Tranny filter replacement question

[thinmints]

I was wondering if anybody could tell me how the tube that is connected to the tranny pan comes off? i know that it is for the dipstick but im not sure how to remove it with out me breaking something, the chiltons mentions nothing in the book about this tube just a brief pic any help woould be great

[Saudade]

If I recall correctly on my '88 (4.0l, auto), the tube slips into a short extension from the pan and is sealed with an o-ring. Just pull gently and twist/wiggle the pan back and forth. Make sure the pan is as empty as it can be. It should slip off. Make sure you align the tube when you reinstall the pan.

If you follow the tube up from the pan, you'll feel the where the joint is. It's only a few inches.

[thinmints]

Thanks.... i will let you know how it goes

[IdahoJeeper]

I just went through that whole 'change the filter and flush the tranny' jazz, that dipstick tube is a royal pain in the butt!!! Saudade is right, the tube doesn't come off the pan, it goes up about 12 inches and connects to the upper tube with an O-ring and (in my case) about 500ft-pounds of 'stuckonthere'. I ended up squirting some seafoam on the connection, and having my wife hold the upper tube (so I wouldn't break it off) while I torqued on the pan and the lower tube. I recall muttering some reference to engineers/designers and burning in hell. All I can say is good luck!

By the way I read your post about the total flush: I decided for my wallet, the best course was to change the filter and fluid, and since the thing does come with a drain plug, I have done three fluid changes in a short time. I figure eventually most of the old fluid is gone and replaced with new... I also installed an external, inline tranny filter. I never want to take that pan off again!

[Saudade]

lol... It's only hard to get off the first time. Have you taken off your oil pan yet?

[thinmints]

Originally Posted by Saudade

lol... It's only hard to get off the first time. Have you taken off your oil pan yet?

Im still working on the pan have had it off twice but have been unable to get the tube off not sure what else to do i now have a leak form where the old gasket was so i need to figure out something quick

[IdahoJeeper]

the first time was the last itme for me! I'll let you in on a secret I'd hoped you wouldn't have to resort to...

I think I told you I had my wife holding the tube so I wouldn't break it off, well, that's because I had a punch and a hammer and I was beating the damn thing till it finally loosened up. Once it came loose, I was able to twist it back and forth until it finally popped out.

Hence the reason I decided to put on an external filter! I never want to take that pan off again!

[Saudade]

Idaho: It took me nearly a hour simply to pry my oil pan off in order to change a rear seal. Another 90 minutes to clean all the old gasket material off.

Thinmints: I sprayed a lot of WD40 on the dipstick tube so it would run down the tube and into the joint. After letting it soak a bit, I had the pan lossened and used a pry bar and a block of wood (to protect the gasket surface) to put a lot of pressure on separating the joint. A lot of wiggling, cussin' and junk falling on my face finally let it loose.