ATF Change Question HELP!

[vtecboy]

Hello,

i drive a 2000 mitsubishi eclipse gt with 90,000 milles on it, my car never had the automatic transmsion fluid changed, the current oil is old and dirty. My transmision takes 8.9 qts. of ATF ... If i open the drain plug i only take like 4 qts. out of the transmision...the rest of the fluid appears to be in the torque converter.
My question is: is it ok if i only change those 4 qts. or i must drain the torque converter by disconecting the radiator hose?
I'm on a budget right now and paying for 9 qts. of oil is kinda expensive,but im trying to do some mainteinance ,thats why i'm asking if changing those 4 qts is ok.

thanks.

 

[LeakySeals]

Thats the way drain and fills work. Its ok if you dont get it all. Do one again in a couple weeks, then again at 20k. After a few you will have most of it. All I've ever done on the Camry in my sig, runs great.

Some replace the filter. I don't.

 

[jsnyder49090]

If you change that and clean the pan, replace the filter it will help greatly.You would need to change it about 3 times that way to get most of the old fluid out.I dont know how to get the fluid out of the torque converter someone here will tell you if its possible.

 

[Tones]

Yes, doing periodic drain-and-fills will help greatly. Thats really all you need to do. The filter could probably use changing, but it can likely wait until you get some more coin.

 

[Sayjac]

D&F's seems to work well for many here. It refreshes the add pack and is generally easily done. All I've ever done on an 01 Civic with ~170k, at ~25k intervals. And that AT has a notorious reputation.

Can shorten the interval if it hasn't been done regularly.

 

[vtecboy]

thanks for the replays.

One last question:

I don't know exactly whats the brand of the ATF that my car have on it right now...i guess is the factory mitsubishi diamond sp-ii ATF... I bought 4 quarts of castrol import multi-spec that says is diamond sp-ii compatible.
Is it ok to mix the brands?

 

[Sayjac]

Sure, if it says compatible with or suitable for, Castrol Import should be fine. Suitable for is how MaxLife words it.

 

[Eddie]

Usually 3 plug drains and refills will give you 90+% new fluid. This has the added advantage to not shock the transmission, if there is some cleaning to be done. Yes it should be OK to use the Castrol Multi Import with the ATF you are running now. Ed

 

[oggb]

Changing four quarts once is better than never changing it at all.

Drain/fill once now, once again when you can afford four more quarts, and once again when you can afford four more.

 

[Donald]

The first drain & fill is the most important as percentage wise it makes the most difference.

A cooler line exchange is most cost efficient, but you really should have the total capacity +1 QT.

 

[tribocessive]

i once had a toyota truck with a leaking transmission seal- had to top off atf with 1 quart a week; the factory service advisor said this constant flushing was very good for the transmission; i never fixed the leak; 471k miles total, original transmission still working well; the 4 quart thing is a good idea for you.

 

[LeakySeals]

I never stray from the factory recommended fluid. Its not like switching motor oil brands, the type of fluid means a lot more to the operation, shifting, etc. The drains aren't often enough to justify any cost savings using a different fluid. JMO, based on never losing a transmission is 30 years. Some as old as 300k

 

[Rand]

did diamond spIII replace spII?

its available at hyundai mitsubishi and kia dealers

about 5-6$/qt here

 

[BISCUT]

I do the drain/fill every fall. have had excellent success with that over the 24 years I've been doing it with different vehicles.

I change the filter every second year.

I put oversize PML trans pans on the 2 trucks in my sig. Takes less than 10 minutes to drain and fill!!

I went with Max Life and so far so good. Even in the Armada with a fussy Nissan trans.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
I went with Max Life and so far so good. Even in the Armada with a fussy Nissan trans.

ML is good choice, imo. Currently using it in a Civic and a Tacoma. Also, so far so good.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Quote:
I went with Max Life and so far so good. Even in the Armada with a fussy Nissan trans.

ML is good choice, imo. Currently using it in a Civic and a Tacoma. Also, so far so good.


I took some heat here for using it. Valid concerns were raised but thusfar all is good. I'm going to use it in place of Merc V as well.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I use the Castrol in my Sonata that specs SPIII and so far it actually seems better than the original Hyundai fluid...drain and fill is your best bet do them whenever you can afford the 4qts of fluid...also check for sales and coupons and you can get the fluids even cheaper.

 

[vtecboy]

Hello,

I already changed the ATF in my eclipse but i still need help...I took 7 quarts out of the drain plug. Then i filled 6 quarts and the oil level is at the dipstick HOT mark (Warm engine,engine on,trans in neutral). I'm not sure if my transmision was overfilled because i'm not the original owner of the car and i dont know the manteinance record on this car...The total capacity of my transmision is 8.9qts of ATF ...It was supposed to drain 4 quarts out of the drain plug but surprisingly 7 quarts came out. I'm not sure if i must add one more quart or stay with the dispstick reading.
The transmision is having issues when the engine is cold,it's having a shift flare from 1st to 2nd until the engine warms up.

Any help is appreciated. thanks

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: vtecboy
Hello,

I already changed the ATF in my eclipse but i still need help...I took 7 quarts out of the drain plug. Then i filled 6 quarts and the oil level is at the dipstick HOT mark (Warm engine,engine on,trans in neutral). I'm not sure if my transmision was overfilled because i'm not the original owner of the car and i dont know the manteinance record on this car...The total capacity of my transmision is 8.9qts of ATF ...It was supposed to drain 4 quarts out of the drain plug but surprisingly 7 quarts came out. I'm not sure if i must add one more quart or stay with the dispstick reading.
The transmision is having issues when the engine is cold,it's having a shift flare from 1st to 2nd until the engine warms up.

Any help is appreciated. thanks


NO, don't add more ATF. Double check the transmission HOT again(engine running) after a good long drive. You're probably OK but, double check!

My '04 Altima drained out 7 qts of factory ATF on my 1st D&F(the dipstick reading was always at the FULL/HOT after a drive). I put back 7 qts at that time but, I've never been able to do more than 5.5qts ever again, IDKY!