!!!!!!!
All of these antics have been worthwhile though, as I have almost no rust problems with any of my tools. As a side benefit, I have discovered that soaking your hair in transmission fluid and washing it with Dawn detergent three times a day leaves it soft and supple and with pleasant red highlights. I expect when women discover this it will become a new fashion fad.
-- Mike
. I've found kitty litter is great for soaking it up. And if you grind it into the pavement with a 2X4, or even you shoe, cleans it right up.
