Hi, this weekend along with my oil and filter change, Im going to change the rear differential fluid and the auto tranny fluid. I plan on also adjusting the bands and I was wondering how difficult this is. Are any of the valvoline tranny fluids okay to use or do I have to go to the dealer to get some fluid. How can i figure out what tranny i have? As far as the diferential fluid I plan on just siphoning it out with a pump, hope this is okay. Thanks!

Edit: I also plan on trying to use some sea foam in both the crankcase and throttle body. When I use it in the crankcase, do I do it after I change the oil and filter or before with the old oil. On our trucks is it okay to poor down the throttle body? Thanks

 

Since you are planning on adjusting the bands, you need to drop your transmission pan anyways, so it would be easier to remove the fluid when you remove the pan rather than taking it out with a pump. Just remember to drop one corner of the pan by loosening bolts all the way around and removing a few of the bolts at the one corner. Valvoline makes ATF+4, which is what you should use for your vehicle. It is available at NAPA, Advanced Auto, etc. I know some people highly recommend using only Mopar tranny fluid, but the Valvoline bottle does state that it meets Dodge specifications. You probably have the 46RE transmission, but others may be able to help you out on identification.

You want to do the SeaFoam application before you change your motor oil. Pour it into your wife's good glass measuring cup so you can measure the amount you are dosing and to see how quickly it is being sucked up. Then use a vacuum line from the valve cover, either the line from the PCV valve or the brake booster. You may have to pull the line out of the fluid for a few seconds to keep the engine from stalling. You could pour it down the throttle body, but there is a safety issue since you will probably be laying over the top of the engine and the fan. You should be able to reach the vacuum line standing at the front or side of the truck. If you put it in your crankcase, I would only run the engine for a few miles before changing it.

Final step, wash the measuring cup thoroughly and put it back in the cupboard before your wife notices. If you don't wash it well, it gives the homemade cookies a funny taste.

 

Thanks for the info. In this case its 'mom'. I only planned on siphoning the diff fluid. How hard is adjusting the bands?

 

He does in fact have the 46RE.

Transmission band adjustment info: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/transmi...T_band_adj.htm

Make sure you do it in INCH lbs and NOT ft lbs. You'll need a tow truck if you make that mistake [8D]

You should really pull the cover off when you change the differential fluid. It gives you a chance to visually check the gears for wear and to get any gunk/shavings out of the bottom of the housing. And if there are any "pieces" in there (which there shouldn't be), you'll know about it before something major happens. All you have to do is clean up the cover and the mating surface on the housing, and then put a bead of silicone on the cover and slap it back on.

 

Thanks, when it says back off does that mean to tighten to 72 inch pounds and then loosen it the amount shown. Roughly how much is an inch pound tork wrench

 

That is correct. Make sure the locking nut is loose, then tighten the adjusting screw to the correct torque. It may help to use a magic marker and put a dot on one of the corners of the adjusting screw, so you have a reference when you start backing it off. You may also want to put an alignment mark on the transmission before you start turning the screw. It is hard to tell guess 7/8 of a turn if you don't have a reference. Also, when you start tightening the locking nut, the reference mark will help you keep the screw in the proper location, since they have a tendancy to twist slightly when you are turning the locking nut.

In reference to your question about the torque wrench, I assume you are asking the cost. There are basically two types, the less expensive and less precise type has a lever arm mounted above the handle with a pointer that shows the amount of torque on a guage. They might run about $25 and up. You have to be a little more careful with this type. Start tightening the bolt, then when the torque gets close to the proper setting, keep tightening slowly until you hit the desired torque.

The other type has a handle that twists at the bottom where you can dial in the desired torque. Then when you are tightening the bolt, it will "click" when it reaches the dialed in torque setting. These run around $65 if you bought a Craftsman. If you get this type, always remember to reset the torque back to zero on the wrench before you store it.

One other thing I thought about if you use the Seafoam in the throttle body. After you restart the engine, it may smoke like crazy. Let it idle for a little, then drive it around some but don't hammer it right away until the smoke starts to clear, or you could get some hard pinging.

 

Take 230.00 to the dealer, they will completely flush the entire system, including the TQ, adjust anything that can be adjusted, replace the filter and refill with ATF+4.
This is one of those things I just go ahead, bite the bullit and let them do.

 

For fluids I would recommend using Lucas in both the tranny and deferential. I use it in both of mine with a noticeable difference. As for Sea Foam. I just used it in my brother in laws Neon, read the attached post.https://dodgeforum.com/m_457234/mpag.../tm.htm#457234

 

Just wondering if I have to jack the truck up in order to adjust the bands. I still dont get why it has you tighten something then loosen it. Thanks for all of the help