Needing to drop tranny pan with no drain plug...
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 1
From: Anderson, SC
By far the cleanest and easiest way I have ever removed transmission fluid for a filter change (on a pan without a plug) is by siphoning it out through the dipstick tube under the hood. Get yourself some means of a 'fluid transfer pump' (I think even harbor freight has one for like $5) and some tube of appropriate diameter and length.
Feed the tube down the dipstick tube until it's in the trans fluid, and put the 'exhaust' tube into a bucket, and start pumping!!
I actually use a LiquiVac oil vacuum and it works WONDERS. Works great with lawnmowers, and on power steering reservoirs as well.
Zero mess, and NO "having to undo half the pan while it drips all over the floor and my arms" mess.
Trust me. You'll love doing it this way.
Feed the tube down the dipstick tube until it's in the trans fluid, and put the 'exhaust' tube into a bucket, and start pumping!!
I actually use a LiquiVac oil vacuum and it works WONDERS. Works great with lawnmowers, and on power steering reservoirs as well.
Zero mess, and NO "having to undo half the pan while it drips all over the floor and my arms" mess.
Trust me. You'll love doing it this way.
Champion
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 2
From: Ft Campbell, KY/TN
I would just pull the pan per the FSM. It is not that bad when you do it right. Slightly more messy than doing an oil change.
I have a vac pump, and I didn't use it. It takes a while to hand pump roughly 9 quarts of oil through a tube that has less of a diameter than your dipstick.
Also, get one of these for 129 bucks:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-14210/?rtype=10
I have one on my truck. Has a bung for a trans temp sensor. I have an autometer tranny temp sensor hooked up to it.
I have a vac pump, and I didn't use it. It takes a while to hand pump roughly 9 quarts of oil through a tube that has less of a diameter than your dipstick.
Also, get one of these for 129 bucks:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-14210/?rtype=10
I have one on my truck. Has a bung for a trans temp sensor. I have an autometer tranny temp sensor hooked up to it.
Thread Starter
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Anderson, SC
Legend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,914
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From: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Be sure to torque the pan bolts down to 13ft lbs and check again in a couple of days.
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
Likes: 8
From: Central Oklahoma
Take it to a reputable transmission shop. Problem solved.
. Anyhow, it's not something you can "f" up. Unless of course you drill the hole first.
Thread Starter
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 372
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From: Anderson, SC
they won't be seeing me again after they said $400 just to replace the sensor and solenoid.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
more or less like zman said, but here's how i do it.
if you wanting to keep the floor sort of clean, put down a piece of cardboard.
put the largest drain pan you can find under the trans pan.
loosen the bolts about 1/8-1/4 inch.
the level of the oil in the pan will be above the top of the pan, so it should start running out the top of the pan. if not, smack the pan with a rubber hammer to break it loose.
let it drain until the fountain stops.
move the drain pan and slide a floor jack under the trans pan.
jack it up just enough to hold it in place.
remove all pan bolts.
a helper is useful here, or else 4 hands... balance the pan that is FULL of fluid with two hands and lower the jack with the other two. the pan full of fluid is heavy, and awkward.
tilt the trans pan over into the drain pan.
edit.. put the drain pan back under the trans and remove filter. there's another fountain behind it.
install the drain plug into a flat spot on the side or bottom of the pan where it wont hit the solenoids on the inside. this is well worth the extra $5 for the plug and the few minutes that it takes to install it. it makes future service a breeze.
its truly amazing that automotive engineers are smart enough to design complex engines and transmissions and electrical systems; meet safety guidelines; develop navigation systems... yet can't put a damn drain plug in a trans pan.
if you wanting to keep the floor sort of clean, put down a piece of cardboard.
put the largest drain pan you can find under the trans pan.
loosen the bolts about 1/8-1/4 inch.
the level of the oil in the pan will be above the top of the pan, so it should start running out the top of the pan. if not, smack the pan with a rubber hammer to break it loose.
let it drain until the fountain stops.
move the drain pan and slide a floor jack under the trans pan.
jack it up just enough to hold it in place.
remove all pan bolts.
a helper is useful here, or else 4 hands... balance the pan that is FULL of fluid with two hands and lower the jack with the other two. the pan full of fluid is heavy, and awkward.
tilt the trans pan over into the drain pan.
edit.. put the drain pan back under the trans and remove filter. there's another fountain behind it.
install the drain plug into a flat spot on the side or bottom of the pan where it wont hit the solenoids on the inside. this is well worth the extra $5 for the plug and the few minutes that it takes to install it. it makes future service a breeze.
its truly amazing that automotive engineers are smart enough to design complex engines and transmissions and electrical systems; meet safety guidelines; develop navigation systems... yet can't put a damn drain plug in a trans pan.
Last edited by dhvaughan; Oct 30, 2011 at 12:05 PM.