My99

I'm debating whether to pay the 80-120 bucks to get my tranny flushed or whether to pay someone 20 bucks to change it out old school style. Some tranny's have more in the pan than others, and so I was wondering how much fluid would one expect to get out of the pan when changing it without a pump? If it's only a quart or two I'll go ahead and pay the bucks to have it extracted. If it's at least 1/2, i'll go ahead and have it done by my friend mechanic. The truck is the 90 model. The fluid still loooks good, and the truck shifts great, it's just that I don't know how it was treated in the past, and with its new driver (not me) I want it to be up to the challenge of heavy starts and the like. Thanks!

jasonbrink

I'd like to know this also, as mine has yet to be changed (12 years old, but only 25k miles)

Robinhood150

You only get about 1/3 out by draining the pan, a complete flush is about 15 qts. You can flush it yourself without a machine, just disconnect a tranny line from the radiator and start the engine. Empty it into a bucket until is sputters then turn off the engine. Refill and repeat. Amsoil has a writeup on how to do it on their website.

ROMAD

I just did this on my 2nd gen 3.0/AT so I could switch over to synthetic. I did the full flush method using the hose on the passenger side of the radiator. I flushed about 3-4 quarts (just as it started to sputter) and then stopped and refilled the same amount with synthetic and kept this up until there was new fluid coming out of the hose.

All said it took about 15.5 quarts to do including final adjustment for proper fluid level when hot.

Get a 5 gallon bucket and do it yourself - its too easy!

superjoe83

here is something to think about, if you ATF looks good and is a good red color, then all you need to change is at least 1 quart, that is all it takes to replenish the additives, i learned this from a transmission rebuilder that had been servicing them for 20 years

HondaTec521

I just changed mine in my '90 .But i just pulled the 2 drain plugs and then refilled (4.5 qt's) and then drove it a mile then repeated two more times.The case of dex III was about 25 bucks.

My99

Interesting tips guys! Thanks. I may just give it a shot. I was gonna have the mechanic do it b/c i didn't wanna mess up the garage floor. But if it's not too messy of a job, I wouldn't mind giving it a shot.

Highland Runner

I did my flush last weekend and used 17 qts. Did mine a little different than others have done. I bought the ATF in gallon jugs and had a spare/empty gal oil container. With these containers you can see the amount going in by the clear plastic strip on the side. I drained the pan first which had about 4 qts into the empty oil container. Then I poured the first container into dipstick tube. Took off the skid plate and removed the radiator cooler tube from the passenger side. Had my daughter start the engine while I held the empty container with a large funnel under the tube. When the container filled up to the 4qt level of the fluid I just put in she turned off the engine. I repeated this four times until the fluid cleared up. Then added an extra quart a few days later to bring the level up-it must have been low in the first place.

Doing the flush with the gallon containers, its easy to see how much is going out. You can turn off the engine when the 4qt mark is reached. The only thing you'll need to buy is a filler funnel, and large catch funnel. About $3 total plus whatever fluid you use.

The fluid comes out quickly, so you'll need to hold the empty container/funnel. Its not messy at all if you hold the tube down into the funnel. I didn't spill a drop. Took about the same time as doing an oil change.

My99

Sounds like it worked for you. I'm just not excited about taking off the pan. It looks like the other procedure keeps me from having to do this. Is this correct?

Highland Runner

I had done a pan drop a while back before I knew about flushing. I didn't find anything to be concerned about, to drop it again. If your fluid is fairly clean now and it shifts OK, just a flush might be fine. Dropping the pan is a little messy and you have to use RTV sealant as a gasket material.