Without going to a shop to pay to have it done, has anyone flushed their transmission fluid?

If so, how'd you go about it?

Jake

 

Unhook one of the trans lines going to the radiator. Can't remember which. Basically, start the car and let some fluid drain into a container. Turn it off, adding the same ammount in new fluid back in and repeat each time, untill all the fluid you see coming out is new.

 

Thanks for that.

I'd done it that way before and was about to do it again on my 96, but I wanted to check first to see if I was missing something.

Jake

 

I cheat when I do mine. I have a small marine oil pump thats is used to change the oil in IO's.


Its a small pump that has a thin hose that slides down the oil dip tube and sucks out the old oil, it's neater then sliced bread, any who I use it to suck out the old trans fluid through the dip tube, I do the whole event twice to be sure I have all the old oil out, once finished I add fresh Mobil 1 trans oil and away I go...race on!

Larry

 

Why it's better to do it yourself.

Wait for video to start:

http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=121528

http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=121913

 

I just replace the fluid and gasket. Isn't that good enough?

 

What about the filter? Don't you guys change that, too?

 

I meant to put that. Also, I take off the magnet inisde of the pan and clean it up. Would it be benifical to add another magnet inside along with the stock one or one outside of the pan. Mid america sells a magnet that goes halfway around the oil filter. I don't want to mess with the drain plug one though. I doubt the filter catches all the contaminents and I did find about 3 small pieces of metal, very very small, but still. The fluid looked fine. Not burnt or old looking. Appreciate any information you guys could tell me to keep the transmission in good working order. Jake, sorry I'm not trying to hijack your thread, I just wanted to ask a quiestion about it and not start a new thread.

 

Which line?

 

You're not getting all the fluid out. So you end up with oil fluid still in the torque converter. The whole trans holds about 20 quarts. Dropping the pan only removes about a 1/4 of that.

Yes, this should be done first. Then you can proceed with the rest of the flush.

Depending on motor, the bottom line is either the return of the feed. The instuctions on my B&M cooler described it, but I just can't remember.

 

On my car the top line on the radiator is the feed, I stick a hose onto that line and into a bucket. This is a very easy way to change the fluid. I change the filter as well but change the fluid more often, due to heat when tracking the car.

 

I use a siphon pump with a small hose that goes in the oil stick tube
this is the way I do mine but make sure that you first change the filter.I had the filter replaced at a trans shop.It is too hard for me to take off my X brace (95 vert).I drain about 2 qts every few weeks with a pump and add fresh oil.This way after awhile the fluid is really clean

 

Much appreciated on the information. Thats a new project to work towards. What about a transmission cooler. How hard is it to install? Any specific brand that will help more than others and how much. Appreciate the information guys.

 

Jake, I believe I still have a tip on this in our dormant tech-tips section. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. I'd like to edit it a bit but am unable.

 

Well, here's the result.

Apparently the bottom on the 96 is the return.

I bought a 6' length of 5/16" hose, disconnected the bottom line and clamped the hose to it. I then drilled a hole in the cap of a gallon size jug and stuck the open end of the hose into the jug. All this was designed to catch the fluid.

Fired the engine and not a drop came out of the hose, it all poured out of the radiator. Luckily I'd place a big catch pan under the car, but, still, some fluid sprayed on the under carriage before dropping into the pan. Some even missed the pan and ended up on the driveway; adding another hour to the clean up.

Best layed plans of mice and men often go astray.

When the fluid stopped pumping out of the radiator, I shut down the engine and added three quarts of new fluid (Pennzoil High Mileage ATF)the fired the engine again and let more pump out.. I repeated this until I'd gone through 9 quarts of new fluid.

I then reconnected the metal fluid line and added three quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic, fired the engine, went through the gears with the car stationary, then shut down and checked the level.

It ended up taking another 1-1/2 quarts for a total of 3-1/2 quarts of Mobil 1. I'll check it again once I can get the fluid temp up to it's full operating temp.

It wouldn't have been so messy if I'd picked the correct line in the first place; live and learn.

Jake

 

I didn't see your response in time, so I had at it the way I'd done it before. When you have a chance point me toward the tech-tip so I can see your recommended way.

Thanks,

Jake

 

I'd just filled my new converter with fluid a few weeks ago, so at least that much old fluid wasn't being re-circulated.

Jake

 

Jake, except for picking the wrong line your instincts basically nailed it. Here's a link to the article. Flush

 

Correct me if I am wrong BUT, get two 5 gallon pails and fill one up with the appropriate amount of new ATF. Put 1 line in that bucket from the radiator that would be the suck line. Take the second line off which would be the blow line and put that in an empty 5 gallon bucket. When all the new ATF is gone out of the 5 gallon bucket shut the car off and reattach the lines?? When that is done drop the pan and replace the filter.

 

Make sure your fluid is 190 degrees before you check it or the level (hot) will be off