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I have seen all the threads and videos that I can find that discuss all the ideas for adding the extra 2 quarts of DCTF.
1) GM procedure, removing airbox, 3 hours of tear down to get at the fill plug on the top of the DCT.
2) Leaning the vehicle over at least 13 degrees and fill using the fluid fill/check point.
3) Attaching one of many types of valves to the fill/check point and using a pressured container to force the DCTF into the DCT. (Some people say this will pressurize the DCT and damage filters and seals, but I think they forget that the DCT has an AIR BREATHER element to equalize the pressure inside the housing)
4) SpringMountain has stated that they use the "easiest" method which is to simply fill the DCT using the aforementioned air breather element. I believe it is the cylinder that is attached to the front of the air filter box area on the passenger side of the intake / throttle body.
Has anyone here done this? Do you have any pictures of the process?
Is it as simple as cutting the zip tie, popping the breather off, attaching funnel, adding 2 qts, re-attach breather, install new zip tie?
I don't think this would create any pressure in the DCT, as it would just burp air back through the funnel and would probably just be a slow process.
Well, I believe the filter element for the air breather would be removed and just filling the oil via the tube. Gravity should do the rest to keep the DCTF out of the element.
As far as the fluid level, I would only be adding 2qts and HOPEFULLY my level would not be already too low.
The dodson fill kit has a 1-way check valve on it I believe, so that makes me wonder if it is all that useful. I think the installation of a valve with a cap when not in use (to keep dirt out), and a nipple with a hose makes an easy method to open up the check point and drain out the excess fluid into a "clean" container and fill it back in again via the breather element pathway when needing to top it off with +2Qts for track use. With the valve installed to replace the check point, you can open up that valve and then slowly add DCTF to the breather tube until you see fluid starting to come out. Then close the valve and add another 2 qts.
The Dodson kit does have a 1 way check valve, cap and is easy to use with a pressure fill. I drained, changed filter and refilled by pressure with 13L of DCTF so I knew my total fill capacity. GM could have made it a little easier for the DCT maintenance but we have options and the Dodson is a good option.
So how do you drain the DCTF at the "fill port" to check the level if the dodson has a 1-way check valve on it? Does the checkvalve come off when you want to drain you just remove it? It looks like it is held on the pan cover with a mount.
I really don't want to drain all the fluid at the very bottom, just so I can put it all back in again. (although, part of me is wondering if you can filter this pentosin fluid outside of the car to remove contaminants better than the stock filters do!)
The Dodson kit installs at the transmission fill/check point at that time you can check stock fluid level before installing the kit. The usual method is that when full the standard fluid level (11L) should just trickle out, you then install the Dodson kit and pressure fill with the additional 2L of DCTF. I made a simple adapter, a rubber hose, to mate my pressure bottle to the Dodson kit.
I don't know of any way to check the new DCT fluid level with the 13 L (11L + 2L). If you are want to drain the extra 2L simply unscrew the check valve at the bottom, drain the 2L and that should leave your trans at the standard fill level.
Last edited by racerx8; Dec 18, 2021 at 11:53 PM.
Reason: more explanation
The easiest DCT track fill method
