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Master
597 Answers
- Posted on Jan 27, 2011
Re: Just wanted to know how to change transmission oil.
Hello,
Before You change the transmission oil, You need to check if it is due for changing. To check the transmission oil. please follow the steps below:
- Open the hood and locate the transmission dipstick. It is in front of the engine on the left side, just behind the radiator cap.
- Pull the ring on top of the dipstick to remove it from its tube. Wipe it off with the paper towel and replace it. This will ensure an accurate reading.
- Remove the dipstick again an look at the markings at the tip. If the fluid on the stick is below the full line, add more transmission fluid.
- Repeat this procedure until the fluid reaches the correct level on the dipstick.
There are different types of engine therefore there are several ways to change their transmission fluid. Unless you got something in there via dipstick its really not necessary to ever change the ATF. It's a messy job because there's no drain plug to change the fluid, but You can do it yourself if you're so inclined. To change the fluid,
- You have to get under your vehicle and remove the pan from the bottom of the transmission.
- When you loosen the pan, fluid will start to dribble out in all directions so you need a fairly large catch pan. You should also know that removing the pan doesn't drain all of the old fluid out of the transmission. Approximately a third of the old fluid will still be in the torque converter. There's no drain plug on the converter so you're really only doing a partial fluid change. Even so, a partial fluid change is better than no fluid change at all.
- A typical fluid change will require anywhere from 3 to 6 quarts of ATF depending on the application, a new filter and a pan gasket (or RTV sealer) for the transmission pan. The pan must be thoroughly cleaned prior to reinstallation. This includes wiping all fluid residue from the inside of the pan and scraping all traces of the old gasket from the pan's sealing surface. Don't forget to clean the mounting flange on the transmission, too.
- When the new filter is installed, be sure it is mounted in the exact same position as the original and that any O-rings or other gaskets have been properly positioned prior to tightening the bolts. Then tighten the bolts to the manufacturer's recommended specs.
- When refilling the transmission with fresh fluid, be careful not to allow any dirt or debris to enter the dipstick tube. Using a long-neck funnel with a built-in screen is recommended.
- Do not overfill the transmission. Too much fluid can cause the fluid to foam, which in turn can lead to erratic shifting, oil starvation and transmission damage. Too much fluid may also force ATF to leak past the transmission seals.
- Add half a quart at a time until the dipstick shows full. The transmission really isn't full yet because the dipstick should be checked when the fluid is hot, and the engine is idling with the gear selector in Park. So start the engine, drive the vehicle around the block, then recheck the fluid level while the engine is idling and add fluid as needed until the dipstick reads full.
Hope this helped. Thank You for using FixYa!!!
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