TRANS service question

[hokietiger]

Hi gang,

Just dropped the transmission pan on my recent purchase (1989 Power Ram 318c.i., 5.2L)....I honestly believe the fluid has never been changed !!...Amber colored fluid and the old paper cork gasket (stuck to pan like glue).

Anyway, the manual says if you let the truck sit for several days, more fluid drains out over time. I guess this is due to the converter seeping.

I have no way of blowing out lines for more fluid drain...ANY SUGGESTIONS on how to remove as much old fluid as possible??...ANY OTHER PROCEDURES I need to perform that will help (limited tools and no garage access)....Does anybody out there like LUCAS TRANS FIX additive?? (I heard it's a good additive for improved trans performance)

Thanks a bunch!!

Mike

[oldestof11]

What's wrong with it?

Buy some tractor transmission hydraulic oil. It's cheap ($40 for 5 gallons), withstands heat better, and is thicker so it tightens up the trans a bit. I would fill, run it a day or so, drain. Do this a couple times to flush it. Then do what ever you need.

[txs]

poor boys converter and cooler flush, take the rear most cooler line loose from the tranny, stick a hose over it and hold the end in a bucket. Dump about a gallon or 2 of cheapy fluid in and start it in neutral. this flushes the converter, the cooler, and lines.

[rpmgarage]

Just want to add my 0.02...

I would not recommend a flush. You can't "back flush" a trans like a cooling system. You run the risk of pushing any bad stuff FURTHER into the transmission...and risk clogging passages that the junk would never have otherwise gotten close to.

If it really bothers you, just change the fluid in the pan 3 or 4 times...the resultant dilution will still be a HUGE improvement, but you will not risk creating problems you don't have right now.

Just so you know, I speak from experience...I once decided to flush a Ford C-4 in an older Mustang...for absolutely no good reason, as it was shifting PERFECTLY. That all ended with the flush...once I flushed it, it would not make the 2-3 shift and slipped before engaging in reverse. I do not know what it actually did because I swapped it with a freshly built unit without having it looked at.

Just my opinon...and experience..

[hokietiger]

Thanks for the message.....I performed a service prior to catching your reply but here's what I did:

Dropped the pan and allowed all possible old fluid to drain by gravity flow. Then, I disconnected a cooler line adjacent to the radiator and attached a small portable air pump nozzle to the cooler line. This allowed air to be forced back into the system via the cooler line by the air pump and subsequently "pushed out" an additional 2-3 quarts of old fluid. I let the air pump run until NO further fluid drained out of the trans pan/trans filter area(approximately 10-15 minutes). Attached a new filter and gasket and then reinstalled the pan....Then, I added CASTROL SYNTHETIC ATF +4 and 36 oz. of LUCAS trans additive until the Full mark was achieved (after a short drive with a re-check on fluid levels).....The trans shifts very well in all gears and reverse.

Hopefully this procedure is acceptable and any additional feedback is appreciated!!