New ATF Flush method

[meep]

We do a lot of drain/fills here on this forum... takes ~3 to get to the 90% point.

We also do cooler line drains while pouring in to a running engine.

my newly acquired truck only holds
Sooo-- I pulled a vacuum on the cooler source line. Figured that if the TC not spinning, it would suck fluid from the TC, and air that enters it would then bubble to its top-- so I'd have access to about half of the TC and all of the sump.

I had 4 qts of new fluid on hand to mess with. I think total capacity is about 8-9 qts.

Attached the mityvac to the line and started pumping. got 1.7qts out easily. started the engine for ~20 seconds to stir things up a bit and shut it off. Pulled out another 2.3 bubbly quarts and then vented the vacuum. Patiently poured 4 new quarts in through the return line, and then drove the truck around the block.

Since idling with low oil always gets comments here, I will clearly state, idle your vehicle at your own risk when draining oil.

For those of you that aren't bothered by this--- the technique proved effective though not perfect--- I swapped more fluid in my driveway in 45 minutes than is otherwise possible in this vehicle without a flush machine.

I wasn't sure how this was going to work. If I could have done anything differently, it would have been to have more atf on hand to swap in.

Oh, and the amsoil low-vis ATF meant for toyotas WS fluid and dex vi rocks.

M

 

[JHZR2]

Why wouldnt I just suck from the dipstick tube?

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: meep
and doesn't have a dipstick tube to fill from...

 

[meep]

correct-- and even if it did, it still wouldn't get into the TC.

 

[oilboy123]

Well I would be a little concerned running it like you did for even 20 seconds. But that is just me.....Maybe it does not harm.....

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: meep
Attached the mityvac to the line and started pumping.


I used my mityvac the last time I changed my ATF. Hand hurt and was tedious. So I got out the vacuum cleaner and attached the crevice tool up to it....removed the hand pump...inserted the hose into the crevice tool. Worked like a charm.

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
Originally Posted By: meep
Attached the mityvac to the line and started pumping.


I used my mityvac the last time I changed my ATF. Hand hurt and was tedious. So I got out the vacuum cleaner and attached the crevice tool up to it....removed the hand pump...inserted the hose into the crevice tool. Worked like a charm.


A fluid evacuator or a basic hand vacuum pump? A hand vacuum pump could probably cause some cramping there yeah...

 

[mechtech2]

What is the capacity of your transmission when new and dry?
Is 4 qts 1/2? More? Less?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: meep
We do a lot of drain/fills here on this forum... takes ~3 to get to the 90% point.

We also do cooler line drains while pouring in to a running engine.

my newly acquired truck only holds
Sooo-- I pulled a vacuum on the cooler source line. Figured that if the TC not spinning, it would suck fluid from the TC, and air that enters it would then bubble to its top-- so I'd have access to about half of the TC and all of the sump.

I had 4 qts of new fluid on hand to mess with. I think total capacity is about 8-9 qts.

Attached the mityvac to the line and started pumping. got 1.7qts out easily. started the engine for ~20 seconds to stir things up a bit and shut it off. Pulled out another 2.3 bubbly quarts and then vented the vacuum. Patiently poured 4 new quarts in through the return line, and then drove the truck around the block.

Since idling with low oil always gets comments here, I will clearly state, idle your vehicle at your own risk when draining oil.

For those of you that aren't bothered by this--- the technique proved effective though not perfect--- I swapped more fluid in my driveway in 45 minutes than is otherwise possible in this vehicle without a flush machine.

I wasn't sure how this was going to work. If I could have done anything differently, it would have been to have more atf on hand to swap in.

Oh, and the amsoil low-vis ATF meant for toyotas WS fluid and dex vi rocks.

M


A couple of corrections, most cars will not get to 90% until about 5 drain & fills. All depends upon the % in the drain pan vs total. Most are about 1/3 not 1/2.

Most people don't pour in ATF while the engine is running, although it can be done. In most cases you cannot pour it in fast enough and you really need 2 people if you are pouring while running the engine.

I just pump out 2 QT and add 2 QT. Adding with the vehicle off.

I used the MityVac 7201 to pump out the pan first.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: meep
correct-- and even if it did, it still wouldn't get into the TC.


But this seems to be sold as an option for all. If I suck some out as convenient from the dipstick hole, which many cars on the road still have, seems to me to be far more convenient. Sure, for cars with no dipstick, new ways must be devised and this is good.

But for most, IMO, there are easier ways that keep the fluid well replenished.

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
What is the capacity of your transmission when new and dry?
Is 4 qts 1/2? More? Less?


Mechtech,

By memory, so I could be wrong--

Pan capacity is 1.7 qts (I believe this, it has a tiny pan)
Total capacity is just under 8.

If so I was able to drain all of the pan PLUS 1/3 of the TC. far more fluid in a single swipe than a thru-the-tube evacuation.

This AT is "sealed" and has three service points. It has a drain plug, a fill plug, and a "level" plug. you fill through the fill plug until it spills out the level plug. The dealer claims the original fluid is good to about 100k. once it is serviced, however, they advise changing every 30k as contaminants have been able to enter the trans. Not sure how particular it really is, but it doesn't have a filter, just a mesh screen. The trans must be filled and set to level while within a 20 degree temperature window-- between 90 and 113F (or something close to that) while using the level plug. The ecu can be faked with a jumper to display the temp via flashing gear selector lamps on the dash. Similar to the late model chrysler/jeep/dodge units.
----
AFA idling for brief periods, I've done this /selectively/ over many years with a variety of vehicles, if I've been interested in getting more fluid out. done carefully, in limited fashion, I've never had a problem. Every time I've torn into a motor, I've always found plenty of residual oil on bearing surfaces, cams, etc.. Not saying everyone should go out and try it, and I wouldn't do it on a vehicle that's not mine, but I've never had any problems with it.

----

Bottom line-- i'm not saying a cooler-line-extraction is for everyone, but I found it effective at pulling out more fluid than just the pan alone, for this vehicle. Different models with different internal valving, etc., will certainly vary in success.

Cheers!
Mike

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
Originally Posted By: meep
Attached the mityvac to the line and started pumping.


I used my mityvac the last time I changed my ATF. Hand hurt and was tedious. So I got out the vacuum cleaner and attached the crevice tool up to it....removed the hand pump...inserted the hose into the crevice tool. Worked like a charm.


Can you take a picture? I am having hard time figuring out how you were able to use a vacuum cleaner

 

[meep]

a mityvac is a big tall cylinder. there is a "bicycle pump" that runs down the middle, and a vacuum line that comes out of the top of the cylinder off to the side. the pump pulls a vacuum and it feeds thru the hose. I think what he's doing is just pulling the hand pump out and pushing the vacuum cleaner hose in to where the hand pump was. It'd work.

 

[Vikas]

My problem is that there is no adapter that would let me connect a tube to the vacuum cleaner so that there is no vacuum leak. If there is such a thingy, I would love to know where to purchase it.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
My problem is that there is no adapter that would let me connect a tube to the vacuum cleaner so that there is no vacuum leak. If there is such a thingy, I would love to know where to purchase it.


It's called duct tape. Seriously.

I've used this method it to suck unwanted debris from a cylinder, via the spark plug hole.

 

[Donald]

While I have never tried it, I don't think pumping with a MityVac from a line with the engine off is too great an idea.

I assume with the engine off?

You are trying to pull ATF through the transmission's own pump with the pump not running. I know the pump is on the other end, but that is still what is happening.