I recently got some Amsoil transmission fluid. The guy who sold it to me gave me an unorthodox way of changing the fluid that I have yet to see online and wanted to double check before I did it. My Durango holds about 15 quarts of transmission fluid. He said to remove the outlet to the transmission cooler and attach a rubber hose to it, leading to an empty bucket. Then turn the truck on in park, and let the fluid pump into the bucket (straight out of the cooler) until the fluid stops, then immediately turn the truck off. While the truck is off, replace with the same amount of new fluid that came out of the cooler. Then turn the truck back on, and let more fluid pump into the bucket while at the same time replacing with new fluid until I have reached the designated transmission capacity (15 quarts). Then turn the truck off, reattach the outlet cooler line to the cooler, and I'd be good to go. I just wanted to verify if this was safe before I did it. The only moving part in a transmission I am aware of (in park) is the transmission pump. Will doing this method hurt the pump or anything else? Would this method ensure I get mostly Amsoil fluid in the transmission or would it cause a considerable mix of old and new fluid? What would you recommend?How to change my transmission fluid?
As usual the Amzoil dude is missing some valuable steps. Unless the automatic transmission pan is dropped you can't change the tranny filter or clean the inside of the pan. His method will not pick up all the oil in the transmission pan either, by a long shot!
You don't change your motor oil without changing the filter do you? Why is this any less important?How to change my transmission fluid?
Sounds ok to me if you don't want to get messy, but if there is a plug in the pan, just drain it and then fill it and start it and then drain it again and refill.How to change my transmission fluid?
That guy is an idiot. If you wait till the fluid stops coming out you'll be pumping air all through the transmission and causing all kinds of problems.
Put water into the bucket a quart at a time and mark the sides in one quart increments then dump it out. Then you can stop the engine each time you pump a quart of fluid into the bucket and add a quart.
You also need to do a regular service first, and replace the fluid in the pan with fresh, That keeps you from mixing old with new when you start the flush. Just don't run the engine after the service till you have the cooler line going to the bucket.
Do it that way and you'll see the fluid go from dark to clean all of a sudden when you're done. Make sure to buy two more quarts than capacity so you'll get all the old fluid flushed out.
Last thing is if the fluid isn't coming out of the cooler line, try neutral. Some transmissions don't run the pump in park.How to change my transmission fluid?
You are very wise and enlightened for using the Amzoil trans fluid. Make certain it is marked %26quot;for use in Chrysler products.%26quot; I disagree with the procedure, though. You should change the filter inside, it has done it's job by now. Before you spend unnecessary money on extra Amzoil, have your trans pan dropped, install a new filter and pan gasket. While you are there, spray the valve body down as much as possible with CRC CHLORINATED brake clean. This will dislodge any wandering, harmful, clutch pack materials that may reside in these areas. Clean EVERYTHING visible. Clean the trans pan. Clean the attachment bolt holes. Think %26quot;hospital clean%26quot; while you are doing this. Shift solenoids should also be visible. Wash them. too. After you install your new gasket with the pan, top up the trans with a cheaper ATF+4. remember that the torque converter and trans cooler hold some old ATF in them. You can use an air hose before you re-locate your trans pan, if you like to LIGHTLY blow air through the cooler line. Anyways, after you have driven the Durango at least until it's warm, Drop the pan and let it drain. This is like moputhwash, if you like, to rinse anything else bad out of the system. NOW, use the Amzoil. It should last for 100,000 miles. ALTERNATIVE: Just drain the pan, clean the valve body as described, install new gasket and pan. Then go to your dealership or trans shop with your new fluid. They have a machine that will pump things through. This is like insurance. Good luck!!!
