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Did two more cycles of extract/drive/fill yesterday. Which makes four total, and using 4 gallons (15 liters) of ATF so far.
Should I now change the filter, or keep doing fluid exchanges? I've read somewhere that the point of the filter is to remove possible manufacturing debris, and that it doesn't really need to be changed.
Just a personal view, but I would now change the filter. After 4 drains at 4.75 litres, you've now changed approx 93% of the old fluid, by my calculations.
So, a filter change now will prevent any chance of the collected minor particles being able to be released back. You really don't know what might be in there right now.
Then I'd do a fluid change every year regardless of mileage.
The filter removes far more than manufacturing debris. Transmission clutches and other parts wear with time, and the filter removes particles that come from them. Automatic transmissions depend on the free movement of various pistons, valves, and check valves. Tolerances are extremely fine, and any particles that finds their way into the moving parts can cause issues. Changing the filter and cleaning the pan will help a lot to keep crud out. You can put in a drain plug in the pan at the same time.
Did two more cycles of extract/drive/fill yesterday. Which makes four total, and using 4 gallons (15 liters) of ATF so far.
Should I now change the filter, or keep doing fluid exchanges? I've read somewhere that the point of the filter is to remove possible manufacturing debris, and that it doesn't really need to be changed.
What is the absolute total quantity of the system? Bone dry to full at proper level?
I was going to replace the filter this afternoon, because after consulting the ROM it looked like it would be fairly quick task. Haha no.
The ROM fails to mention the big a-- bracket connected to the transmission mount and two of the sump bolts, which as far as I can tell will require taking the spring tension off the transmission mount to get it out of the way. (Thank you @Greg in France for the safe and sane method for the mount!)
Am I wrong? Or does the mount have to get out of the way? I declared it beer thirty and will tackle it tomorrow.
One advantage of calling beer thirty yesterday was that after sitting overnight, I was able to extract an additional liter of trans fluid before removing the sump this morning.
Did the sump and filter yesterday, everything went perfect. The END.
Or not. As many of you know, the sump and filter are quite easy, it's the dang trans mount and exhaust removal that are time consuming. Well, after I put everything back together, put the tools away and started to clean up the garage, I went to drain the drip pan of old ATF and a small metal sleeve appeared. I figured out that it must be a spacer fitted above the filter on the securing bolt; however there is no mention of it in the ROM. I'd removed the sump and let the transmission drip out into a drip pan while I broke for lunch and had to run an errand. Enough ATF had gone into the pan that when I removed the filter the sleeve must slipped into the ATF silently and was then submerged so I didn't notice it. Since it wasn't mentioned in ROM, I wasn't on the lookout for it.
Discouraged and a bit embarrassed, I reached out to the Wizard of Oz in hopes that this might be one of those parts that he's decided weren't necessary. He reminded me that GM didn't spend even pennies unless it was a necessity and told me get back at it and install it. Only upside, I hadn't filled it yet with new ATF, and it's crazy how much faster you can do a job if you re-do it the very next day!
Figured I better share my folly to help prevent someone else from repeating it, though I had to delete some language I would have liked to use.
06-16-2024, 03:44 PM
