Changing transmission fluid

S

scott nutter1

New member
Jan 5, 2015
729
0
0
I am getting ready to drop the tranny pan to change the filter and replace the fluid in the pan.
Question: will the tranny drain more oil with the transmission cold or hot? Seems I've read somewhere that if the tranny is cold, fluid will drain
from the torque converter. So should I change the tranny fluid with a hot tranny or cold tranny to change the maximum amount of tranny fluid?
Thanks, Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
If you let it sit for few days you can end up draining more

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019 at 6:36 AM Scott Nutter via Gmclist <

> I am getting ready to drop the tranny pan to change the filter and replace
> the fluid in the pan.
> Question: will the tranny drain more oil with the transmission cold or
> hot? Seems I've read somewhere that if the tranny is cold, fluid will drain
> from the torque converter. So should I change the tranny fluid with a hot
> tranny or cold tranny to change the maximum amount of tranny fluid?
> Thanks, Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Ok..thanks Jim.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
> Ok..thanks Jim.

I've been doing trans fluid changes for years this way. Some here will disagree with this, but has worked well for me.

Personally, I don't like dealing with HOT fluid. So, I'd do this with the engine/trans cold. Doesn't matter how long it has been sitting.
Lift and block the front of the coach high enough to get a 5gal pail under the radiator, and so you can get at the trans pan. I drive it up on a set
of ramps.
Disconnect the trans line that is the "feed" line to the trans cooler in the radiator. Fluid will drain out of the cooler.
Attach a hose to the feed line and put it in the 5gal pail.
Have a friend start the engine in PARK while you watch the fluid as the trans pump, pumps fluid into the pail.
As soon as you see or hear air spitting out of the hose, have the friend shut the engine off immediately.
Most of the fluid is now drained out of the converter, pan, and most other places.
Now drop the pan leaving 1 or 2 loose bolts at the front of the pan. Lower the rear of the pan so any fluid will flow to rear of pan. You will find a
minimum of fluid still in the pan.
Replace the filter using two "O" rings.
Personally, I would NOT put in the Ragusa pan. The bottom of the original pan, if the filter should drop, will keep the filter from coming out of the
filter mount. With the Ragusa pan, which is deeper, the filter could potentially drop completely out of the filter mount allowing air to be drawn to
the pump. JMHO here...
Clean up the pan and mating surfaces, goo up with sealer (or not as desired) and replace pan tightening bolts to a light hand torque.
Now find out how many quarts came out of the trans into the 5gal pail and add 1qt shy of that.
Start engine and check level at the stick. Add accordingly.

Just my relatively informed, off the cuff, back yard mechanic, gut level, eyeball it up and guestimate, way of doing things....that's all.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
I like it Larry.
I will print your post and do that at the 50,000 mile mark.
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
I like the "Drain the fluid down your arm, kick over the drain pan, pick up
the spill with kitty litter, which gets tracked in on your freshly mopped
floor, method! "
Doesn't start out that way, but it ends up that way. That is why I
have a transmission pan with a drain plug.
If your filter fits loosely enough that you are concerned that it
might not stay in place, it will suck air around the tube even with two "0"
rings on it. I would personally look at different brands of filters, trial
fit them, and use the one that fits tightly. Brand names don't seem to be
any guarantee of fit, unfortunately.
Jim Hupy

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019, 12:24 PM Scott Nutter via Gmclist <

> I like it Larry.
> I will print your post and do that at the 50,000 mile mark.
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Yea. That's sorta how I operate....I'm the only guy who shows up on a Monday for work in a white shirt with grease underneath my fingernails. And
that's with trying to clean them with a toothpick...but how does the grease get underneath ALL my fingernails?. So far my toenails are ok(if anyone
is interested), but my knees hurt like hell....
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
There are brushes specifically designed to help clean hands and under
fingernails - search on eBay for " surgical hand brush nail " and you'll
see some with a regular brush face on one side and an angled row of
bristles on the other that work a treat on nails.

The ones I got at a dental supply 20+ years ago are still serviceable,
the made in China ones nowadays may not last quite that long. YMMV

Stu
'74 Gutted Eleganza II
Silverton, Oregon

> Yea. That's sorta how I operate....I'm the only guy who shows up on a Monday for work in a white shirt with grease underneath my fingernails. And
> that's with trying to clean them with a toothpick...but how does the grease get underneath ALL my fingernails?. So far my toenails are ok(if anyone
> is interested), but my knees hurt like hell....
> Scott.
>
 
I guess it's time for me to reveal my secret hand-cleaner: Lowes sells
some 3M reusable A/C filter elements -- flat blue fibre mats 24"x22"
(IIRC). I cut those into 6"x11" (or even 6"x5-1/2" more or less)
rectangular pads. Those pads make WONDERFUL hand-cleaners when used with
Dawn concentrated dish soap. The pads will scrub off the most persistent
grease, paint, etc. (wrap the pad around each finger and twist 'til
clean). Upon completion, the skin is soft, smooth, and looks like a
surgeon's, with NO irritation. Even my closely clipped fingernails seldom
need more cleaning.

