[VX] How to drain excessive Tranni Fluid
Ah its that time again. Once again your eyes will read the wonder of my genious...
Perhaps you have seen my other how too? VX - how to clean air intake and such
And know what too expect... Perhaps you haven't and are about to witness the greatest peice of automotive poetry and a rather fantastic display of both poor spelling and gramma.
Ok so lets set the mood, you have just baught yourself a shiny VX commodore that was previously owned by a woman who did her own work on the car, or perhaps you just did a full service on your transmission and put in too much fluid? Or perhaps the same mechanic that used a rattle gun to screw in my sump plug, topped up your transmission with a 'little' too much fluid. Whatever the case is, you now have too much tranni fluid in your Tranmission and you want to ditch some.
In earlier models it was possible just to remove a hose clamp and ditch the hose into a bottle untill you removed your desired amount of fuild, however in the VX (maybe the VT as well), you don't have that luxury as the hoses are hydrolicly pressed on so that you are FORCED to take it to holden and they can make more money off you because they are an evil corporation!
Forenote: I would recomend draining the fluid while its cold. Think about it: Hot fluid... + plastic bottle... Hmmm
So here we go!
Step 1. Beer:
I find the best way to start a job is to lube yourself up a bit as if beer was the lubrication you needed to **** your girlfriends ***. Or perhaps the butter on your toast you needed there to spread your vegimite without breaking the integrity of the bread. Whatever the acronym, beer is a very important step.
Please note: I did not actually drink beer before I did this as I didn't have any... As a result, two cute puppies died.
Step 2. Grab what you need:
What you need for this is some of the following:
About a 2M length of 12mm Garden hose. Make sure it has no water inside and is perfectly dry you twit.
A 19mm Spanner. Did you know americans don't even know what a spanner is? Amazing right?
A decently sized bottle, also dry. The size depends on how much oil you want to evacuate. Remember if you take out too much, you can always put some back in. But PLEASE... Use new oil... it can only help. I used a two LT juice bottle, however I would recommend using Mountain Dew as it is the ***
A towel (Just incase you have some spillage)
An oil catcher, also just incase.
Step 3. Location Location Location:
First off, find a decent plot of land to do this on, as you may have some spillage. I would recomend the neighbours front lawn... Who cares if that grass dies anyway.
Step 4. Find the Bolt:
Now there are multiple bolts sitting on the metal lines that go into the raidiator, I chose the following one because it was easy to access. It is the first metal pipe that leaves your radiator underneith the raidiator Cap. I don't have a picture of it, but it looks something like this:
Step 5. Remove that **** ****:
Take your 19mm open end spanner, and put it on the bolt, you will notice you have #### all room. Stick it on and loosen it as much as you can, you wont need to go far because it isn't on far, the rest of the way you can do with your hand. The bolt will pop off including the metal line. No oil should come out.
Step 6. Stick it on!:
Take your hose and stick it on the thread that the bolt was sitting on. Make sure you get it in there nice and tight to prevent it from coming off.
Step 7. Drain:
Aim the hose into your bottle of choice, and walk around to the driver side holding the bottle and the hose in it. Now start the car, and run it in park, untill the desired amount of fluid it out, then turn off the engine. Remove the hose
Step 8. Do it back up:
Retach the hose and screw up the bolt with your fingers. Gently apply some preassure with the spanner. Turn it about one eights. Like I said before, its not on there very tight.
Step 9. testing:
Test your oil level, and make sure its all right and sexy and such.
Yay you finished. now
Step 10. Beer:
Finish off with something you have never tried before.. Perhaps a Dark or Mature mexican beer?
Dont drink and drive... Ya F***ing C***
Kthnx bai!
Feed back, Questions, Suggestions... Welcome
Torana Addict
I find the best way to start a job is to lube yourself up a bit as if beer was the lubrication you needed to **** your girlfriends ***.
I nearly just choked on my beer.
Good article.
Out of interest when you drop the pan on the trans and change the fluid, you actually only replace a percentage of the fluid in the system, the rest is in the stall convertor etc. Using the method above you can keep running it until the fluid stops flowing and then refil the system. This will allow you to replace virtually the full capacity.
V6 refill 4.8 litres (7.9 total capacity)
V8 refill 5 litres (10.6 litres cap)
So you can see with a V8, the sump holds less than half of the fluid. When I did mine I managed to get 9L out before I started to get lots of bubbles.
QldKev
I dunno about running all the fluid out like that... I mean if you wanna do that, go ahead.. I can't see any reason why it would damage the Box, as long as it was left in park and NO gear was engaged... Wouldn't run it for too long without oil...
