how to drain ALL the tranny fluid?

[merc91]

i have seen that draining the pan only gets out half the fluid in the tranny. I have seen that you can take a hose off the tranny and run the car to drain out the remaining fluid in there but i have seen some bad things about that.

So I'm looking to see what the best way is to go about it, i would like to get as much old fluid out as possible. I have the new filter and gasket kit already also.

[mrltd]

pull the pan, drain the converter...


Pull the inspection plate off the bellhousing, get someone to bump the motor until you see the drain plug.... remove plug, let it drain, reinstall plug.


Taking the hose off and running it will destroy the trans. (unless you take it to a jiffy lube place and they use the trans machine. )

[Southern_Pride]

Ive taken the hose off and flushed em with no issues. Just have to remember to shut it off after a gallon or so and fill it back and keep doing it till the fluid turns nice and newlike in color.

[grandpaslincoln]

Sounds expensive and wasteful. Gonna take gallons and gallons to get the majority of the bad fluid out.

To expand on what mrltd said, when you see the converter drain plug make sure it is straight down to remove as much fluid as possible.

[87gtVIC]

I had the same question. So the converter drain plug is easily visible and accessible when the pan is removed?

[Southern_Pride]

Its not really saw wasteful as you think. I used an extra 2 quarts last time I think. The converter drain plu isnt in the pan. Should be accesible with it on.

[DuceAnAHalf]

I had the same question. So the converter drain plug is easily visible and accessible when the pan is removed?

dont have to take the pan off to teh get drain plug. you know that thin aluminum cover behind the oil pan? thats teh inspection cover. remove the two little bolts and spin the converter til you see the drain plug.

[LTDMan83]

Also take into account as well, that on an old AOD in which the fluid has never been changed, sometimes a fluid/fluid filter change can be the "Kiss of Death". I've seen it happen quite a few times, even on the low-mileage factory AOD's. Sometimes its better to leave it alone, unless you have the money for a re-build. I did get lucky with my old LTD as the AOD had 108K on it when I changed its original fluid/filter, and it still survived for another 20K afterward before it shit the bed.

[91waggin]

So, once you drain the trans and the torque converter, how do you refill the converter? Do you just add fluid through the dipstick until it reads full, start the motor and move the shifter through all the positions, and repeat until the fluid level doesn't change?

tl;dr version:
Does the converter suck fluid from the body of the trans until it's full? Or do you fill it differently?

[87gtVIC]

dont have to take the pan off to teh get drain plug. you know that thin aluminum cover behind the oil pan? thats teh inspection cover. remove the two little bolts and spin the converter til you see the drain plug.

Ok awesome thanks!

So, once you drain the trans and the torque converter, how do you refill the converter? Do you just add fluid through the dipstick until it reads full, start the motor and move the shifter through all the positions, and repeat until the fluid level doesn't change?

tl;dr version:
Does the converter suck fluid from the body of the trans until it's full? Or do you fill it differently?

BUMP

I have no idea but i want to know.

[mrltd]

it will fill as you add through the dipstick. fill with 8qt's before starting though.

[Pirate]

I have done the following:

Two-bucket method: Using the coolant lines, I've flushed an AOD before, with one bucket being the supply-side, with four gallons of Dex III....and an empty bucket into which to drain the old stuff. It still looked somewhat dirty afterwards.

Manual removal: Drain the convertor, and while you have the pan off, loosen the valve body to the point where it allows fluid to drain, as the VB holds in quite a bit of tranny fluid. Tighten back as needed, and pray the gasket between the VB and the case didn't tear.

Preventive Measures: Plumb in a remote double oil-filter block to the pressure side of the cooler lines, and use a pair of really good oil filters. I haven't done this too often....but it keeps the fluid clean for a really long time.

[P72Ford]

After a full drain I add 7-8 quarts, and then start to cycle the fluid by shifting the car through the gears. I continue to do that in between adding fluid, until its full.

[87gtVIC]

Wait a second. Are you sure i have that inspection cover, i heard that they changed at some point and some only have the drain on the face of the converter?

[gadget73]

You have the cover unless someone removed it. If you see an aluminum plate instead of flexplate teeth when you look right behind the motor, then its there. The AODE and 4R70W transmissions have a smaller inspection plate right on the bottom of the bellhouse instead of the bolt-on plate on the front but its still there.