My big fear now is that 3M will quit making the filters! :-)

JWID,

Ken H.

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019 at 10:43 PM Scott Nutter via Gmclist <

> Yea. That's sorta how I operate....I'm the only guy who shows up on a
> Monday for work in a white shirt with grease underneath my fingernails. And
> that's with trying to clean them with a toothpick...but how does the
> grease get underneath ALL my fingernails?. So far my toenails are ok(if
> anyone
> is interested), but my knees hurt like hell....
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Lava soap is Your Friend... and 8mil gloves - 100 to a package - work even better if you're doing coarse work.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
I am at the age now where my skin no longer resembles what I have been
accustomed to seeing. Because of blood thinners I have to take because I
have a mechanical heart valve, I easily can scrape and bruise. So, I have
adapted to wearing Nomex gauntlets that cover my forearms. They have a
thumb hole and are meant to be used by welders, etc under their gloves. A
secondary benefit is they keep your forearms clean as well as protected.
They are fire resistant and UV shielding. They are cheap, $4.00, washable,
and comfortable. Should have been using them much longer, but, I only found
out about them when I visited Oregon Glove Retail Outlet looking for gloves
to wear when cutting wild evergreen blackberries that neighbors on both
sides of me have decided to let grow over my 6' tall chain link fences.
I wear either mechanics gloves, or black 8 mil nitrile gloves when
fluids are involved. My go to hand cleaner has always been Boraxo
granulated hand soap, followed by Lava bar soap. Using both of them for 50
years or so.
Jim Hupy

On Tue, Jun 4, 2019, 7:15 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> Lava soap is Your Friend... and 8mil gloves - 100 to a package - work even
> better if you're doing coarse work.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I used Lava soap 50+ years ago. Dawn & my scrub pads work much better
today -- but the HF latex gloves sure prevent a lot of scrubbing! :-)

Ken H.

On Tue, Jun 4, 2019 at 10:15 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> Lava soap is Your Friend... and 8mil gloves - 100 to a package - work even
> better if you're doing coarse work.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> I guess it's time for me to reveal my secret hand-cleaner: Lowes sells
> some 3M reusable A/C filter elements -- flat blue fibre mats 24"x22"
> (IIRC). I cut those into 6"x11" (or even 6"x5-1/2" more or less)
> rectangular pads. Those pads make WONDERFUL hand-cleaners when used with
> Dawn concentrated dish soap. The pads will scrub off the most persistent
> grease, paint, etc. (wrap the pad around each finger and twist 'til
> clean). Upon completion, the skin is soft, smooth, and looks like a
> surgeon's, with NO irritation. Even my closely clipped fingernails seldom
> need more cleaning.
>
> My big fear now is that 3M will quit making the filters! :)
>
> JWID,
>
> Ken H.

Ken,
It seems like at a GMCMI rally a couple of years ago you were giving away pieces of those fiber mats. I got one and didn't really know what to do
with the filter materaial. Thanks for clarifying.

--
Richard
76 Palm Beach
SE Michigan
www.PalmBeachGMC.com


Coop Roller Cam 455, Howell TBI + EBL, 3.42 FD, Quadra Bag, Macerator, Lenzi stuff, Manny Tranny etc.
 
You can find the stuff under the name Scotch-Brite as well, in two or three different roughnesses. We use it for cleaning up connections on large
diameter feedline and big coils in transmitters, both of which are usually silver plated. The plating isn't real thick, it's perfect for cleaning it
without rubbing through it.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
No, Not Scotch-Brite -- that's got abrasive on the fibers. The HVAC filter
material has no abrasive so is easier on skin.

Ken H

On Tue, Jun 4, 2019 at 3:48 PM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> You can find the stuff under the name Scotch-Brite as well, in two or
> three different roughnesses. We use it for cleaning up connections on large
> diameter feedline and big coils in transmitters, both of which are usually
> silver plated. The plating isn't real thick, it's perfect for cleaning it
> without rubbing through it.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> I like the "Drain the fluid down your arm, kick over the drain pan, pick up
> the spill with kitty litter, which gets tracked in on your freshly mopped
> floor, method! "
> Doesn't start out that way, but it ends up that way. That is why I
> have a transmission pan with a drain plug.

Thanks for the laugh, Jim. I reluctantly confess, that is often how it goes if I don't take my time. Is that Oregon Glove place in Salem? I may have
to check it out.

I aspire to utilize Larry's methods, most of the time. I recently did something similar with my Volvo, which has no transmission filter, so it
requires a very thorough flushing in order to stay healthy. Merely diluting the old fluid with some new fluid isn't quite good enough, so I stay away
from just draining and filling the pan.
 
Since we went sideways and are talking about hand cleaner.
I have found that pepperoni grease from a well made pizza does an amazing job.
It is also nice to have a pizza and beer when you are done.
--
1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch transmission with Powerdrive
 
Dilly dilly

>
> Since we went sideways and are talking about hand cleaner.
> I have found that pepperoni grease from a well made pizza does an amazing job.
> It is also nice to have a pizza and beer when you are done.
> --
> 1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch transmission with Powerdrive
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back