Oil Change 68 RFE.... questions...

[jelag]

So all the stuff is here to change the oil.... but I'm worried about the mess of the 8 quarts sitting in the pan that's going to give me another bath...

1 - since the darn pan doesn't have a plug have any of you tried to run a vacuum pump down the dip stick tube and suck out most of this oil before dropping the pan..... if so please share your results...

2 - I've use the black RTV many times as a replacement gasket and don't have any worries about that.. but I've looked for the torque on the metric bolts that hold the pan to the case... and haven't found that... I just assume a common torque for the size of the fastener would be suitable...

3 - I've not checked to be sure but does anyone know if the nozzle from a DEF container will fit into the dip stick tube on the transmission to simplify the filling the transmission.... the spout/nozzle will fit the 1 gal containers of Mopar fluid I have.... or do I need to chase down a small funnel with a long spout?

Thanks for your throught's

Jim

 

[gsbrockman]

There might be a little info here that might help you---not sure https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/228816-68RFE-Transmission-Filters-Fluid-Change

In any event....

1)I've never felt the need to remove the fluid with a vacuum system via the dipstick tube. I'm not sure it would work well in this setting. What I've done is remove all but four of the transmission pan bolts.....two at each end. Pick the end you want to "lower" the most for draining, then "see-saw" loosening the bolts back and forth until you can break the seal of RTV and begin draining it. A modified five-gallon bucket OR a bigger drain pan setting closer to the bottom of the trans pan helps avoid messes and spills.

2)I'm unsure of the exact torque requirement of the bolts, but maybe Trans Engineer can chime in. With that being said, I always used a 1/4" drive nutdriver and a 10mm socket (going off memory here) and snugged them all down by hand....going around the pan three or four times until I called it good.

3)Using a DEF hose will cause a mess, I'm afraid. Go to your local parts store and drop less than a $1.50 on the right tool for the job. Picture below depicts the use of ASRC fluid in my current 2014 AS69RC equipped truck.
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[transe]

Torque spec for the 68RFE oil pan screws is 12 Nm or 105 inch-pounds.

 

[EDankievitch]

I used a Marine Vac oil pump to pump out the ATF made for a very clean job and did not take very much time. I also found my unit only took just over 1 gal to refill it. I would get a nice clean transmission funnel and not re use the DEF spout. Cleaning the old RTV was the worst part of the whole job.

 

[transe]

I used a Marine Vac oil pump to pump out the ATF made for a very clean job and did not take very much time. I also found my unit only took just over 1 gal to refill it. I would get a nice clean transmission funnel and not re use the DEF spout. Cleaning the old RTV was the worst part of the whole job.

If you only used a little over a gallon to refill it, you probably ought to double-check your fluid level. It normally takes around 7 quarts (or more) after a pan drop.

 

[EDankievitch]

My bad I took out roughly 6 qts re fill was 7qts. The dealer had sold me 14 qts saying that is what the book said I needed. At 8qts I was over filled and had to pump some out.

 

[jelag]

OK so the DEF nozzle is NEW.... just seemed like a simple easy to use spout.... thanks for the 105 in lbs... I can do that... honestly I've done the 4 bolts in the pan and slowly pull the pan down... and always, I mean always have the mess... but I found a oil compatible pump on E-bay for $19 with shipping... and have tried and played with some tubing... since ED above mentioned that... that's my next step....

FYI - I'm in my winter home... and my better half is more critical about my messes.... I just don't have a shop in the back, and as I get older I try to be neater... one last thought.... 77* today here in sunny AZ....

Thanks all for your thoughts....

 

[Cummins12V98]

Loosen the bolts on the valve body and more fluid will come out of there.

 

[MLee]

Do your selves a favor, while you have the pan off, install a B&M drain plug from Geno's and avoid your mess of that maintenance night mare. But you got to do it the FIRST time.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I installed aB&W plug on a truck years ago. Never really liked it since it always weeped. Best thing would have been to have welded it on. Big pan to catch the fluid makes life much easier. Best pan I have ever owned was a MagHytec.

 

[EDankievitch]

I'm in hopes that someone comes out with a aluminum pan for our trucks.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I'm in hopes that someone comes out with a aluminum pan for our trucks.

????? MagHytec, look on genosgarage.com

 

[EDankievitch]

That must be a new listing for the pan. Last year I was told that they did not offer a pan something about the cooler lines being in the way and would have to be bent / re routed. I'll be looking into this pan when my next service comes due. thank for letting me know about it.