trans service

[badfish888]

so im due for the trans service and lookin to save a trip to the dealer by doin it my self. i refuse to "flush" cause i want a new filter, any one on here have pics or an idea of the process, Any adjustments? or just a spin on filter. and is there a pan gasket or is it rtv? appx how much fluid gets drained this way? thanks in advance

 

[Ramunit]

I did a pan drop, fluid and filter change. Two filters, flat filter and the spin on. It is pretty straight forward after you get the pan off. Prepare for a messy job, when you take the pan bolts out be sure to leave a few in on one side so the pan just doesn't drop off. If your not careful taking pan off fluid will splatter for 10 feet each way. Be sure to take out the old flat filter seal that is logged in the housing but be careful not to gouge the aluminum housing taking it out. Install new flat filter seal in the housing, DO NOT PUT THE SEAL ON THE FILTER, ONLY IN THE HOUSING! Mine was 8 qts to fill. Be aware when checking the new fluid level that the temp of the fluid will change the level on the dipstick.. Getting the fluid level was the most difficult part of the job to me. Do not over fill! I used Mopar RTV for the pan, there are no adjustments, easy peasy but messy.

 

[joetama]

Woot for (5)45RFE being totally electronic and other electronic trans.

Adjusted the bands on a '79 Power Wagon tranny and even though it wasn't difficult it sure is nerve racking.

To help keep the job less messy, we put down cardboard for splash and bought the biggest pan we could find.

 

[badfish888]

so the 6 qts was wat u lost from the pan comin off? is that how much you put back in? i know ur spose to check it warm, idle in neutral. and how does the flat filter go on. did u buy mopar filters?

 

[sullivan]

so the 6 qts was wat u lost from the pan comin off? is that how much you put back in? i know ur spose to check it warm, idle in neutral. and how does the flat filter go on. did u buy mopar filters?

Some advise, every tranny pan drop and filter change the oil amount will vary. I suggest filling the trans to the correct level, then move the truck to a level surface. Check and top off the fluid while the truck is running in neutral. Now I haven't changed mine yet, but the filters are dead easy to replace. I think the flat filter either screws on or bolts on.

If you have too little fluid after the change, you won't have the correct pressure and you will burn the clutches up. I don't know what happens when its too full, but over filling is not good either.

Maybe while you have the pan off, add a drain bolt so you don't have to drop the pan to drain. Another tip is to top off the spin on filter with a little ATF+4, just like an oil change.

 

[tmerritt530]

Use a big under bed storage rubbermaid box to catch the tranny fluid.

 

[Ramunit]

Mine took about 8 qts when all said and done. I did let the trans drip with the pan off for several hours though. Like said, put down lots of plastic visqueen sheeting, cardboard and get the biggest pan you can find for the drain. I have also hear of siphoning some oil out with a hand pump through the dip stick tube to alleviate some mess before unbolting the pan.

 

[joetama]

Some advise, every tranny pan drop and filter change the oil amount will vary. I suggest filling the trans to the correct level, then move the truck to a level surface. Check and top off the fluid while the truck is running in neutral. Now I haven't changed mine yet, but the filters are dead easy to replace. I think the flat filter either screws on or bolts on.

If you have too little fluid after the change, you won't have the correct pressure and you will burn the clutches up. I don't know what happens when its too full, but over filling is not good either.

Maybe while you have the pan off, add a drain bolt so you don't have to drop the pan to drain. Another tip is to top off the spin on filter with a little ATF+4, just like an oil change.

Too much fluid and it can get frothy in the pan, the pump can't pump air/fluid mix efficiently and so it drop pressure like if you ran too little. At least that is how I learned it.

Use a big under bed storage rubbermaid box to catch the tranny fluid.

That is an awesome idea! Never thought about a storage box like that.

 

[sullivan]

Yea that is a great idea, hadn't thought about using a big container like that.

 

[tmerritt530]

Yea that is a great idea, hadn't thought about using a big container like that.

Nice little trick huh? Long enough and rectangular enough to catch all the drips. Just makes sense since the transmission pan is also a rectangle!

 

[rocket]

Guess I'll be blowing a day in the fall with this, beats sending 300+ $ to the dealer, Although a tranny shop was gonna flush for 289.00 Hmmmm Thats with the pan drop and filter change. That may be worth it, hydraulic fluid will eat away most drive way sealants. imo.