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RocketDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
21:15:04
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 Subject: Changing Tranny Fluid
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I am finally going to do this myself. I have a 46RH and want to make sure I get all of the old fluid out (replacing with Mopar ATF+4 and new filter). How do I empty the transmission and torque converter completely? I read the AMSOIL tranny stuff but want input from other Dak owners. Any gotchas? I wont be adjusting the bands either...
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help
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
21:43:07
|  RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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"How do I empty the transmission and torque converter completely"
"I wont be adjusting the bands either..."
Hope you have saved you penny's your going to need them when you have to replace your tranny hahahahahahahaha..........IDIOT
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Hmmmm...
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
21:59:40
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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You sound like an out work dodge dealership mechanic...
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
23:28:09
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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Unless you spend big bucks on special tools and equipment, you can't do this job yourself. I'm building a Cobra in my garage. I have billions of tools. I have tools that fix other tools. I can make a small block Ford hum like the Vienna Boys Choir. But I recently paid $167 to have a shop flush the transmission on my Dakota. You've got to realize when you hit the point of diminishing returns. Suck it up and take it to a shop that has a flushing machine (whatever it's called).
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
00:47:32
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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I completely changed my 00 CC Dak's ATF with Amsiols ATF because it was the same price as ATF+4, just followed thier websites directions and didn't have a problem. Installed a trans cooler at the same time so I was half way into flushing the trans.
If your tranny needs to have the bands adjusted during a tranny service, just do it, that's unless you want to replace the trans because it wasn't serviced properly. .boB is right, if you don't have the right tools (and or knowledge) suck it up and pay to have it done right.
$150 to have the tranny serviced correctly today or $2000 to have the tranny replaced next month, decisions, decisions.
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AmsoilSponsor
DakotaEnthusiast
11/06/2003
06:48:26
|  Amsoil Synthetic ATF & Changing Transmission Fluid
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RocketDak,
You stated that you read all the "Amsoil Stuff" and were looking for other advice and opinions.
If you have the right tools, the proper mechanical ability, and if you are going to DIY ... You can pick up a filter kit from AutoZone for about $10 and it contains the filter and gasket. It is not nessasary to use any silicon or gasket sealer just be sure your pan surface is clean. NOTE: It is a messy DIY job.
Honestly, I purchase Amsoil Synthetic Universal ATF for my own vehicles and then take the fluids to a local "Quick Change" shop. They use the fluids that I provide and charge me a "nominal" service fee for the labor. I do the same with my motor oil.
==================================================
For those that have NOT read the "Amsoil Stuff":
Amsoil Universal Synthetic ATF
------------------------------
Changing Your Transmission Fluid in 12 EASY Steps:
1. Make sure the fluid is warm. Warm up your Dakota so the transmission is at normal operating temperature. Pull the transmission dipstick. Fresh fluid is translucent and cherry red. Some darkening is normal, but if it is reddish brown or mustard color and smells like burnt varnish, it is worn out.
2. Drain the fluid by loosening the pan. Select the correct filter replacement based on pan shape and prepare a large pan to catch the fluid. Then loosen each pan bolt a turn or two and loosen one corner more than rest. Drain mostly from this corner.
3. Finish removing the pan and any gasket material from the pan or case. Avoid scratching the metal and make sure the pan’s gasket surface isn’t bent or distorted.
4. Remove the old filter. Most transmission filters are held in place with a bolt or two, but some are held by a clip. Be careful to include O-Rings or other seals.
5. Install a new filter. Use the clips or bolts from the old filter. Be sure O-Rings, etc. are in place. If the filter has a long intake neck, gently push the neck into place without unseating the O-Ring.
6. Clean the pan thoroughly. Inspect the pan before cleaning. A small amount of fine grey clutch dust is normal. However, if you find metal shavings, there has been transmission damage. Clean the pan with solvent and wipe dry so there is no harmful residue.
7. Position gasket on pan. Some gaskets have four holes slightly smaller than the rest to allow four bolts through the pan and through these smaller holes to hold the gasket in place.
