Bottom of Dipstick Tube?

[mrlewp87]

Is there something, perhaps a filter at the very bottom of the dipstick tube? I'm trying to siphon excess ATF fluid from our RAM 1500 truck. I first tried a simple gravity method using a long slender tube pre-filled with ATF. Seemed to be working perfectly at first when I saw darker fluid following about 3" behind the new coming out of the fill tube. Then it stopped after just a few inches.
When I pass the siphon tube down the trans filler tube, it feels "spongy". I've seen YouTubes of others siphoning from the ATF fill tube, but neither the gravity nor a bulb type transfer pump work for me. Then I see a guy using a shop vac! Please stop me if this is not a good plan! I was very disappointed to learn that there isn't already a drain plug on the transmission pan !?
And yes, this definitely needs to be done. Shift changing problems! (automatic)

 

[Jethro_Bob]

I'm not sure of the new models, but when they were still branded dodge a proper transmission service required dropping the pan and manually adjusting the bands. Unlike nearly every other manufacture who used self adjusting bands.

 

[Pelican]

No offence, but you seem not to know enough to tackle such a job. Take it to a mechanic.
I don't know how old this Ram is, but is it worth the risk of ruining the transmission?

 

[Supersonic]

I've use the red $6 transfer pump from Harbor Freight, seen it at a Walmart too, it comes with the perfect thin tube for going down the dipstick and I've done Toyota's with them. You could try to do a number of drain and fills by running the motor for 2 minutes and repeat. The 2 minutes is just an estimate of what it takes to pump the clean fluid up into the transmission and of course you're gonna get most of he dirty fluid back in the pan to swap out. Your results may vary.

 

[Linctex]

I pop a cooler line off and let it idle until you see bubbles.

Reconnect the line..... Refill to spec

Repeat this every 30,000 miles

 

[JTK]

I know some transmissions have a stop tab that a transmission dipstick will bump against. Some may rely on the pan to bottom out. You should be able to hear/feel it.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted by mrlewp87
Is there something, perhaps a filter at the very bottom of the dipstick tube? I'm trying to siphon excess ATF fluid from our RAM 1500 truck. I first tried a simple gravity method using a long slender tube pre-filled with ATF. Seemed to be working perfectly at first when I saw darker fluid following about 3" behind the new coming out of the fill tube. Then it stopped after just a few inches.
When I pass the siphon tube down the trans filler tube, it feels "spongy". I've seen YouTubes of others siphoning from the ATF fill tube, but neither the gravity nor a bulb type transfer pump work for me. Then I see a guy using a shop vac! Please stop me if this is not a good plan! I was very disappointed to learn that there isn't already a drain plug on the transmission pan !?
And yes, this definitely needs to be done. Shift changing problems! (automatic)


What year and mileage is your Ram?