My transmission filter/flush story

[mitchn06]

Went to do a transmission fluids exchange today as well as filters due to the delayed shifting issue that occurs every now and again. Had all the parts and tools ready to go, and the "stickies" trans flush procedure. If you are familiar with the procedure you know how much fluid should be coming out of the hose and into the bucket. My coworker just did this on his Silverado and said the 5 gal bucket fills up real quick. Well at 118k and no prior transmission service documented the filters must have been shot because I only got a trickle out of the hose when I should have gotten a steady stream of ATF out of it. After I got the new filters in it, everything was good to go, but I did have to drop the pan with 6 quarts in it because of this issue.

That's all I have really, just wanted to share my findings. So with that being said, the job was not at all too difficult and I suggest to anyone with more than 100k on the trans to get it done!

 

[Harley Harrold]

Went to do a transmission fluids exchange today as well as filters due to the delayed shifting issue that occurs every now and again. Had all the parts and tools ready to go, and the "stickies" trans flush procedure. If you are familiar with the procedure you know how much fluid should be coming out of the hose and into the bucket. My coworker just did this on his Silverado and said the 5 gal bucket fills up real quick. Well at 118k and no prior transmission service documented the filters must have been shot because I only got a trickle out of the hose when I should have gotten a steady stream of ATF out of it. After I got the new filters in it, everything was good to go, but I did have to drop the pan with 6 quarts in it because of this issue.

That's all I have really, just wanted to share my findings. So with that being said, the job was not at all too difficult and I suggest to anyone with more than 100k on the trans to get it done!

Next time use a suction pump on it, drop the inlet hose down the filler tube, suck out all the fluid you can, wait about an hour, suck out the rest. Then when you drop the pan there will not be a lot of ATF going everywhere. I would install a drain plug in the pan for future fluid changes.

 

[smiley]

Drain plug is a nice add and I really wish they had them from the factory.

 

[JPT]

I added a drain plug to a vehicle I had in the past. The best way to do it is either to find a quality aftermarket with one, or do what I did (there wasn't on for the vehicle I had), get a second pan and get a **** welded to it. Just be sure to find the lowest spot you can where it will not contact any vital parts of the trans inside. You may find pictures online from where other people have done it. When I did mine, someone had posted actual measurements, so I drilled it, and took it to a buddy to weld. The good think is I was able to test for leaks before the swap.

 

[Ecofx86]

At What miles should this be done? My 2012 hemi is at 40k

2012 Ram Hemi

 

[mitchn06]

i considered a drain plug, but for as many times as i would be using it, maybe 2 more times in the lifetime that i own the pickup, i deemed it not necessary It would probably be rusted shut like all the chevy ones by the time i wanted to use it again. All in all i only spilled about a cup of fluid, and that was only because i pulled my roasting pan away too early. I just pulled all the bolts on one end of the pan and loosened the others so the pan would tilt enough to drain the fluid out before completely removing it.

 

[JPT]

i considered a drain plug, but for as many times as i would be using it, maybe 2 more times in the lifetime that i own the pickup, i deemed it not necessary It would probably be rusted shut like all the chevy ones by the time i wanted to use it again. All in all i only spilled about a cup of fluid, and that was only because i pulled my roasting pan away too early. I just pulled all the bolts on one end of the pan and loosened the others so the pan would tilt enough to drain the fluid out before completely removing it.

I eventually used that drain as a port for my aftermarket trans temp gauge. I'm glad I did it. Never rusted after I painted over the welds.