emptying transmssion fluid

[brad_m_is]

hey got a vx auto just wondering how or if u can empty the whole transmission?. ive heard u can take off the trans cooler line and run the engine but does this damage anything or is there another way to do it. cause dropping the pan only gets about 5 litres out. also how much does the whole gearbox hold?

[accentstencil]

It holds 7.9 litres. I have also heard of that method of emptying the transmission and had doubts about the safety of it. I tried it anyway, without any ill effects. But that doesn't mean it is safe. Perhaps someone will enlighten us.

[brad_m_is]

when u did it that way how fast did it come out and was it messy

[accentstencil]

It comes out at reasonably low pressure, not messy providing the hose is directed into a suitable container.

[brad_m_is]

thanks for the help mate, so when u did it u got 8 litres out? just wondered hot much i need to refill it cause when i normally just drop the pan it takes like 5 litres

[accentstencil]

I think I got most of it out. There was probably a little bit left in the pan which didn't get picked up.

[BlackVXGTS]

It holds 7.9 litres.

Total dry fill for V6 engine is 7.9 litres, V8 engine (Holden V8 and GEN III) is 10.6 litres.

[vxcalais_01]

Can't you just siphon 4 litres from the filler tube ?

[bradcad]

You wont get into the converter by siphoning. I understand pumping the fluid out to be safe providing the engine is shut down as soon as the fluid slows/stops running. Best if you can do it with 2 people, or tie up the line so you can see it from standing at the drivers window.

To best change all fluid say in the case of a tranny that has never been serviced- pump out, refit line. Refill, pump out, drop pan, refill.

Alternatively pumping and dropping the tranny pan should change something like 80-90% fluid

[Benboy]

Why would you want to change/replace the trans. fluid and not clean the bottom of the pan and replace the filter. Seems to me to be a waste of time and money. False economy. Do the job properly the first time and it won't come back and bite you on the bum!

[bradcad]

Dont laugh I know someone who did change 4 litres of fluid in a magna V6 without doing the filter, for the next 6 months was saving for a new tranny because it wouldnt go further than say 40 metres in first. Funnily enough after being told again and agan to change the filter it worked perfectly

[accentstencil]

Why would you want to change/replace the trans. fluid and not clean the bottom of the pan and replace the filter. Seems to me to be a waste of time and money. False economy. Do the job properly the first time and it won't come back and bite you on the bum!

When I mentioned that I pumped my transmission fluid out I should have added that I then dropped the pan (which was a lot less messy with only a little bit of fluid in it) and replaced the filter. I also cleaned the pan.

[brad_m_is]

yeah its much easier than laying under the car with transmission fluid tipping all over your head. and the pan is lighter to drop down when its empty.

[Raging Bull]

My mechanic did this on my old VS. What he did was disconnect the cooler line, aimed it down into a drain pan, then right next to it he'd connect the tran oil filler drum to refill and start the engine. As the engine is running, oil is coming out of the cooler pipe and at the same time he's pumping new oil into the auto while carefully monitoring the colour of the oil coming out of the cooler hose, once the colour is nice and new the entire system has been drained out. I can't remember exactly how many litres it was but it cost me about $140 for the service I think.

It's something that I will be doing on my VX as well because the difference it made was increadible, it remarkably felt like a brand new auto, the downshifting was increadibly responsive and firm and upshifting really gentle unless I pushed it. Definately a great thing to do to your tranny IMO.