But have you tried this method and it has worked with no ill effects?
Yep, I have done it. As I mentioned in the last post I got 9L out before I got a lot of bubbles and stopped; they say it is safe to keep going. You do need to keep it in gear otherwise you won't be pumping the fluid.Originally Posted by boypocketsjr
to quote Steve from Mainlube
"When the auto stops pumping and sucks air there is no drive (cause no oil) so no damage can be done as you can't load anything. I like swapping between the gears which (before you run out of oil) just to pump new oil through the valve body and the servos etc. "
This guy is probably about the most knowledgeable person on the subject.
Alright well sweet... Looks like a did a how too on an easy way to drain out all the oil... And looks like when I get money for new tranni oil, I will be doing it this way!!!
That's it, this supports your 'how to' as being an excellent way to drain excess fluid. It just adds to it that if you keep going with the same method you end up doing a full drain to allow a clean change of fluids.
Awesome!. I should probably change the heading.. Meh, she'll be right
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
This is an interesting way to remove excess transmission fluid and sounds a lot quicker and neater than dropping the pan.
I have a question regarding the process of carrying out a normal trans service. The biggest pain with that job is dropping a pan gradually and catching all the fluid in a container, without having oil splash out. Has anybody ever used a large garage syringe with a long plastic extension hose, inserted down the filler tube, to draw off a few litres BEFORE dropping the pan to change the filter screen? The syringe I'm referring to is used to fill diffs and transmissions and holds between one and two litres of oil.
I had that method suggested to me to take out some of the transmission fuid, so I know it works. However I don't think it would remove all the oil
I also think in theory it would get a good amount out of the sump.
Why not follow the how-to as boypocketsjr described above running it until the system is empty, then drop the pan. This will allow you to drop it without much oil in it, and also give you a full system fluid change. You wouldn't change just half your engine oil? Just allow the 7.9L and not the 4.8L for the refill.
QldKev
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
It wasn't meant to drain all the oil. The idea is simply to remove a few litres before dropping the pan and making the filter change much cleaner and easier.
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
I really don't like the idea of running a trans with virtually no lubricant remaining in it. I agree it's a handy way of removing all the oil but I can't help feeling there is a risk of trans damage doing it. As I mentioned above, my idea was simply to reduce the amount of oil in the pan so that changing the filter was a lot easier and less messy.
I've got a similar one at home and it works a treat! I find you can remove about 99% of the transmission fluid in the pan prior to dropping the pan meaning no spillage whatsoever. The unit works using vacuum via a manual hand pump with a series of clear plastic extension tubes you insert down the transmission filler neck along with a large reservoir to store the evacuated oil. Theoretically you can also use it for any type of fluid reservoir e.g. you could use it on your motorbike or boat (good for inboard motors) as well.Has anybody ever used a large garage syringe with a long plastic extension hose, inserted down the filler tube, to draw off a few litres BEFORE dropping the pan to change the filter screen? The syringe I'm referring to is used to fill diffs and transmissions and holds between one and two litres of oil.
Here's an example of what's available on the market WELCOME TO CHUAN JIING'S WEBSITE!!
Even in park the oil will still come out as the transmission and torque convertor will push the oil through. I have never let it run dry before as the manuals do not recommend it. Remember the fluid is there to cool the trans as well as operate some valves etc. The way i do it is cut the hose drain 1-2 litres, then add 1-2 litres....untill all clean. Then i stick a Magnefine filter into the line. The manuals all state the possibility of air getting stuck into the and having to use a compressor to clear etc, so by adding fluid each time will help to reduce this. The last think you want in there is air as there is nowhere for it to vent to....just a thought, great write up anyway.
All you have to do is stick a hose down the filler tube and siphon it out. Done it many times. Alot easier lol.
Did it this way because this was easier /cheaper.
1/ No need to put your mouth at the end of a hose and risk getting transmission fluid in your mouth.
2/ Dont need to go buy a smaller hose (Standard 12mm hose wont fit down there, think you need an 8mm)
3/ Can have the hose pre positioned into a bottle before you start draining. i.e. less mess.
But I suppose it comes down to personal preference.
You dont have to suck the fluid all the way to your mouth to get it going lol.
Position the container close to your mouth and stick it in the bottle as the fluid starts to flow downhill.
No mess, and if your going to buy some garden hose from bunnings why not just buy some 8mm hose instead? Unless you cut it off your garden hose lol.
No tools, no getting under cars and half the time.
Fair cop of the red Kangaroo mate! Who said anything about getting under the car?
Don't want to suck on a hose, do it this way! (Yeah... I cut some off my hose :P)
Posting Permissions
2Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote