External 22 micron transmission filter....does it work?

[nauidvr1]

Hey all,

I have had many transmission problems in the past (1997 & 1998 2nd Gen gassers) and was thinking that with my new trucks I would like to try to combat it from happening in the future. I know that the 48RE is better than what was in my 2nd Gen gassers. But I have had 3 torque converters let go in the 1997 truck and 2 in the 1998 2nd Gen. I am so tired of the problems. In searching the internet I found an external transmission filter kit that looks like it will do the job well, but just don't know enough about the internal workings of an auto transmission.



Here is a link to it External transmission filter kit



What do you guys know or think about it? If a torque converter let go would it help? Do you think it would catch all the metal shavings and clutch material before letting them get flushed thru the entire transmission?



I don't know a whole lot about the internal workings of an auto transmission so I thought I would rely on the knowledge of those that do.



Thanks,



NAUIdvr1

 

[HarryOlson]

I had one of those exqct filters on a 1999 Superduty for 150,000 miles and had no problems. Recently I purchased another for my 2005 CTD from the same compay. They have been great to do business with.

 

[nauidvr1]

I had one of those exqct filters on a 1999 Superduty for 150,000 miles and had no problems. Recently I purchased another for my 2005 CTD from the same compay. They have been great to do business with.

Harry,

Thanks for the input. Do you know if it has helped or hindered you in anyway? If so how? Sorry for so many questions, but some people I have talked to locally thought that it wouldn't help much - but I think it will, at least it makes sense to me logically.



NAUIdvr1

 

[Mad Bomber]

I did a remote filter on my work van. Parts from Napa were about 25. 00 and put a oil filter on it. The other thing it will do is increase your total fluid and hopely keep your transmission cooler.

 

[nauidvr1]

TTT



Anyone else have some thoughts on this - Please I am looking for all the input I can get.



Thanks,



NAUIdvr1

 

[MFalkinham]

NAUIdvr1



I have no input to offer, but am also interested in such a filtration system if others can vouch for it. It looks good, but my only concern would be putting extra strain on the pump. According to the website there is a bypass to prevent a clogged filter from stopping fluid flow. But that same bypass also has a pressure spring which causes a warning light to appear on the dashboard. Is this system going to cause more strain than the stock 48re fluid pump can handle long term?



- Mike

 

[HarryOlson]

nauidvr1: I have used those transmission filters without any problem and have one on my 2005. I don't know how much they help as I have nevr had a problem with them. I believe this is the only way to filter transmission oil so I'm happy. Can you have too many filters? Other may consider it overkill. For me, extra oil, fuel and possibly coolant filtration just makes sense.

 

[JCulp]

do you know what the micron rating it needs to be . i think 25micron sounds alittle hi i guess i dont know but in hydro static systoms the filter needs to be around 10 micron to keep it clean i guess the more you can take out the better sorry not much help josh

 

[nauidvr1]

nauidvr1: I have used those transmission filters without any problem and have one on my 2005. I don't know how much they help as I have nevr had a problem with them. I believe this is the only way to filter transmission oil so I'm happy. Can you have too many filters? Other may consider it overkill. For me, extra oil, fuel and possibly coolant filtration just makes sense.

Harry,

Thanks for the reply. I am pretty sure I am just going to do it, for $109 its worth the money. I beleive in the "pint of prevention saves you a pound of trouble" theory. At leat your filtering to a smaller partical size than the "screen" (filter) thats in the transmission.



NAUIdvr1

 

[nauidvr1]

TTT



Now that I actually took delivery of my trucks, just wanted to bump this to the top again and see if anyone had any more input.



Thanks,



NAUIdvr1

 

[TCDiesel]

The trans Pump will only support the system it was created for. You will be filtering the fluid more but it will be to late by the time it gets thier. also you might create a low flow problem if the filter gets plugged an the pump cannot support the filter bypass system.

 

[amsoilman]

Hey all,

I have had many transmission problems in the past (1997 & 1998 2nd Gen gassers) and was thinking that with my new trucks I would like to try to combat it from happening in the future. I know that the 48RE is better than what was in my 2nd Gen gassers. But I have had 3 torque converters let go in the 1997 truck and 2 in the 1998 2nd Gen. I am so tired of the problems. In searching the internet I found an external transmission filter kit that looks like it will do the job well, but just don't know enough about the internal workings of an auto transmission.



Here is a link to it External transmission filter kit



What do you guys know or think about it? If a torque converter let go would it help? Do you think it would catch all the metal shavings and clutch material before letting them get flushed thru the entire transmission?



I don't know a whole lot about the internal workings of an auto transmission so I thought I would rely on the knowledge of those that do.



Thanks,



NAUIdvr1

I think you are waisting your money for an external oil filter on an Automatic transmission. This is the reason.

Of all the stresses that ATF encounters, and there are many, heat is the most destructive. In fact, life expectancy is directly related to how well the fluid is able to disperse heat and maintain temperatures within normal operating ranges. Most automatic transmission failures are caused by heat! When conventional petrolium fluid temperatures exceed 200 Deg. F. , they "break down", forming carbon deposits, varnishes. This in turn causes seals to crack leaks to occur within the internal transmission oil passages, which will allow the cluthes and plates to slip.



Its a fact that for every 20 Deg. F increase in temperature over the "normal" 175 F. will reduce the life expectancy by 50 percent! So if one could keep the temperature of the transmission fluid at the 175 Deg F. the transmission would last for many thousands of miles. (100,000 miles) GM made this determination several years ago. In their testing, they determined for every 20 deg F. rise in fluid temperature would cut the life 50 percent, so say your transmission temperature rose to 195 Deg F. the transmission life would now be 50,000 miles. Now increase the temperature to 220 Deg F. the life expectancy has now dropped to 25,000 miles!



The best thing to do for an automatic transmission is to either get yourself an external oil cooler, or use a "synthetic" ATF or both! Synthetic ATF will drop the fluid temps around 20-30 Deg. F. due to the fact it is highly resistant to thermal breakdown and oxidation, and will flow more readily in colder temperatures. A cooler will drop it even further, but it won't do much for the colder temps.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[jwduke]

I think you can do better on a external transmission filter @ http://www.summitracing.com or http://www.jegs.com That seems a little high, I belive the one a Summit uses a Chevy oil filter.

 

[JFaughn]

Would you feel good about taking the oil filter off the eng. ? there are more and smaller places in the trans. , and no clutches in the eng. . look at what we do with everything else, lots of cars & trucks don't come with gauges- we add, lots do'nt come with trany coolers , we add, . I've got a 73 bus Cat V8 , Allison 5spd. auto and it came stock with a double remote filter , now that I think of it look at almost any comercial app. they seem to come stock with most all of this stuff. I'm not ranting at you but at manufactures of retail .

 

[jwduke]

Good point, John!

 

[nauidvr1]

amsiolman,

Thanks for taking the time for that detailed answer. I was planning on running synthetic ATF at first change, maybe I'll just leave it at that and toss the plans for this filter setup.



Thanks,



NAUIdvr1

 

[nauidvr1]

Would you feel good about taking the oil filter off the eng. ? there are more and smaller places in the trans. , and no clutches in the eng. . look at what we do with everything else, lots of cars & trucks don't come with gauges- we add, lots do'nt come with trany coolers , we add, . I've got a 73 bus Cat V8 , Allison 5spd. auto and it came stock with a double remote filter , now that I think of it look at almost any comercial app. they seem to come stock with most all of this stuff. I'm not ranting at you but at manufactures of retail .

JFaughn,

I was not meaning that I would remove the internal trans filter, just add the above mentioned filter in the line EXTERNALLY as a means for better filtration and as a "catch canister/strainer" if the converter came apart. I have had to many transmission troubles on 2nd GEN Dodge gassers.



Thanks for your reply and all replies. That is what this great TDR site is about - sharing info and helping others make informed decisions.



NAUIdvr1

 

[WNowlan]

You cannot compare an engine oil enviroment to a transmission oil. These systems are in most cases closed. With the engine we need air to have combustion. This is where these solids, all be it small in size come from. Clearance size particles cause wear in an engine. Oil filters help to remove them, along with the larger ones.



By adding an external filter you will increase heat. It will increase the internal pressure of the fluid trying to pass through the media. This system is best left alone.



These trucks come with ATF +4, a semi synthetic from DC. Upgrading to a full synthetic fluid is the best way to increase life expectancy.



Wayne: We in the industry have made great strides with base oil refining and the oxidation rates for dino have changed. We can now take heat better. These base oils are much more forgiving today. Most domestic transmissions and engines are running above 200* F today. We have increased intervals without an increase deposits. We have actually reduced deposits over previous API oils. In Fact the GF4 oils in the marketplace do an excellent job with oil oxidation.



We have not reached the benefits of a true PAO synthetic, but we are very close!

Warren

 

[flattracker]

If you want to run an external filter consider running a commonly available hydraulic filter with an 100 mesh wire element . They offer virtualy no restriction to flow but in the case of convertor failure filter all the particles that would be large enough to clog the cooler or trans lube circuit after passing thru those two places the fluid must pass thru the in pan filter before it could contaminate the valve body.