8. Hand tighten pan bolts in a criss-cross pattern. After that, use a torque wrench to tighten bolts to proper ft-lbs as per manufacturer.
9. Refill the transmission using only the amount shown as “refill capacity” in the owners manual or "AMSOIL Product Selection Guide,” using the type of fluid specified for the vehicle.
10. If doing only a partial fluid replacement, skip to instruction 12 below. If doing a complete fluid replacement, follow the steps in instruction 11.
11. You now have replaced the fluid in the pan. To replace the fluid in the torque converter and oil cooler also, follow these steps.
Step 1. Obtain the total system capacity of the vehicle from the manufacturer or AMSOIL. Have this amount readily available.
Step 2. Disconnect the oil cooler line from the oil cooler. As you may not know which is the pressure side and which is the return side, have both directed so the stream of fluid will be directed toward a receptacle.
Step 3. With another person, be prepared to add ATF to the fill area as it is being pumped out of the oil cooler line.
Step 4. Start the engine, and as the old fluid is pumped out, add fresh fluid to the pan.
Step 5. When either the fluid color brightens or the total capacity has been replaced, shut the engine off and re-attach the oil cooler line. All fluids has now been changed.
12. Recheck the fluid level. With the truck on level ground, set the parking brake and the transmission in “Park” or “Neutral.” Let the engine idle for a few minutes. Shift the transmission into different positions before returning the lever to “Park” or “Neutral.” Check the fluid level again and check for leaks.
---------------  ---------------
Amsoil UNIVERSAL Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid
Improves fuel efficiency, reduces transmission temperatures and increases transmission life. Provides unsurpassed thermal stability and up to five times the service life of conventional ATFs. Delivers maximum protection for towing and other severe-duty applications.
Recommended for applications requiring the following specifications:
Chrysler ATF+, ATF+2, ATF+3, ATF+4
__________________________________________________
To request a FREE Amsoil Catalog click the following link.
Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
07:22:37
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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The flushing service doesn't involve changing the filters. Great -- flush out all the old fluid while putting new fluid right thru a grimy old contaminated filter, thus making the new fluid instantly old. Great idea.
My manual says drain, change filters, then refill (granted this is for the 45RFE). If I were to simply get it flushed, wouldn't this void the warranty?
Eric - http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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RocketDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
07:38:55
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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Thanks for the replies but I wasnt expecting what I received. Everything from being called an "idiot" to "suck it up and pay." I may be naive about this but how hard is it to drop a tranny pan, drain the fluid and replace it? Yes it may be a messy DIY but who said anything about not wanting to get my hands dirty? I asked how to make sure to do a complete fluid change not power flush the transmission. I guess what I was looking for was if I did a fluid change, do I have to do anything else? How do I know if the bands need adjustment? I would like this to become a DIY maintenance since this "dealer maintained" transmission had to be rebuilt at 70k miles. The dealer never could get it right (leaky gasket, overfilled, rebuild, etc.) Why should I let someone else do it when I can do it better (of course, after being taught to do it right)? Except for a power flush system, the right tools are not an issue...
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AmsoilSponsor
DakotaEnthusiast
11/06/2003
08:34:08
| Amsoil Synthetic Universal ATF - Helpful Info
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It's simple everyone.
RocketDak asked ...
How do I empty the transmission and torque converter completely?
All the "flushing machines" I've seen intercept the ATF being pumped out of the transmission throught the cooler lines and replace it with new ATF as the transmission idles normally. The same thing happens when doing the ATF replacement at home with hoses and buckets.
I have been informed that the "flushing machines" are NOT gentle, and the pressure from the inlet stirs what is in the bottom of the pan and it gets drawn in. I have been advised to NOT FLUSH ...but to drain, drop, change, fill.
I don't think it was possible to drain all of the oil out of an automatic transmission because of the large amount left in the torque converter. On some vehicles, this can amount to almost half the total quantity. Often the pan holds less than half the ATF. You probably can't get new ATF in as fast as the old ATF is pumping out ... so be ready to stop & restart the engine several times.
