Transmission Fluid Quantity

[BrianF]

I don't see any issue with clearing out the cooler but in all reality the exchange method does not net you 100% clean fluid. Do not sweat half a litre here and there. In the grand scheme of things it does not make a difference.

As well, I am not sure how the cooler line returns to the transmission. You could always just disconnect both input and output lines and clear it out.

 

[TequilaWarrior]

I don't see any issue with clearing out the cooler but in all reality the exchange method does not net you 100% clean fluid. Do not sweat half a litre here and there. In the grand scheme of things it does not make a difference.

As well, I am not sure how the cooler line returns to the transmission. You could always just disconnect both input and output lines and clear it out.

Is the lack of 100% change due to the TC or just other residual fluid? I was considering using one of those "flush" products that claims to remove varnish and such but would want to get as much of the old fluid and flush product out as possible. Are they worth it is it more snake oil than anything?

 

[Mektek]

I recommend Valvoline max life Dex6 at Autozone for around $28 for a gallon. Sometimes it goies on sale for less... On the bottle it even claims to be synthetic.
I had a car that started to shift hard into every gear. I flushed the transmission with this and after about 100 miles the shifting returned to normal and was ok for three years until I sold the car.

 

[BrianF]

I doubt a flush product will make any difference. I have never seen any sort of varnish in any of the transmissions I have ripped apart over the years. The worst is the usual clutch debris in the pan. ATF is not subject to blowby, moisture, acids or soot. Unless you are trying to limp along a dying transmission, I would not recommend any additives. Mind you I am not a professional mechanic, nor do I play one on tv.

If you are getting some TC shudder I would suggest a quality group 3 or 4 based ATF, like Maxlife, Amsoil (I think they have a great product with a ridiculous price) or similar. I ran a group 4 in my Ram 1500 with the 545RFE. Its a product made in Saskatchewan, Co-op ATF SL, multivehicle 7cSt fluid. 9$ a liter and it did a great job in that trans under some heavy towing. Its also doing just fine in my AT2 transfer case and various PS systems.

I am not sure how much fluid is left in the system for sure or how much the TC retains, if any. When I did my TB in 2014, I used about 13 or so liters and the fluid was bright pink pumping out. Dipstick checks to this day still show it bright pink and smelling as good as ATF should be. The 4L60e in my 1993 K1500 used maybe 11-12 liters if I recall to flush out the nasty dark brown ATF. Dipstick check shows it nice and pink still.

Don't over think this, just pump out the old and pour in some new stuff.

 

[Sqrly]

@MAY03LT Thank you for the Video!

Q1: In the vid when you drop the pan there's almost no fuild in it? If that's the case I can't see paying for a new pan with a drain plug.

Q2: Were you able to pour fluid in as fast as it was pumping it out or did you have to stop and restart the engine a few times?

Note: I know this is an old thread but this vehicle is new to me.

 

[Mooseman]

As per what @MAY03LT said:

Popping the cooler line off and running the pump got close to 5 qts out.
When we dropped the pan we might have got 2-3 qts out.

That's why the pan was almost empty.

 

[Sqrly]

As per what @MAY03LT said:

That's why the pan was almost empty.

I got 4 qts out with the hose and there was 1 qt left in the pan. The whole flush used 14 qts.



I can't find a post that's actually about flushing the transmission following the video @MAY03LT made.

I just finished doing it myself and boy was that ever easy. I did have someone to start and stop the engine for me. I would like to add a few tips.

#1 You'll need 3 catch pans. One to pump the old fluid into, I used an all purpose 5 Gal utility bucket from Home Depot. It worked great because it also measures fluid quantity.

You also need one to leave under the tranny cooler where you disconnected the line because it will drip quite fast the entire time and one to put under the dripping transmission while the pan is off..



#2 Bailing wire is your best freind! I used it to hold the hose end up while doing the filter and again to hold it in place when pumping the fluid out while at the same time pouring more in.



#3 Buy gallon jugs of fluid, not qts. I bought 4 and have 1/2 gal left over.

Note: Yes my garage is carpeted with no padding underneath. Working under your vehicle laying on pile carpet is awsome. I have a nice creeper that rolls on the carpet just fine but I don't use it unless I'm sliding in and out a lot, like when I dropped the fuel tank.

Also, my adult daughter who normally parks in the garage likes to drive home from work barefoot and with the carpet, which I vacuum regularly, she can walk into the house without putting her shoes back on.