jerry007

How difficult is it to change the transmission filter?

Mike_Boutet

The trickypart is dropping the pan down and not wearing a pile of trans fluid. The filter is held on by a couple of torx head screws.

SOhappy

Did mine last month. Very, very easy once you have the pan dropped. Torque the filter screws to 35 INCH/lbs, the pan bolts to 125 in/lbs.

STANDARD PROCEDURE - FLUID AND FILTER
REPLACEMENT

The service fluid fill after a
filter change is approximately 3.8 liters (4.0 quarts).
REMOVAL
(1) Hoist and support vehicle on safety stands.
(2) Place a large diameter shallow drain pan
beneath the transmission pan.
(3) Remove bolts holding front and sides of pan to
transmission.
(4) Loosen bolts holding rear of pan to transmission.
(5) Slowly separate front of pan and gasket away
from transmission allowing the fluid to drain into
drain pan.
(6) Hold up pan and remove remaining bolt holding
pan to transmission.
(7) While holding pan level, lower pan and gasket
away from transmission.
(8) Pour remaining fluid in pan into drain pan.
(9) Remove screws holding filter to valve body.
(10) Separate filter from valve body and pour fluid
in filter into drain pan.
(11) Dispose of used trans fluid and filter properly.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position a new transmission oil filter onto the
valve body.
(2) Install the screws to hold the filter to the valve
body. Tighten the screws to 4 N·m (35 in.lbs.).
(3) Clean the gasket surfaces of the transmission
oil pan and transmission pan rail.
NOTE: The transmission pan oil gasket is reusable.
Inspect the sealing surfaces of the gasket. If the
sealing ribs on both surfaces appear to be in good
condition, clean the gasket of any foreign material
and reinstall.
(4) Position the oil pan gasket onto the oil pan.
(5) Position the oil pan and gasket onto the transmission
and install several bolts to hold the pan and
gasket to the transmission.
(6) Install the remainder of the oil pan bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 13.6 N·m (125 in.lbs.).
(7) Lower vehicle and fill transmission.

jerry007

Thanks for the advice, sounds like it is fairly simple.

2003Ram

Also, put large drip pan under drain pan to catch all the oil that misses the drain pan.

Install a B&M drain plug ($10) or an after market pan with a drain plug to make the next fluid change a breeze.

XLR8R

This works great:

After I remove a tranny pan or diff cover for the 1st time, I weld a bung with a drain valve on it at my shop; then, for all future fluid changes - I send my son under the truck!