Another tranny fluid swap.

Fifteen thousand miles since I last serviced the transmission. I dropped the pan and changed the filter last time. This time, just drained about 3 1/2 qts out and refilled with the engine just warm and running in neutral. The fluid that drained out was just a little darker than fresh fluid. There was almost nothing on the magnetic drain plug. There was a very small amount of fine particles in the bottom of the catch basin. I was worried about this transmission being on its last legs about 30K ago when some work was done with the tranny out and the daughter began driving it. I found some larger particles then. The 4L-30E is now at 176K and shifts great. It's always a little better after a partial fluid swap.

I had my fluid drained and refilled at about thr 70K mark for the first time with no problems. I am wanting to do that at least every 30K from here on out, and thought about dropping the pan to change out the filter like you did. How did your's go, was it worth it do you think, or would repeated drain/refills suffice? I'm just hesitant to break open that pan if I don't have to.

Thanks

Sorry! I just got back from New Hampshire. I think it is definitely worth it to drop the pan and change the filter and gasket at this point. You will find the filter clogged and dirty with contaminants and debris on the magnet. Get the correct Isuzu stuff, maybe from St. Charles Automotive in MO. It is super easy to do, especially if you've already done a drain and refill. Torque is pretty low for the pan bolts so you don't split the new rubber gasket. I've done it two or three times on the Rodeo and once on my wife's BMW, which has a similar setup.

Cool! I just didn't want to open a can of worms and cause a problem in a good working trans. I've since read alot of threads on this forum and planetisuzoo to see if anyone had problems with a drain, pan drop, filter replace and refill. There was one person having a problem, but mostly all seemed not to have any issues so that sets my mind at ease a bit!

Any suggestions on the filter itself? I've talked to an Isuzu mech a while back and he said you just have to be careful with the o-ring, said it has a tendancy to stay in the valve body and unless it's caught, you doubled up on o-rings! Also, what is the fluid you used? The repair manual says Dexron III, and that seems to be the concessous, but I read about a TSB talking about that fluid with a "G-license number". How critical is that?

Thanks!
Mark

Even when you drop the pan you are still only swapping 3 1/2 to 4 qts of fluid, and I can't see how that would destroy a good, working trans. As far as that little ring goes, you'll see what the new one looks like, just pull the old off. Mine came off easily. In my wife's BMW, I found it at the bottom of the pan!

I used Dexron/Mercron III from Advance. I haven't heard about the TSB. The stuff is cheap and readily available. I think it's cheap insurance to swap a few qts every 15K or so. Good luck!

And snap a couple pics of the inside of the pan if you think about it. Hopefully it doesn't look like this overdrive pan:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/surferfletch/yikes.jpg

Check this thread:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=768359

I've just noticed that my pan gasket is starting to have a small leak at a few spots where the gasket seems to be split.

Vehicles seem to have a funny way of making my mind up for me! LOL

going to change out one of my lower ball joints this weekend, hopefully it goes smoothly so I can mark one of several 'to do' items on the passport! After that is the fuel sender and then the tranny.

Thanks for the advice on this thread you guys!

Mark