Transmission Fluid
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Transmission Fluid
What's a poor man's way of pulling some tranny fluid out the dipstick so I have room to add some additive to the tranny? Want to do it on the cheap.
Yeah, I know, don't add additives, but that is not the question is it?
Yeah, I know, don't add additives, but that is not the question is it?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
and $10 siphon pump from HF or an auto parts store. you could also do the old pool trick of filling the hose full of trans fluid and putting the lower end below the level of the trans with the end blocked off. quickly put the hose down the dipstick tube and then open the end that is lower then the transmission and voila siphon action will take over or everything went wrong and you will have made a royal mess......
Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 13
From: C3 Forum, Colorado
Poor man's way.
1) Get a pickle jar, mayonnaise jar or any kind of jar with a screw off air tight lid.
2) Get whatever kind of tubing that will fit down the dipstick hole to the bottom of the transmission pan.
3) Drill two holes in the lid small enough to press the tubing into tightly so it will be an air tight seal.
4) Put one hose down the dipstick tube and the other to a vacuum source on the engine.
5) Start engine and watch the transmission fluid evacuate and fill the jar.
6) Shut engine off when the desired amount of fluid is removed.
7) Add whatever additive you want and make up any difference with fresh transmission fluid.
Example.
This method is Bubba approved.
2) Get whatever kind of tubing that will fit down the dipstick hole to the bottom of the transmission pan.
3) Drill two holes in the lid small enough to press the tubing into tightly so it will be an air tight seal.
4) Put one hose down the dipstick tube and the other to a vacuum source on the engine.
5) Start engine and watch the transmission fluid evacuate and fill the jar.
6) Shut engine off when the desired amount of fluid is removed.
7) Add whatever additive you want and make up any difference with fresh transmission fluid.
Example.
This method is Bubba approved.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
1) Get a pickle jar, mayonnaise jar or any kind of jar with a screw off air tight lid.
2) Get whatever kind of tubing that will fit down the dipstick hole to the bottom of the transmission pan.
3) Drill two holes in the lid small enough to press the tubing into tightly so it will be an air tight seal.
4) Put one hose down the dipstick tube and the other to a vacuum source on the engine.
5) Start engine and watch the transmission fluid evacuate and fill the jar.
6) Shut engine off when the desired amount of fluid is removed.
7) Add whatever additive you want and make up any difference with fresh transmission fluid.
Example.
This method is Bubba approved.
2) Get whatever kind of tubing that will fit down the dipstick hole to the bottom of the transmission pan.
3) Drill two holes in the lid small enough to press the tubing into tightly so it will be an air tight seal.
4) Put one hose down the dipstick tube and the other to a vacuum source on the engine.
5) Start engine and watch the transmission fluid evacuate and fill the jar.
6) Shut engine off when the desired amount of fluid is removed.
7) Add whatever additive you want and make up any difference with fresh transmission fluid.
Example.
This method is Bubba approved.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
Good idea gtlow. Here is my Bubba option #2. Same idea, just uses more equipment. I have used this method to do regular fluid changes.
Get a 5 gallon bucket and lid from Home Depot/Lowe's/etc. Use a hose as described above that will fit down the dipstick tube and run it through a small hole in the bucket top and into an empty milk jug. Make another hole in the top just big enough to fit the hose on your shop vac. Now with the jug sealed in the bucket, shop vac pluged into the other hole in the bucket top, you can draw out a gallon of trans fluid into the jug. Just stop the vac and remove hose to look in to check the level in the jug. The fittings do not have to be 100% air tight to make this work and you dont have to run the engine. You can do about a 50% fluid change and add your additive.
Just another justification for a shop vac and a trip to Home Depot.
Get a 5 gallon bucket and lid from Home Depot/Lowe's/etc. Use a hose as described above that will fit down the dipstick tube and run it through a small hole in the bucket top and into an empty milk jug. Make another hole in the top just big enough to fit the hose on your shop vac. Now with the jug sealed in the bucket, shop vac pluged into the other hole in the bucket top, you can draw out a gallon of trans fluid into the jug. Just stop the vac and remove hose to look in to check the level in the jug. The fittings do not have to be 100% air tight to make this work and you dont have to run the engine. You can do about a 50% fluid change and add your additive.
