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Transmission pan drop.

shart

shart

New member
So this weekend im planning on replacing the bottom motor mount and since im already down there, im going to drop the tranny pan and replace the filter. Is there a write up on this? Im sure its a pretty simple and self explanatory procedure, but ive never messed with tranny before and rather be safe then sorry... Ive read that you need to add 8 quarts to the transmission after this? That seems like alot? should i go with Dexron VI? Thanks in advance guys.

Pontiac GTP 2001
 


Dex III...or 7 quarts of Dex III and a quart of Transsend...which is awesome stuff.

Trans pan gasket is re-usable...just clean it off and re-install...same with the transmission pan...remove the magnet in there and clean it off...you will have buildup, kinda like clay...a little bit of material is normal if the pan has never been dropped.
 
Proceudure should be here somewhere.. search for it. I'm sure you'll find it.

Start with 6 quarts and check the level, put it through the r n d 3 2 1 then back to park. Then check it again. Fill to the top of the correct level area.

Torque is 10 ft lbs or 120 inch lbs on the pan bolts.

On the pan gasket.. the factory gasket has metal in it and ridges on it. This gasket is considered a lifetime reusable and barring any odd misadventures..it should last the life of the car.

If your gasket has been replaced and is flat rubber or cork..then don't reuse it.
 
I didnt find anything specific for the procedure, just tid bits here and there... Im going to replace the gasket just to be on the safe side and also the filter.. Anything special i have to do with that or just throw it in there straight out of the package?
 
You aren't listening.. factory gasket is a billion times better than the rubber pos the kit comes with. Use factory gasket if you have it ....or someone is gonna drive over and give you a smack.. :) K...got it?

Now I'm gonna search for you.. if I find the procedure in 2 min or less...you better send beer or someone is gonna drive over and smack ya. :D With me?
 


I would go with Dexron VI as it is a much better fluid. And I would imagine that Dexron III fluid is getting hard to find anyhow.

And agree on reusing the stock gasket if it is still there. Much, much better than anything you are going to buy at the parts store. Mine has 281k miles on it and more pan drops than I would like to think about and it still seals up just fine.

For replacing the filter, when you pull it out and get fluid all over, if the ring gasket comes out with it, replace that. If it stays in the transmission, just leave it there and install the new filter.

Also, like Bill said, start with 6 quarts in the tranny, start the car and get it warmed up, run it through the gears and then check the fluid and add if necessary. Don't just automatically add what someone tells you. Every tranny and every pan drop may be different.
 
Thats not a write up, thats just pictures of his pan!!!! Lol.. Thanks. OK... keep original gasket... Gotcha... You dont think it will be cracked or break at all dropping the pan if its never been done before? Car has 100k on it.
 
shart said:
Thats not a write up, thats just pictures of his pan!!!! Lol.. Thanks. OK... keep original gasket... Gotcha... You dont think it will be cracked or break at all dropping the pan if its never been done before? Car has 100k on it.
Click to expand...

No, it will be fine. Mine had over 200K on it when I dropped it and that gasket is still working fine to this day, as does all the other reuseable gaskets on every other vehicle I've done. It's a non-issue.
 
Well my only suggestion is to leave one side bolted in and loosen one side so that you can direct most of the fluid into the drain pan.

That time I spilled a hand sized puddle. In fact I found just leaving the pan off (while installing the shift kit) made more of a mess.

Pan drop really isn't that intimidating.
 


Everyone that wrenches on their own car has to have at least 1 trans. fluid bath. It's like a rite of passage, lol...

But yea, leave a few bolts in one side and take the rest out. This will keep the mess to a minimum and your arms relatively clean.
 
Also the edges of the transmission are super sharp.... just be careful once pan is off.

I had to use a rubber mallet to persuade the new filter in, but each car is different.

If I did, you can too!!!
 
haha thanks for the reply guys... Yea, i have no doubts ill be fine with it, just had to many issues doing stuff for the first time and not having all the info and paying for it later in the past... Dont worry... Im planning on it being a messy good time. ;)
 
also don't worry about mixing fluids VI and III,
but I just read that you can't use III in an '06 or newer, is that true? just curious
 
III is thicker.

Thicker in something designed for thinner means lack of flow in smaller areas.

Which means bad things.
 


Yea... After my nightmare of what happened as a result of removing the MAF screen from the throttle body, i think i should stick with what GM recommends. :)
 
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