Transmission...fluids....again...

[dogfriend]

AMSOil states on the bottle that their ATF meets the Mercon V specification. I switched to AMSOil, but only have put on about 3k miles since switching.

I also used AMSOil in my transfer case and it seems to be smoother when in 4wd Low compared to the normal ATF that was in there.

 

[yob_yeknom]

Flushing the tranny is a waste of time. The only reason the shops flush the tranny is so they won't have to drop the pan, it's just simpler for them. Problem is that since they don't drop the pan, they don't change the filter. If you can get them to drop the pan, change the filter, then flush the tranny, go for it. But if they will only do one or the other, you're better off having the filter changed.

Removing the exhaust under the tranny on the SOHC only takes 5 minutes, so dropping the pan is no big deal. One bolt you at the rear connection is a pain (the one with the head pointing up instead of down), so put a wrench on the bolt and turn the nut, then turn the wrench, then the nut. (you'll understand if you do it) When you put it back on it fits just fine the other way and makes it easy to put back on.

 

[dogfriend]

When I had mine flushed at the dealer (32k), they said "That's the only way we can get the color to be nice and red the way new fluid is".

At the time, I thought that they changed the filter too. However, when I looked at the receipt, I can't find how much they charged for the filter so I would conclude that they didn't change it.

When I changed it at 79k, my fluid still looked ok, but the filter was black inside.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by yob_yeknom
. . .Removing the exhaust under the tranny on the SOHC only takes 5 minutes, so dropping the pan is no big deal. One bolt you at the rear connection is a pain (the one with the head pointing up instead of down), so put a wrench on the bolt and turn the nut, then turn the wrench, then the nut. (you'll understand if you do it) When you put it back on it fits just fine the other way and makes it easy to put back on.[/color]

Have you actually done this on yours? I have tried on three different occasions and no matter how I did it, I could not get the one bolt to budge. I gave up and dropped the front driveshaft instead. I wish my exhaust would come off below the pan. It would make the filter change so much easier and cleaner. Undoubtably though, I'll try the exhaust for a fourth time the next time I'm due for another filter change

 

[yob_yeknom]

Yeah, I've done it twice withing the past week. I did have my dad help me though. I used a funny u-shaped wrench on the head of the bolt and he used a socket with a swivel on the nut. We used some penetrating oil and had it off in no time at all.

I'll be removing the exhaust again soon. I'm having trouble fixing a leak caused from four-wheeling. Now with the bolt pointing the other way so that it is easy to get to, it's a piece of cake.

 

[Robert]

I did not try penetrating oil so maybe that might have helped. I had every intention of putting the bolt back in the opposite direction if I could have gotten it off. It would have made it much easier to get to.

 

[Gator]

I want to thank everyone for the help. I plan to change the fluid tomorrow on one of my explorers and the other next week.

Hopefully, with all of your help it will go smoothly.

Thanks again. It is great to have this forum to extend help to one another.