Just another justification for a shop vac and a trip to Home Depot.
Last edited by flyeri; Dec 16, 2011 at 08:03 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
if your just on the full mark add the additive i own a tranny shop a little over will not hurt that doesnt mean a quart but there s only 2 additives i recomend lube gaurd and lucus and the lucus is in a quart bottle but it bonds to the parts it wont rase your level half a quart if your tranny is origional id use the lucus i use the lube gaurd on all my rebuilds
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
How much additive are you going to put in it? If no more than 8 oz, just put it in. Otherwise, get some 3/8" OD plastic tubing and suck till it gets near your mouth. Pinch it off, so it won't run back in the sump, turn the end of the tube downward into a pan/bucket of some type and let it syphon out how much you need. It would be best to do this with warmed-up tranny fluid, so it will flow better.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Then decided to try a Coke bottle. Collapsed the bottle.
Guess need to use a thick walled container.
But, just used the old suction of my lungs and pulled out what I needed.
Moving on.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 13
From: C3 Forum, Colorado
Glass jar.
Glad you got done what you set out to do and moving on. But the key item of doing this is a glass jar.
12 - 15 inches of vacuum an engine draws at idle is a lot of force so I'm not surprised it imploded the plastic bottles.
Should you ever decide to try this again use a glass jar, a good petroleum resistant tubing and you'll have a tool to add to your collection for years to come.
I initially made mine over 15 years ago with enough tubing to reach each wheel cylinder to vacuum bleed my brakes because pumping the pedal is for the birds and a helper wasn't always available. Plus it works real well.
Hook everything up, start the engine, open the bleeder screw and stand at the master cylinder adding fluid as needed.
This little contraption has come in handy so many times for various jobs and cost almost nothing to make.
But the key item of doing this is a glass jar.12 - 15 inches of vacuum an engine draws at idle is a lot of force so I'm not surprised it imploded the plastic bottles.
Should you ever decide to try this again use a glass jar, a good petroleum resistant tubing and you'll have a tool to add to your collection for years to come.
I initially made mine over 15 years ago with enough tubing to reach each wheel cylinder to vacuum bleed my brakes because pumping the pedal is for the birds and a helper wasn't always available. Plus it works real well.
Hook everything up, start the engine, open the bleeder screw and stand at the master cylinder adding fluid as needed.
This little contraption has come in handy so many times for various jobs and cost almost nothing to make.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Glad you got done what you set out to do and moving on. But the key item of doing this is a glass jar.
12 - 15 inches of vacuum an engine draws at idle is a lot of force so I'm not surprised it imploded the plastic bottles.
Should you ever decide to try this again use a glass jar, a good petroleum resistant tubing and you'll have a tool to add to your collection for years to come.
I initially made mine over 15 years ago with enough tubing to reach each wheel cylinder to vacuum bleed my brakes because pumping the pedal is for the birds and a helper wasn't always available. Plus it works real well.
Hook everything up, start the engine, open the bleeder screw and stand at the master cylinder adding fluid as needed.
This little contraption has come in handy so many times for various jobs and cost almost nothing to make.
But the key item of doing this is a glass jar.12 - 15 inches of vacuum an engine draws at idle is a lot of force so I'm not surprised it imploded the plastic bottles.
Should you ever decide to try this again use a glass jar, a good petroleum resistant tubing and you'll have a tool to add to your collection for years to come.
I initially made mine over 15 years ago with enough tubing to reach each wheel cylinder to vacuum bleed my brakes because pumping the pedal is for the birds and a helper wasn't always available. Plus it works real well.
Hook everything up, start the engine, open the bleeder screw and stand at the master cylinder adding fluid as needed.
This little contraption has come in handy so many times for various jobs and cost almost nothing to make.
Coke bottles just collapsed.
Glad to know a glass bottle will hold. Was wondering if it was strong enough. Need a nice thick pickle jar as in your example.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
If you're wanting to use an additive, it begs the question - Why?
If the trans has issues, pull the pan and replace all the fluid and filter. You will probably be surprised at the mess in the bottom of the pan. If you find metal bits, it's time for a rebuild.
If the trans has issues, pull the pan and replace all the fluid and filter. You will probably be surprised at the mess in the bottom of the pan. If you find metal bits, it's time for a rebuild.
