Do-it-yourself Transmission fluid & filter change
'64 mustang
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Do-it-yourself Transmission fluid & filter change (tools and supplies available here)
Vehicles vital fluids normally perform two important functions: lubricating and cleaning. As the fluid circulates through the parts, it gathers the dirt and metal shavings that can accumulate over time. If you’re lucky, this debris will settle on the bottom of the pan or housing and not circulate through the system.
Nothing prolongs vehicle life more than regular fluid changes. In automatic transmissions/transaxles, the recommended interval is about every 30,000 miles or 30 months. (Check your owner’s manual or ask your auto parts specialist for your car’s specifics.) The automatic transmission fluid (ATF) should be changed sooner if its dipstick reveals dark or burnt-smelling fluid.
Make sure you have a proper hydraulic jack and jackstands (available at your auto parts store for right around $50 for everything) Jack up the vehicle high enough to reach the transmission pan, and be sure to use the jack stands, just in case.
THIS CAN BE MESSY!
Even those of us who change our own oil often cringe at the prospect of draining ATF. Because many transmission pans don’t have drain plugs, changing the fluid can be a messy proposition—the entire pan must be removed. Even on vehicles that do have drain plugs, the pan still must be removed to change the filter.
Changing ATF is one of those messy jobs that someone has to do. Doing the deed yourself will save money and possibly time. It’s the same concept as changing your oil, if you do it on a regular basis, your transmission will last much longer than it would if you just let it go.
Draining the pan, changing the filter, and putting in a new filter, pan, and screen can be done in less than 30 minutes with practice! (I’ll try to give you as many tips as possible in this single article guide, but ask your auto parts specialist for any additional tips or tricks for your make/model)
Getting Started:
Go to the auto parts store and purchase your oil pan, filter, gasket, o ring, and automatic transmission fluid.
Fluid drains better at operating temp. Raise and secure the vehicle, then lay down a tarp, cardboard or a newspaper under at least a 2-gallon catch pan. Next, remove the bolts from one side of the transmission pan, being cautious of hot exhaust parts and fluid.Gradually loosen the other bolts, which should allow the pan to tilt and begin to drain. Once all bolts are removed, lower the pan and dump the remaining fluid into the drain pan. Gently break the gasket seal with a screwdriver if necessary.
Clean the gasket surfaces on both the pan and the transmission housing. Inspect the pan for metal shavings or other signs of internal damage then clean it with solvent. (you can also just purchase a gasket scraper at your auto parts store, ask your auto parts specialists what he recommends)
Remove the old filter and O-ring. The filter contains fluid, so keep the drain pan underneath. Install the new filter, making sure that its O-ring seats in the appropriate orifice. Attach the new gasket to the pan with oil-soluble grease not gasket sealer or adhesive. Refer to the service manual or ask your auto parts specialist about using thread sealer on any or all of the trans-pan bolts then screw in all fasteners finger-tight.
Torque the pan bolts to spec in a spiral pattern starting at the center. Maximum torque is often about 12 lb.-ft Ask your auto parts specialist how tight you should fasten to be sure.
Lower the vehicle and fill the transmission with the recommended amount of fluid. Start the vehicle, warm it up, then shut it off and check for leaks. If leak-free, run the vehicle up to operating temperature on level ground, move the shifter through all gears, return to Park, and check the dipstick while the engine idles.
Upon clean up, take your old ATF fluid to your local auto parts store, and they should recycle it for you, free of charge!
That’s it, your all done! With practice you really can do this in 30 minutes or less, why shops charge so much for this service, we may never know!
>> With practice you really can do this in 30 minutes or less, why shops charge so much for this service, we may never know!
I think that’s because of lazy people like me
Just reading the instructions made me cringe. You made it all sound so simple, but from prior experience with other mechanical and technical things, I know this is not something you want to do on your own, especially not the first time. Mind you, this is not a criticism. Maybe if more people changed their own ATF, the rest of us can get our mechanics to charge us a cheaper price 
C. Loh@Oil Rig Jobs´s last blog ..Oil Drilling Rig Jobs – Why Look For Entry Level Roustabout Jobs And Offshore Drilling Rig Jobs?
How experienced do you need to be in order to do this job? Is it best with a couple of extra hands too? Thanks for the tips and advice here buddy. Great site too.
Rich@Hen House Plans´s last blog ..Portable Chicken Coops
Was very happy to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I obviously enjoying every little bit of it and I have bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Glad to find this. A dirty or clogged transmission filter will cause a transmission to go bad before it’s time.
Boulder Car Repair´s last blog ..So you want to go faster
Very interesting. Quite a few people do their own oil changes, but much fewer do their own transmission fluid changes. Even I haven’t tried that. It does sound more difficult.