I haven’t gotten around to adding a drain plug to my trans pan, but I know allot more than 5 qts came out when I changed out some of the solenoids. Seemed like every piece I removed, fluid would just come from nowhere

 

I drained over 6 qts last on my last drain and fill. The higher the front is lifted, the more it drains.

 

I did it today 6 and 1/2 quarts, and all I did was take the filter off, but the front was on ramps. Am I incorrect by remembering trans morning sickness, "put it in drive when it's very cold and it takes just a few seconds before it grabs as it should"",is actually because the internal seals are bad and all the fluid runs to the pan"". I've seen more then a few actually leak out the overflow when sat for a day or so, but shift awesome when the fluid level is correct at warm up. My fluid went from almost brown to being so clean I cant see it on the stick. Valvoline +4 seems to be almost a clear color on a good not rusty check stick, but I ,made certain that it actually needed 6 1/2 good and hot, to get it up where it belongs. I wonder if because everything being so heavy duty on this Durango, perhaps it has the pan from a 2500 model. I dont know, I've mostly serviced tranny's on a lift or with all corners raised the same height, but if some of you guys are saying raise just the front, to get more out, I might start doing that. Maybe the converter dumps a bit then also? So my back of the house way is more thorough then some tranny shops on their level racks. I wonder if they make a special wrench for that front band, WOW ! As seen my knowledge of transmissions is very limited. How important is it to go through all that 72 inch-lb then back it out crap, the play in both were about 1/4 inch when following information. I'll bet many trans folks just know by feel, then tighten her down at a reasonable distance? With tax that +4 Valvoline is like $8.70 here. Yikes + !

 

The dodge transmissions don't charge the torque converter in park. (thus, why you have to check fluid in neutral) Over time, the fluid will drain out of the t/c. Dodge put a check valve in the cooler line to prevent it, but, that is one of the first things folks toss, as the valve likes to clog up, and smoke the trans...... So, a few seconds wait when you first put it in gear isn't a surprise, and is actually expected if the check valve has been deleted. (or much of one if it is still there.... )

Yeah, getting that front band tightened properly is fun.

 

Na,, nothings ever been touched except by myself. I bought it new. $40.000 is a lot in 1999, but all the tough stuff added up.

 

OK, I'll make sure its clear to flow tomorrow. No trans shop ever mentioned the check valve. Would be nice to hold the fluid in t/c but Id rather let it flow. The trans cooler on this thing looks like another A/C condenser / huge.
Thank You..

 

Have the tow package, I take it?

 

It's different with all the skid plates and huge engine oil capacity, bigger then tow package trans cooler, ground height, also same ****ty front end ball joints, I've got so good on replacing them, I do them with the brakes. I call it a dodge break away front end, the parts scatter if clobbered but at least no frame damage, like Ford or GM. You can always put a dodge back on the road..

 

Not sure exactly which tranny you have. My 545RFE has two filters.... one flat sump filter and the other, a canister. The OEM canister filter has an anti drain-back valve which the aftermarkets don't. Not using OEM may cause a delay on first shift, till it primes. I use Walmart's Supertech ATF+4 and have been for years. No issues with it. They were $4.72 a qt when I changed ATF last month.

I love the cooler that comes with the tow pkg...

 

Darn, your giant trans cooler believe it or not is what I have on my 99 Durango. I'll have to see if my camera is able to see some of this stuff. I do not have an ex canister filter though. Do you think I still have that nasty check valve that needs to go? Have to remove radiator and fan on this thing, that's annoying too.
Has a huge 7 blade fan like a diesel almost, with a pitch that should pull the car, hell with the transmission. Perhaps like yours. Ya cant even see the valve with the radiator in, the hoses run under the radiator then come out from the center bottom forward to the trans. Can't see a dome thing..