Help draining tourque converter
patbeechermail
06-07-2009, 02:28 PM
Hey, can anyone give me some pointers on draining the trans. fluid from my torque converter. It is contaminated with water and I need to do a complete fluid change. Trans cooler went bad and I installed an external cooler for now.
I dropped the pan and removed the filter and was able to get out about 7 quarts. So it still has about 5 or 6 quarts in the converter. A Napa store owner suggested that I drill and tap the converter housing and install a drain plug. I am not familiar with the internals on this trans and I fear damaging something. Car is a 1998 Ford Taurus OHV 3.0 4 speed automatic electronic transmission,14 bolt pan.
I dropped the pan and removed the filter and was able to get out about 7 quarts. So it still has about 5 or 6 quarts in the converter. A Napa store owner suggested that I drill and tap the converter housing and install a drain plug. I am not familiar with the internals on this trans and I fear damaging something. Car is a 1998 Ford Taurus OHV 3.0 4 speed automatic electronic transmission,14 bolt pan.
rdh2
06-07-2009, 10:22 PM
:confused: I would NOT drill and tap the converter :screwy:. You may have to flush more than normal due to the water in the trans. Water is not a good lubricant.
If your car is a '98 you have one of two transmissions; AX4N with a 19 bolt pan or an AX4S (AKA AXOD-E)with a 17 bolt pan.
Here is the way to flush it at home (use Mercon V fluid):
1. You will spill some fluid when dropping the pan. Best just spread out the oil dry before starting or use a large drip pan with the oil catch pan. Have a supply of rags on hand to help with cleanup. The pan gasket is reusable if it is the OEM rubber one. Total system capacity is around 14-15 quarts. Buy a couple of extra quarts to get all the old stuff out.
2. Jack up the car and place on jack stands or use auto ramps.
3. Next disconnect the line on the drivers side of the ATX cooler. Put the tranny side line in a five gallon bucket. Attach a piece of 3/8" hose to the cooler where you just disconnected the line and place it on the bucket.
4. Start the engine and wait until the fluid almost stops. There will be a definite difference in the amount flowing out.
5. Stop the engine.
6. Start loosening the bolts on the pan. There is still 3-4 quarts in the pan. Position a drain pan under the tranny pan and on the drivers side. Loosen and remove all the bolts but two on the passenger side. This will let the drivers side tip down as you then slowly loosen the remaining two. After the pan is mostly down and the fluid is in the drain pan remove the pan completely and replace the filter. Be sure to remove the rubber ring that will stick up in the tranny filter mount. Just bend it in with a screwdriver and pull it out with a needle nose. Do not scratch the aluminum tranny filter holding housing.
7. Reusing the OEM gasket and in a three pass sequence progressively tighten every other bolt until all are tightened. Do not over tighten as they really just need to be snug. Use a 1/4" ratchet drive socket.
8. Then add 10 quarts. Start the motor and wait until it almost stops pumping fluid out or until you see new fluid coming out. Better to waste a quart or two of new fluid to insure all the old stuff is out.
9. When the flow has almost stopped, shut off the engine and reconnect the hoses.
10. Add 5 quarts, idle motor, put the shifter in each position pausing for a few seconds in each position and return shifter to Park. Check level keeping it on the low side on the dipstick.
11. Then drive the car for a while to heat up the tranny fluid and recheck and top off the fluid.
I would suggest driving for about 100 miles after this flush and then draining the pan and refilling to ensure all water is removed.
If your car is a '98 you have one of two transmissions; AX4N with a 19 bolt pan or an AX4S (AKA AXOD-E)with a 17 bolt pan.
Here is the way to flush it at home (use Mercon V fluid):
1. You will spill some fluid when dropping the pan. Best just spread out the oil dry before starting or use a large drip pan with the oil catch pan. Have a supply of rags on hand to help with cleanup. The pan gasket is reusable if it is the OEM rubber one. Total system capacity is around 14-15 quarts. Buy a couple of extra quarts to get all the old stuff out.
2. Jack up the car and place on jack stands or use auto ramps.
3. Next disconnect the line on the drivers side of the ATX cooler. Put the tranny side line in a five gallon bucket. Attach a piece of 3/8" hose to the cooler where you just disconnected the line and place it on the bucket.
4. Start the engine and wait until the fluid almost stops. There will be a definite difference in the amount flowing out.
5. Stop the engine.
6. Start loosening the bolts on the pan. There is still 3-4 quarts in the pan. Position a drain pan under the tranny pan and on the drivers side. Loosen and remove all the bolts but two on the passenger side. This will let the drivers side tip down as you then slowly loosen the remaining two. After the pan is mostly down and the fluid is in the drain pan remove the pan completely and replace the filter. Be sure to remove the rubber ring that will stick up in the tranny filter mount. Just bend it in with a screwdriver and pull it out with a needle nose. Do not scratch the aluminum tranny filter holding housing.
7. Reusing the OEM gasket and in a three pass sequence progressively tighten every other bolt until all are tightened. Do not over tighten as they really just need to be snug. Use a 1/4" ratchet drive socket.
8. Then add 10 quarts. Start the motor and wait until it almost stops pumping fluid out or until you see new fluid coming out. Better to waste a quart or two of new fluid to insure all the old stuff is out.
9. When the flow has almost stopped, shut off the engine and reconnect the hoses.
10. Add 5 quarts, idle motor, put the shifter in each position pausing for a few seconds in each position and return shifter to Park. Check level keeping it on the low side on the dipstick.
11. Then drive the car for a while to heat up the tranny fluid and recheck and top off the fluid.
I would suggest driving for about 100 miles after this flush and then draining the pan and refilling to ensure all water is removed.
patbeechermail
06-07-2009, 11:11 PM
thanks, not much of a tranny man here, but the tapping a hole thing sounded kind of screwy to me too. since my original post I researched several methods of flushing my transmission. Another Idea to keep a large mess from occurring when you drop your pan, I have a small hand pump (AUTOZONE 11.00 BUCKS) I ran it down the dipstick tube and sucked all the fluid out before I dropped the pan. Worked great. thanks for the reply
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