sucking out trans fluid

[ronstersv]

I plan to change my trans fluid and filter in my 48RE in the near future. Not wanting to spill fluid all over the garage floor, I'm searching and brainstorming different ways it can be done. I'm just curious, has anyone tried to remove the trans fluid that is in the pan by just sucking/pumping it out through the dip stick tube prior to removing the pan? If it can be done, it would save making a mess when you loosening the pan screws and also there is no need to drill a hole and then install a drain pan plug in the pan to save future messes.

 

[DWordinger]

It can be done, but you are pumping fluid through a hose small enough to fit down the filler tube. I don't know what you plan to use for a pump, but I suspect it will take a few minutes to pump out. You need to drop the transmission pan anyway to change the filter, clean the magnet, and clean any sediment in the bottom of the pan. In my opinion, a drain plug is worth the expense. I bought an aftermarket transmission pan from Geno's just to have the drain plug. The added capacity was not much of an issue for me, but the convenience of the drain plug is like sliced bread.

I think the pan and bolt pattern are the same as the old 3 speed TorqFlites. Early TorqFlites came with a drain plug. Maybe you can find one in a junkyard. Some 1 1/2 and 2 ton Dodge trucks came with automatics and these should have the drain plugs. Mopar Performance used to sell pans with drain plugs. I don't know if they still do.

 

[PBrauer]

You can get a few quarts out that way but not enough to guarantee you won't spill fluid when you drop the pan. The dipstick tube, for some reason, ends right over a raised corner of the pan. Look down there and you'll see what I mean.



I draw out as much as I can through the tube, then I replace four bolts on the pan with some 4-5" bolts I have, each with a nylon spacer to make it easier to turn (remove) the bolts with my fingers. Remove the rest of the bolts while holding the pan up then carefully lower the pan to the long bolts. Now you can draw out most of the rest through the gap.



Leave the pan hanging there for a while to let the valve body drip. It never really stops but it will slow down. Keep something under there while the pan is off.



The $8 orange piston pump at Wal-Mart (twice as much at auto parts stores) works great for the tube. The tubing will look to big but it's perfect for the 48RE tube. You can buy two elbows and build a "hook" to use the same pump to easily draw over the edge of the pan but I use my "sucker" pump and just get enough out to easily handle the pan. You'll also need a T20 or T25 torx to remove the two bolts that hold the filter. Also keep in mind that when you "touch" the little drops of fluid on the valve body while changing the filter they have a tendency to turn into mini "streams" of fluid. It's not a lot but more than you'll expect. Keep something under there until the pan is back on. Wal-Mart is selling single oil-sorb sheets for $1 and they work great for this.



I can do filter change in a parking lot in 30 minutes or so and not leave a mess. Works great.

 

[ronstersv]

Thanks PBrauer! I have the same type orange pump as you. I was hoping it would work but just needed to hear from someone that did it. Thanks again!