Transmission Fluid - What to do

[Rain]

Have read posts from the past 2 years on whether to do the 100$ flush or the 40$ pandrop/filter change plus more and more of "I did this and wish I did that" and even loved the post from heidi on the shop vac and airtight bucket method.

What are you guys doing in a way of Transmission fluid work?

My story:
Have month old possesion of a 96 coupe.
Im third owner. Fluid has a bit of a "hot" odor. Am not sure if its ever been changed, much less the filter.

My guess is to go ahead and let someone drop the pan and change the filter and add fluid.

I do have a Chilton's style guide on order. And a nice set of 3 ton jack stands and a nice new shop jack. Some of you said this was a DIY type of job. True?

Thanks for your time
Rain

 

[Eagle85C4]

Hey Rain...nice web site....

It is a DIY job....get new filter and gasket, and a tube of high temp RTV. Jack up car, place drain pan under lowest part of tranny pan and start removing bolts from the sides and front of pan...it will start to drain, slowly remove and or loosen the rest of the bolts while it drains into the catch pan. If you do this carefully there will be a minimum of spillage. Once pan is removed there will be drips all over...let it drip while you clean the old gasket material off the tranny pan and any junk in bottom of pan. There is a magnet in bottom of pan to collect any metal from the bands and internal parts. Take a rag and wipe the rest of the bottom of the tranny. The filter is pressed up into a hole, there is a round ribbed gasket on the filter tube...sometimes when you remove the filter the gasket remains up in the hole...some leave it there and take the new one off the filter, others take it out and use the new one. It can be a bear to remove, I used a snap on hook tool to remove mine. Slip filter up in the hole. Clean surface of the tranny where the pan goes of all old gasket material...
Run a bead of RTV on the pan and place gasket on pan, then run bead of RTV on gasket. Smooth this out and remove excess RTV. Install while RTV is still wet.
With one hand hold pan in place and start a bolt back in the holes in each corner to hold pan in place while you install the rest of the bolts. Torque bolts to 97 inch pounds. Lower car. Pour in one quart then start engine and let it run while you fill to mark on stick. Be sure to cycle shifter from reverse to drive and back a few times and check fluid level again. Allow fluid to come to operating temp and make final check for proper level. For added protection use a bottle of Lucas tranny additive for the last quart.
Lastly...almost any Autozone store will have a chiltons manual on the shelf for you. Good Luck...

Also...the advantage of the flush is that it gets all the fluid out where dropping the pan only gets what is in the pan and not the torgue converter plus you will still have the old filter in there.

 

[Rain]

Thanks = I Need to take some pics of her now that I've had the vette a month and have been able to wash her a few times as well as get the oil, filter and airfilter changed. haha!
Gotta get engine cleaned and then I'll take some new pics for the webshow.

Also, thanks for the step by step on the trany pan/filter change.

Rain

 

[Eagle85C4]

Not a problem Brother....would like to sit down and jam with you someday...got a little collection of Guilds, Martins and a Gibson or 2...and am a confirmed parrot head...

 

[netnarc2]

I've got a Fender Rhodes stage piano. Can I join in?

 

[Rain]

Hey Brothers!
Best combo Ive seen - vettes, Music, and parrotheads!

Might have to try to make that Jam session happen.
As I can slow down with gigs (I used to do over 300 performances a year, now I've slowed to 3 - 5 a week) and pick up a few rental properties to suppliment the income, I WILL be traveling more with my vette.

I learned the first weekend I had her that a Taylor 714ce acoustic will fit (case included) in the rear of a 96 coupe! hahah
AMAZING the space in the back of these things!

Looking into my local Corvette Club. Mississippi Gulf Coast Corvette Club. Figure if I hook up with local enthusiasts, then Ill get this coupe cleaned up and in tiptop shape. Alas, they meet on nights when I am gigging.. haha (story of my life - if it doesnt happen at a gig, I miss it!)

Love to see pics of those fine acoustics you have. Nice selections Im certain!

Rain
www.Rainontheinternet.com

 

[jmccloud]

Tran Oil Change

NAPA sells (for most cars) two different trans filter and gasket sets. The more expensive one (about $20) has a wonderful gasket with it. It's somewhat pliable and does not leak. Also the holes are slightly smaller than the bolts. This allows starting (BARELY starting) all the bolts into the gasket so they are ready for hand starting and well located. Further, this gasket eliminates the need for the RTV. Don't over-tighten. The spec is INCH pounds. If the gasket extrudes more than barely noticably as you tighten, it's too tight. Tighten very gradually, working around the pan 2 or 3 times before reaching spec torque.
I have one car with almost 200,000 miles and have re-used the NAPA gasket 3 times (always changing the filter with a new one from the cheaper kit). No leaks.
A really large drain pan keeps things a lot neater. I use a small (3' diameter X 4" deep) plastic sand box cover.
Be sure to get the old ring gasket out or don't use the new one. If you get two of them in there, the filter won't seat all the way.
Definitely a DYI.
Good luck

 

[zog]

When I changed mine, I bought a transmission drain plug kit, drilled a 1/2 inch hole in the pan and inserted the kit. Now, I can change the transmission fluid (at least 3 quarts of it) every time I change the engine oil. THe kit was at Advanced Auto Parts for about $4.

Also, I have been told NOT to use any RTV on the pan...if that stuf gets into the transmission it is overhaul time!! I also used a rubber gasket that allowed me to "start" the bolts....it does not leak and there is no need for and sealer....

 

[c4ever]

It's a good trick to use a little tack spray to hold the gasket in place. I agree that RTV should not be used.
Carlo

 

[Rain]

Thanks all for the pointers!

Will tackle next week if time permits
Rain

 

[Eagle85C4]

Personally....I have always used a thin coat of RTV on the gasket regardless of the material and never have I had a leak or have to rebuild the tranny. That is why I stated to smooth the RTV down and remove the excess....just plain ole common sense.
Any more I use RTV on all gaskets...waterpump, thermostat, oil pan, timing cover, valve cover, and amazingly I don't have leaks.
Of course I have been doing this type of stuff 35 plus years and have probably developed a system that works for me. Others may have varying results.

 

[Heyspike]

How many O rings are on the old filter and is the filter a different style? The Napa filter looks a little different. When I pressed it in there, it seems like it was going to fall out when I put the pan up.? Does the bottom of the pan hold it in?
Thanks.

 

[Mad-Mic]

i use Mobil1 synthetic tranny fluid. i love that stuff and after 50k in miles she's still shifting nice and hard and tight! well worth the extra money since i only change it out every 15k miles.

 

[zog]

I wonder how many other folks use Mobil 1 synthetic trans fluid. I know it is expensive, and very few places carry it. I wonder if it really is worth the extra money....