To do a complete change, you would need to do a flush and fill through the cooler lines, either with a "flushing machine" or the way my Uncles did it ........ clamping a hose on the "out" line on the cooler and letting that run into a bucket, and then refilling the tranny simultaneously with engine idling. You could then let it cool, drain and drop the pan, change filter, reinstall pan and top up with oil just drained.
I have also been told that the "flush machines" cause a lot of transmissions to "go bad" shortly after the flush. I think that some of the machines actually have a "cleaning fluid" that they run through the transmission. Maybe that fluid is the cause.
*** Note: I am NOT a Transmission Expert. I am simply adding what I hope to be helpful information based on conversations with other people.
Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
10:21:50
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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4 qts of clean fluid + 2 qts of dirty fluid = 6 qts of dirty fluid.
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.booB
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
11:08:31
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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RocketDic Y dont U get a repair manual, if U dont service a Dodge tranny right it will bite U in the Azz
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JZ
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
12:23:18
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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RocketDak,
If you want to start doing your own maintenance, I would strongly recommend that you buy a service manual. Yes, they are expensive, but they tell you how to adjust the transmission bands correctly, along with pretty much any other operation on your truck. Well worth the money.
I also did the transmission flush a couple of months ago using the instructions from the Amsoil website. The only thing to beware of here is that (on mine at least) the transmission was pumping the fluid out faster than gravity was taking the new fluid in. I had to stop three times to add fluid through the dipstick tube so that it wouldn't get dangerously low.
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NeverDie
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
13:24:54
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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all i did was take the pan off the bottom, let it drain, clean the pan, put the new filter in, and filled it back up. works for me.
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AmsoilSponsor
DakotaEnthusiast
11/06/2003
14:04:17
| Amsoil Synthetic Universal ATF
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JZ stated:
"I also did the transmission flush a couple of months ago using the instructions from the Amsoil website. The only thing to beware of here is that (on mine at least) the transmission was pumping the fluid out faster than gravity was taking the new fluid in. I had to stop three times to add fluid through the dipstick tube so that it wouldn't get dangerously low."
That is why my earlier comment was:
"You probably can't get new ATF in as fast as the old ATF is pumping out ... so be ready to stop & restart the engine several times."
Just a reminder.
Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products
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Snapwrench
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
08:25:15
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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We have a BG fluids flushing machine in the shop and I highly recomend to customers to pay for the extra fluid and a filter after the flush. Most shops only flush the fluid and leave the old filter. Transmission fluid is a lubricant filled with detergents to breakdown the the worn clutch material. The filter then catches the broken down material.
Once you have done the flush, remove the pan, adjust the bands to spec. and replace the filter and top off with "FRESH" fluid. This method is a little more expensive, but if you are going to do it, do it right the first time.
Parker Performance
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jt
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
14:01:25
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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I have 40,000 miles on my 01 QC 4.7, do I need to have my tranny flushed or fluid changed or whatever its called? It has never been done.
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tj
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
14:08:13
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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if you do it now your tranny will self destruct after you change it, your to late, should have been done at 25k
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RocketDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
16:22:53
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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So, a follow up...I changed the fluid and filter after all. Decided if someone was going to ruin a tranny then it should be the owner :-) . Well for the other novice DIYs, this is a messsssy job. No real magic to it. I even did it without jacking up the truck. The gotchas...exhaust pipe blocking some of the front pan bolts, previous poorly done RTV sealant, filter screws torqued down to a hundred ft-lbs, back off how many turns on this band, etc. All is well and the tranny shifts smoothly and timely. I appreciate all of the advice given and I will continue to become a more self-reliant DIY Dakota owner...though, the next course I am going to take is a tranny rebuild course. :)
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jt
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
16:32:16
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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So why would changing fluid at 40000 destroy my tranny but if i would have at 25000 it would be fine. does that mean that i can never change it?
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Go Ahead
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
18:18:29
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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Just change it, 40k is not excessive.
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QQQ
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2003
18:48:48
| RE: Changing Tranny Fluid
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Go ahead and change it. 40k not bad. 100k bad.
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