Yesterday I went ahead and did tranny fluid flush, radiator flush, and fuel filter.

Problems......

1. I dropped the tranny pan easily, swapped in new filter, cleaned magnet, and mounted it back up with a new gasket.

Now I pulled the rubber plug on the converter, put it in neutral (front was jacked up, rear E brake was on) Used a flat head and turned the flywheel for literally 2.5 hours. I eventually started making scratches on the 1/4 turn? marks so I knew what I had already passed. Well apparently there was no such drain plug there !!!!

2. I tried to remove the line by the tranny cooler up front and got minimal fluid. I also pulled the steel lines from a metal square box (3"x3") just before the tranny and got literally a few drops!
So I was forced to ONLY put in 3.5 quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic which was not cheap. So of the 13.9 total I got 3.5 WTF!? Now I think i May need to have it flushed at a shop because I have no clue where the rest of the fluid is!

3. Tried draining the radiator. Unscrewed the drain plug and let it completely drain while forcing air into the reservoir which sped up the process. Using cleaner ran car for 15 minutes and then drained, ran car again for 20 minutes while draining and filing the whole time with clean water. Let that all completely drain and tightened drain plug. Went to fill with 50/50 coolant, Only 12 out of the 21 quarts recommended filled it up, we drained it until it was a slow drip, I do not know how we only got half out but had to go with it.

Drove 30 minutes after and every gauge was reading just as normal but I am pissed about having 10+ quarts of synthetic tranny fluid left over and 2 gallons of coolant.

What would you guys recommend I do? MY tranny is still 75% OEM fluid (76k, stopper was in the pan). I really wanted brand new fluids in the truck so I could know it was being treated well and would lessen the need for major servicing.

 

If iI understand correctly, you drained the rad, then filled with water to get all the old coolant out until it was clear. then drained and then put 50/50 in. I didn't look to see where you live but you might be a little light in the coolant..

 

Yes. As far as the radiator is concerned, after the final drain when in had been just water, I was only able to put in half the recommended amount 12/21 quarts. How can I get all the fluid out if I was draining from the lowest point in the coolant system (I think)?

 

not sure but if you only got half the 50/50 in you probably ended up at 75/25, not the best deal.

not totally sure but I'll bet you had most of what is in the motor still in the motor or heater core. running it with all water, then draining I would have added 100% coolant and hoped for a 50/50 mix.

 

Im planning on draining a gallon each of the next 2 weeks and adding 50/50 to bring my ratio pretty close as the temperature is dropping quickly...20's at night already.

 

I would have it tested, to find freeze point and possibly add 100%.

 

Your post sounds like you're talking transmission fluid...theres no drain plug on the torque converter. Dropping the pan nets you only around 5 quarts max, and yes, your automatic transmission holds about 14 quarts. Only way to get it all is with a flushing machine.
If your talking about the radiator, open the lower hose from the radiator to drain the radiator and engine block. The best way to get all the coolant out is to use a flush device as well.

Some things are not easy or convienent to do by us shadetree mechanics anymore.

 

Bucko,

I think both was attempted, I only spoke to the Radiator side of things.

 

I wasn't sure if he was asking for info on one or both...

 

Both... I think I did everything I could on the tranny fluid. My issue was I did not want them sucking crappy stuff from the pan through my whole tranny. It seems like someone sucking poop back through your digestive system and out your mouth instead of just pooping it out. Now that the pan is very shiny clean with a new filter and clean magnet I am ok with a flush, should be cheaper too now because some of the guys do side jobs for low $$ after hours.

As for the radiator I am wondering if there's an engine drain location as well besides the radiator. I guess getting rid of 1 gallon of the 75/25 water for 100% coolant will put me right at 50/50.


Fuel filter is another story haha. Let's just say my phone (touchscreen) now has a custom gas filed back ground that changes as I tilt the phone...CUSTOM!