External Filter for 4T60E A/T?

[Make 'em Last]

Have any of you installed an external filter (inline or adapter with screw-on) for your automatic transmission? My '99 Olds Intrigue 3.8L 153K has the 4T60E with original oil & filter. Preparing to change oil & filter, and wondering if worth the expense & trouble to add a filter. No probs, tranny shifts fine and no burnt smell.

[GTP Dad]

The internal filter is more than adequate for the trans. I don't know of anyone using an external filter but you will need to run the internal filter regardless of whether you install an external one due to the fact that the tranny uses the filter to pull fluid out of the pan.

Proper maintenance of changing the fluid and filter on a routine basis will make the trans last. If you want to put something on the trans to improve longevity try an external cooler to remove heat. Heat is the biggess enemy of transmissions.

[tblake]

External cooler is a good idea unless he lives in a colder climate.

I know HotZ28 had an external filter on his camaro if I remember right. Lets wait for him to chime in. I think he even has some pictures if I remember right.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Make 'em Last

My '99 Olds Intrigue 3.8L 153K has the 4T60E with original oil & filter.

Are you sure you have a 4T60E? I recall '99 should be the 4T65E autotransaxle. Check the SPID label to be sure. Look for GM RPO codes M15 or MN3 for 4T65E. If 4T60E it is M13.

IMO there is no good reason to add an external tranny fluid filter or an external cooler on either transaxle.

[tblake]

To add on to what Bob said, 153k miles on the stock flyid and filter is just asking for trouble. I would be worried swapping it out at this point.

[Make 'em Last]

Thanks for the responses! I'll verify the A/T model. And try to adhere to the maintenance schedule for the fluid change in future. A couple of follow ?'s.

Like the idea of putting in a drain plug for the tranny. Where can I get the plug kit? Should I just eyeball the location for the plug on the pan?

Have you tried the fluid exchange method of putting one cooling hose into a discharge bucket and the other into the new fluid (actually use one radiator connection)? Could I be so lucky as to have the discharge hose at the top of the radiator? Can this method also be used to pump out most of the old fluid out of the pan (pre drain plug) before pan removal? Figured I'd only run the tranny a couple of minutes - don't want to run it dry.

Sold on using Dexron VI. Have you noticed any benefit using a more expensive brand (i.e. Castrol) versus a generic (i.e. SuperTech).

[Make 'em Last]

Originally Posted by tblake

To add on to what Bob said, 153k miles on the stock flyid and filter is just asking for trouble. I would be worried swapping it out at this point.

So, if I understand you correctly, your vote is to just leave the fluid as it is? Hope for more miles?

My current plan is to change the filter and partial fluid change (replace what's lost from pulling pan). Button it up, run it for a short time, and then do a full fluid exchange.

Understand there seem to be two sides - only ATF in the tranny and additives/flushes (i.e. SeaFoam). Am leaning to the "only put something else in if you're having problems."

[tblake]

Flushing and fluid exchanges at any point in time and at any milage is just looking for trouble.

I would run a bottle of seafoam trans addidtive through it for a week, then just do a pan drop, and filter exchange.

You could get a drain plug kit from www.zzperformance.com

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Make 'em Last

Like the idea of putting in a drain plug for the tranny. Where can I get the plug kit? Should I just eyeball the location for the plug on the pan?

We have old posts on adding a drain plug. Just do a search. You can get the drain plug kit at places like Autozone or O'Reilleys. Made by Dorman or packaged as "Oil Tite" brand. Placement is very important. See pics on one I installed on a 4T65E autotransaxle.

[Make 'em Last]

Yes, I do have a 4T65E. Thanks for all your posts. Ended up only dropping the pan, changing the filter & seal, and replacing the lost fluid. Put 7 quarts of Dexron VI in, and only needed to add one more pint after the warm tranny level check. Guess the old filter kept that amount. Did install the Oil-Tite 65241 drain plug in the pan. The "drain plug" search was very productive, and thanks for the pics BNaylor! A/T's still shifting fine, but will feel better after a few thousand miles.

Assuming things continue to go well, what OCI should I target for this tranny?