Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) changing the trans fluid

[shendren]

i just changed my trans fluid tonight. i do it now every 10k mi thanks to the suggestion to do it more often by Rammin On. the filter is usually very dirty. i bought a drain plug from genos and installed it tonight to make this easier from now on. i didn't use the little plastic washer. i used a copper one. seemed to work better.



one question: how many quarts does it usually take for a stock pan drop on a 96. i measured roughly 6 tonight. if i have to drain any, i have that little plug. thanks for any comments. scott.

 

[bmoeller]

I think that was about what my '97 takes also. Only done it once. Need to do it again before to long.

 

[illflem]

4-6 qts is about right. I like to measure how much comes out then add back the same amount since the correct amount is somewhat critical and it may take a bit of driving to finally read how much is really in it. Times that I haven't measured how much came out I've had to keeping on adding fluid several times to finally get it right. Luckily have never gone over but know folks who have, then it's a PITA.

 

[bluthndr]

Also - make sure that you drive it once you have enough on the dipstick to "look" like it's full and then check it again. Don't drive it far - just enough to go through all the gears and make sure the fluid passages are all at their normal levels & the convertor is full. A couple of times I had to drive & check several times before the fluid level remained where it should be.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

When you check the fluid level, don't forget to check it in "N", not "Park". The fluid is just laying in the pan in "Park", and it will show about a quart too full. Idling in "N", fluid is circulating through the system, and will show the correct level in the pan. If you're going to change the fluid every 10k, you might want to get an auxilliary spin-on filter, splice it into the rubber line going into the hot side of the cooler, and just drop the pan every other time. The one I use filters 10 micron, vrs. about 40 micron for the one in the pan. It flows 20 gpm, so no restriction. I put one on my 97 when it was new 180k back, and have had very good luck with the transmission.