Saving my Amsoil ATF+4

[Swamp Donkey]

I am going to have to drop my transmission pan to change my governor pressure sensor. If I pressure wash around the pan real good and use a clean catching container would I be OK re-using the transmission fluid? This stuff only has 12,000 km's (7500 miles) on it and is pretty pricy. I don't see a problem and just may do that. What's your secret to re-use?

 

[Dave Remillard]

John; In mho if you use a clean container to catch the ATF, and put on a new filter it should not be a problem. Replace the gasket also. I recently serviced my transmission because it was rebuilt by Bill at DDT. He wanted me to changed oil and filter after the first 1000 miles. I would suggest getting one of the 12 quart plastic storage containers from Home Depot or like store and clean it real good. I removed the corner bolts first, and then re-installed them just a few threads. I then removed the remaining bolts. The pan should now be hanging down just a little bit. Remove one of the corner bolts and run a plastic tie thru pan and transmission holes, repeat on other corner. Once this is done you can remove the other bolts easily and hold the pan up. Once the remaining two bolts are removed you can gently lower the pan to drain the fluid into the plastic container as if the pan where hinged. I did it this way and didn't spill a drop. The only other suggestion would be to have the truck raised some for more room to work. I drove mine up on some 4X4 boards in the front end only. I had plenty of room to work by doing this. Good luck.

 

[amsoilman]

Swamp Donkey,

This is what I do to change ATF.



1st step-Undo the rear transmission line and install a hose (Plastic or rubber) to the line, then get a clean container and direct the hose into this container to catch the fluid.

2nd step- Start the engine with trans selector in neutral and allow the engine to run until the fluid starts to spit air, then shut engine off.

3rd step-Remove trans pan.

Bottom line, there will be very little oil left to spill all over. I would also suggest if you re-use the fluid, run it through a paint strainer.



My . 02 cents.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Thanks for the tips no-strokin and amsoilman. I will use the your tips, and I like the paint stainer one! I will get a few extra quarts just in case. How many quarts will i loose worst case scenario with just a simple pan removal?

 

[Don M]

Swamp Donkey,



The paint store will give ya extra ones for cheap or maybe free. Stack them up in order to close the tolerance as tight as possible.

The least amount of contaminants the better. I installed a drain plug on a freinds transmission last week or so. He can drain that stuff alot easier now.



Don~

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Thanks Don..... another tip to make this job a little easier and better for my transmission... ...

 

[illflem]

Caution if you use no-strokin's method, the twist-ties are important. I asked a dealer mechanic how they remove the pan without taking a bath and he told me the same method without the ties. Talked to a couple Ram owners who had their trannys serviced by the same dealer with pan leaks afterwards. Seems that without the twist-ties the pan will bend if allowed to hinge all the way down resulting in a poor seal.



I personally use a small electric pump with a hose down the dip stick tube to suck most of the fluid out, takes less than a minute and you have great control. One of the cheap pumps from the hardware store that connect to a electric drill will also work. If you have a variable speed drill with one of these pumps you can use it to put the fluid back in, with a clean container no staining should be necessary. Learned this trick draining tractor transmissions where a 30+ gallon drain pan is impossible to fit underneath...