Is it necessary to clean the metal screen every time trans fluid is changed? Getting to 2 pan bolts in particular is why I ask.

 

Pretty sure the answer is yes. Others may chime in or suggest using the search button. Some people have just bought new ones to avoid risking not getting it totally clean.

 

Yes. Otherwise you risk 'contaminating' the new ATF....

Edit: Let me re-phrase. It all depends on how frequently you change the ATF, and whether you're doing a simple drain/fill or a complete flush.

If doing a complete flush, yes, most definitely clean out the filter screen or buy a new one.

But, if you're doing a drain/fill at very short intervals (i.e. maybe 10,000-15,000 miles) you might get away with only cleaning it out every other time.

I would recommend going the extra step to clean out the filter or buy a new one at the recommend intervals.

 

forget the screen, it couldnt catch flies with ˟˟˟˟, if you want a filter go here and post Qs bobistheoilguy to flush just drop whats in the pan(thats why the plug is there) refill and flush using the cooler line method. worked for me, and if youre really conscienc about the fluid condition throughout its life, install a bypass filter (make really doesnt matter)

 

I agree about the screen. When I dropped my pan for the first time ever at about 100,000 miles the screen hardly had anything on it. The magnets however were pretty dirty.

 

When I pulled my ATF filter at 30,000, I had teenie metal flakes all over the screen that sparkled in the sun with just one squirt of brake cleaner. Took me over 30 minutes and an entire can of brake cleaner to get rid of them. After that, I did a complete flush with Amsoil ATF.

Every ATF screen filter I've ever done in the past 20 years has come out looking the same. Magnets gunked up and metal shaving in the screen filter. My old '89 Ford Probe is still ticking with nearly 200,000 miles...

 

I just did mine for the first time last weekend. I gotta say that filter (to me anyway) doesn't look like it does a whole lot. It was pretty clean, except for maybe 1 or 2 shavings in it. I blew a half a can of carb cleaner and a half can of brake clean (using up what I had) let in dry and put it back it.

As for the magnets.....not that bad either. They were a little dusty, but with a 100k on the clock for the first pan drop ever. They were in real good condition.

I hate that friggin dipstick tube. What a pain to get that thing to split It took me a half hour of trying to get the pan down untill i realized that it comes apart

 

I'm surprised you are getting responses considering you didn't include WHAT VEHICLE YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT?

 

Good point. But it must be a guy thing.......Eager to help without knowing what the heck we're doing!!

 

well for the most part auto tranny screens are pretty crappy in doing their job on pretty much every car, toyota included. one can assume that his car would be a toyota if not, then my recomedation...well it still stands