Just back the VB attachment bolts out about 2 turns.
That should start the fluid flowing.

 

Oh ok, well im not too afriad of it slipping then, if thats all it is. I was scared to death that my transmission was going to pot because it was slipping, but its only when its cold.

 

I think many of you are going a bit overboard trying to drain all the fluid out of the tranny.
About the only times it's necessary to change it all are when:
1) fluid has overheated which usually changes it's color and smell
2) something has fallen apart and shows as lots of debris on the filter
3) you're changing to a synthetic fluid
4) it makes you feel good and you have money to burn

The tranny was designed and the fluid totally capable of going for a very long time with just changing the 4-5 quarts that comes out when dropping the pan. This 4-5 quarts is more than ample to replenish degraded additives.
AFT serves a different application than motor oil where it doesn't have to deal with contamination from combustion and will thus will go a very long time.

 

Well, the reason(s) I'm doing it is 1, this fluid has 40k rough miles on it, 2, it smells a little different to me and is not quite the reddish color I want, and 3, it gives me piece of mind.

 

Big Blue,

I'm the same way about changing fluids. I would rather change them often and not worry that to hold out and have a problem. Usually as soon as the fluids starts to darken It time to change it out. I do this on all fluids. Usually the mileage is getting close to time anyways...

Rather safe than sorry... Just my 2 cents worth...

 

Yeah. I spent $70 on fluid, filter, and gasket. Much better than $2000+ for a new tranny.

 

Quick question. What should I torque the filter bolts down to?

 

The torque is not too important on the filter bolts. Just remember how hard they were to take off, and tighten them the same.
If you have never done the bands, get someone to help you who has-particularly if you are not too mechanically inclined.
You can do it, but the side adjustment is difficult if you do not have the correct tools.

Mike

 

Marine, I'm pretty mechanically inclined (I installed the lift on the truck) and I've done injector swaps and stuff but tranny work is one thing I've never done. I think I'm just gonna leave it alone.

 

Well I just got done with it all. It wasn't to bad actually. A trick I read on dropping the pan was to loosen all the bolts a little and then remove the back bolts and let it drain for a little bit that way. Makes much less of a mess. I could tell the pan had never been off before cause the magnet had never been cleaned and the filter was black and nasty. Thankfully, the magnet was only covered in very very small particles. Same size particles that come off the rear diff magnets. So no big chunks (thank god). The old fluid was still nice and red. It had an ever so slight brown tint to it. It was probably just my imagination. For the VB, I loosened the bolts 3 turns and then when I tightened them I did 3 1/4 turns in a diagonal pattern. The only screw up I had was I over tightened one of the pan bolts and stripped it a little but it's holding so far. I also trimmed the dipstick which was about 1/4" to long so it gave false readings (thanks DC :rollseyes I dumped a gallon of oil in it, fired the truck, and backed it down the driveway. I went to put it in drive and the truck wouldn't move. Popped the hood, no fluid. Added another gallon, and drove it around a bit. I stopped about every 2 blocks to check the fluid and ended up putting a total of 10 quarts in it. The engine temp was about 190* and the tranny temp was 150* by the time I was done. I chalked it up to doing a lot of idling in neutral plus the stop and go driving I was doing. So far so good. The transmission hasn't slipped on me although I haven't really gotten on it. I didn't bother messing with the bands. I found the adjustment in the pan but didn't find the one on the outside of the trans (didn't look to hard though). All in all, this was pretty easy. Took about an hour and cost me $70 but at least I know I have a new filter and pretty much all new fluid in it.

 

Did you get the enclosed filter, or the open element filter?

Mike

 

You can find them on this forum under tech facts, 2nd gen drivetrain. Here is the link
Band adjustment

I bought a big rubber maid container to drain the fluid into was a little wider and longer than the pan, loosened the bolts all they way around then removed them on one side to allow the pan to drop and tilt, majority of the fluid came out and then removed the remaining bolts to drop the pan completely. Installed a maghytec pan so it will be easier next time around. Valvoline makes a ATF that meets the ATF+4 specs and I even got a letter from the Lube Engineer at Valvoline that states so, funny thing I was in the dealer the other day to have my speedometer corrected and noticed they use valvoline products, couldnt quite see the ATF barrel but I think it had valvoline on it. I wouldnt be surprised if it was made by valvoline and rebadged for DC sales.

Dave

 

DC ATF+4 is made by Valvoline.

Mike

 

Then am I correct in assuming that Maxlife ATF by Valvoline could be the same as ATF+4?

Dave

 

I don't know about Maxlife. Best thing to do would be to call your local Valvoline rep. I don't think Maxlife is.

Mike