ATF Capacity Weirdness

[Zulch_AW]

Howdy,

I have an older, 2000 Limited 4R with ~150,000 miles on it. Been slowly baselining so I know what I got.

I wanted to address the ATF but not go through an entire flush just yet, figured I'd just do a series of drain and fills. I got smart for a change and making 100% positive the level was perfect I could just drain, empty into a clean container, measure and replace the same amount.:wink2:

Manual says for 4x4 "Up to 2 qts" So I bought 5; 2 changes and a spare. I pull the plug and I'll be danged if close to 8 quarts has drained out in the past 30 minutes! I have a 7.5 qt pan and just about filled that one up and slid another under to drain over night.

Come to think of it, it does have a B&M remote cooler, but I can't imagine it being 6 qts?

I checked the ATF level so many times I got that wicked dip stick wired; in and out in 5 seconds (1st time was like 5 minutes!) Perhaps the dip stick is wrong? Long thin flat blade with a yellow T-handle? Pain in the arse to get back in till you do it 100 times!? Probably 2 feet long?

I thought the entire capacity was about 11 qts, and figure the cooler another 2 at most…just seem like I'm getting way too much out….Looks ok though, a more opaque pink but not brown, slight smell but it's got some miles…

While I'm at it I have always avoided additives. I picked the forum choice of Maxlife for the refill but is there any miracle additive for over 150000 trans?

Thanks!

Zulch

 

[T4R2014]

Don't follow the manual for drain/fills. Refill with the amount that came out. If you leave the truck sitting then the pan fills up.

 

[awpsome]

yes with ATF changes after you drain, fill the same amount back in and then you will have to let it run and maybe even switching between gears as well to help circulate the fluid thats in there then let it sit then check level again.

 

[Zulch_AW]

yes with ATF changes after you drain, fill the same amount back in and then you will have to let it run and maybe even switching between gears as well to help circulate the fluid thats in there then let it sit then check level again.

Thanks!

BTW

How far should I drive between ATF changes if I'm trying to do a simple replacement? and how many cycles of drain fill will get me close to 100% like new ATF? I know there will always be a certain % of old fluid. I had already run ~12qts plain ATF through it few months back and as I said earlier, it's opaque but pink not brown.

Transmission is working ok, I noticed as it's getting colder it took a little longer into 3rd and I have a lot of miles to do this December. I'd like to do one more before I hit the road Friday but that may only be 50 miles of driving…will that mix it up enough?

Thx,

Zulch

 

[541joseph]

Change fluid once per year or Every 10,000 miles. And I'd do one or 2 flushes and call it good. Good luck.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I did a drain and fill once a week for three weeks.

Then put a magnefine filter in the hot trans cooler line. I used generic advanced auto dexIII in spring I'll dump and drop pan clean magnets and change filter. Install new magnefine filter and start using a better trans fluid.

I'm partial to the Pennzoil multi-vehicle product.