???'s about fluid replacement

[Dallas4u]

Ok, I spent around 7 hours on Sunday trying to replace engine oil, coolant, tranny and TOD fluid, and front and rear diffy oil. I ran into things that took TOO much time to do, and didn't get to the TOD or differentials.

First question... tranny takes 9.1 qts of ATF fluid, yet I drained and refilled with only 4 qts. I know I did something wrong, or just didn't do something, as I have seen the 4 qt number mentioned before when it comes to the tranny. I drained the pan, replaced the filter, and pumped fluid back into the overflow hole. At 3 qts it started coming back out, so I put the bolt back in and started the VX. I turned it off, unscrewed the bolt, and started pumping more in. At almost 1 more qt (almost 4 qts total) fluid started coming back out. How do you flush the entire 9.1 qts out of the transmission, and how do you get it all back in there???

Second question... drain and fill spots on the differentials. I think someone said the lowest most bolt on the front diffy is the drain hole. Is there a fill hole as well? Same with the rear diffy... drain and fill holes?

I'm going to try and do the TOD bleed and refill, along with the differentials today or tomorrow after work. I do NOT look forward to going back under there after spending 7 hours there yesterday and only getting as far as I did, but I can't just NOT do what I set out to do. Thanks for any and all help that I have been given and will receive!!!

[AnalogVX]

There is only a 4quart change in the trans if you only drain/drop the pan. A fluid exchange at a lube place or dealer will get all 9 quarts. I got about 4 back in there too. The bottom most bolt on the front diff is the drain. IIRC it may be clogged with gasket sealant. If nothing comes out at first, stick a long screw driver in the hole to get it going. The rear dif drain hole is on the side and both front and rear have fill holes. Speaking from experience...make sure you can get the fill plugs loose first before you drain the oil.

*edit* it took me all day too. I'm sure it will go faster my next time around.

[Joe_Black]

There is actually a drain pug on the back of the front diff too. As AnalogVX mentions the rear is pretty easy to spot. The TOD is very easy to do as well. I bailed on my original attempt with the new tranny as I also have to do Kathy's '01 Trooper which has the same drain/fill set-up. I suspect there is a dealer piece of equipment to change the tranny fluid. There's another pan forward of the main pan (under converter I think) which will need to dropped that holds a bit more than a quart then you've got whatever's in the cooler. Sorry I don't know more as I'm waiting on gaskets etc. before finishing up.

[Dallas4u]

Originally posted by AnalogVX
A fluid exchange at a lube place or dealer will get all 9 quarts.

I'm assuming then that they do some sort of flush? How can we do this on our own to get the remaining 5 qts out?

Originally posted by AnalogVX
...and both front and rear have fill holes. Speaking from experience...make sure you can get the fill plugs loose first before you drain the oil.

Are the fill holes obvious?

Thanks for the help!

[Dallas4u]

Originally posted by Joe_Black
There's another pan forward of the main pan (under converter I think) which will need to dropped that holds a bit more than a quart then you've got whatever's in the cooler.

There IS another pan, right in front of the main pan. It is smaller, and rectangular. I thought about just taking it off to see what exactly it was, but I had so much trouble with the main pan, I was just ready to go inside.

I'll work on the TOD and differentials either today or tomorrow. I don't plan on going back out there to drain the sceond pan or anything as I'm chalking it up to being done with the tranny for now.

[Joe_Black]

I'll post pics of the diff drain plug this evening as I'm about to put the nose back on the VX. I'll also get a pic of the smaller pan as well.

[AnalogVX]

Originally posted by Dallas4u


Are the fill holes obvious?

Thanks for the help!

They are the plugs with the square hole. A 3/8" ratchet will fit nicely.

[AnalogVX]

Originally posted by Dallas4u
I'm assuming then that they do some sort of flush? How can we do this on our own to get the remaining 5 qts out?

Correct, they flush it with a machine hooked up to the fluid return lines from the radiator. There have been ways discussed on internet to do this yourself with a bucket and some long hoses, but I would rather leave it up to the professionals at that time.

[Joe_Black]

Okay, here's some (hopefully!) helpful pics of the tranny and diff fill and drain points.

First, the front diff drain found on the rear of the front diff...


...and the front diff fill on the front of the front diff:


The rear diff drain and fill points as viewed from right-rear corner:


The troublesome tranny fill and drain points as viewed from right side:



And last but not least the pan just forward of the main tranny pan, possibly a sump or for the converter (those in the know chime in):


Again, hope this helps out!

[Dallas4u]

Mr. Black, you are a gem.. a GEM I say!

The pics are perfect, and the "other" pan in front of the tranny pan is exactly what I was thinking of.

I am going to print these pics out and use them to go buy... perfect!!!

[Jonnie]

Views I am getting very familar with. I cannot get the filler plugs loose; glad I did not drain the diffs first!

Jonathan

[Joe_Black]

Jonnie, I use a 1/2 inch 6-point impact socket with a 20 inch breaker-bar which makes short work of those. Good tools to have in your box!

[johnnyapollo]

So if you remove that rear plug black stuff oozes out? Sounds like it needs Imodium!~

[Dallas4u]

This may show how much I still need to work out, but I was having a problem with the bolts holding the crossmember skid plate on! I was using a medium socket wrench, then switched to the largest socket wrench I have, and it made a HUGE difference.

[Jonnie]

Originally posted by Joe_Black
Jonnie, I use a 1/2 inch 6-point impact socket with a 20 inch breaker-bar which makes short work of those. Good tools to have in your box!

I've been there 3 times. I used the 1/2 breaker bar with a regular cut socket (15/16, some slop). The Mobil 1 continues to roll around in the back seats.

I was thinking about using an impact socket, but have to go get a set.

Jonathan