My family has a few vehicles which will be needing ATF changes in the next few months. I can probably figure out how to drain and refill them, but Ive heard this only drains 1/3 of the fluid. What all does a flush entail? The cars are a 1992 Prizm (corolla), 1997 Tercel, and 2001/2002 Malibus.
Is an ATF drain and fill useless? (2002 Malibu)
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http://www.auto-rx.net/
Go to application instructions, method 2.
Go to application instructions, method 2.
I'm pretty sure that you'll need to do a pan drop & filter exchange on malibus, and maybe T-Tech it later. They don't have a drain plug. Bummer... For other cars just do a drain-fill a few (2-3) times, you should be fine.
ANy car that has a drain plug is easy to take car of. Lets say that you each time you drain and refill you get 1/3 of the contents out. If you do this on an accelerated basis like drain refill drive 10 miles drain and refill drive ten miles drain and refill etc... You can get it all swaped out in about 4 drain and refill operations. You will not even get your hands dirty. If it ahs a filter change it on the last drain and fill!
Most american cars if you have it on ramps will drain about 1/2 of the fluid out.
Most american cars if you have it on ramps will drain about 1/2 of the fluid out.
Actually, I have gotten as much as 50% of the fluid out in a drain and fill. If no drain plug you can syphon the fluid out. I recently did so on my Buick and got over 5 quarts our via the dipstick.
I have never done a flush, drain and fill every 25-30,000 with synthetic fluid as the replacement.
I have never done a flush, drain and fill every 25-30,000 with synthetic fluid as the replacement.
The above linked instructions do the same thing.
If you have a drain plug on the transmission why not drain / refill some fluid out at every oil change?
On my SHO; the ATX has a separate cooler that sits in front of the condenser & radiator. I just disconnect the incoming line, point it towards a gallon jug and have someone start the car. Then just have 'em shut it off when the jug's full. Dump in a gallon of ATF and be on my way, easy as pie.
FL,
I changed the fluid twice on my 01 Malibu. Mine had a 3.1L V6 with the 4L40/45 transmission which also has no dipstick. IIRC you get out about 2/3 of the fluid when dropping the pan. Refilling is a pain since the only way to accurately check the level is to remove a plug an the side of the transmission with the engine running. I carefully measured all the fluid I took out but still ended up a little over when checking the level.
I changed the fluid twice on my 01 Malibu. Mine had a 3.1L V6 with the 4L40/45 transmission which also has no dipstick. IIRC you get out about 2/3 of the fluid when dropping the pan. Refilling is a pain since the only way to accurately check the level is to remove a plug an the side of the transmission with the engine running. I carefully measured all the fluid I took out but still ended up a little over when checking the level.
Does your Malibu 02 have a dipstick? I think some Chevys like Cavaliers do not. Measuring what you drained is a good idea to get the refill right. But I sometimes spill too much to measure right.
[ June 02, 2004, 07:04 PM: Message edited by: thrace ]
[ June 02, 2004, 07:04 PM: Message edited by: thrace ]
No, the malibu does not have a dipstick. Darn! And no drain plug apparently. Oh well, maybe Ill just take it to jiffy lube or somewhere when its got 50K. But with no dipstick, how the heck do you know if they even changed it? Its like GM wants their cars to crap out before the Jap cars.
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