Can I change the filter and fluid myself in my auto tranny?

[garystocker]

have you guys done this? Is the filter available at auto zone?

 

[wyominghotwheel]

yes you can, and autozone will have the kit..........just be sure when you drop the pan, leave 1 bolt in on the front and 1 bolt in on the rear........
when you are ready to actually drop the pan, you will need to have an quart or so oil pan underneath the tranny with you. Remove the rear bolt and start loosening the front one, if you do this right, about 80% of your tranny fluid will flow out of the tranny, into the catch pan.......if you do it any other way, you will probably get tranny fluid all over the ground..........

just take your time, it is an easy job.

hotwheels of insanemustangs.com

 

[garystocker]

do I need a new gasket or re-use?

 

[87AODGT]

definately use a new gasket, you don't want that pan leakin when you put it all back together and then have to take it back down to do a gasket

 

[The Shape]

It is messy but easy, just don't over torque the pan bolts and you will be fine.

 

[HISSIN50]

Ford should have a reusable gasket (rubber embossed over steel).

Might want to flush the entire system out, if that seems appopriate.

And if your pan rails are beat up, use a dolly, etc to try and flatten them or it will leak.

Good luck.

 

[davs5.0]

Another good idea is to look for a drain plug kit. Nows a great time to put a drain plug into the pan to avoid the mess the next time you want to flush the system. www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=172714&prmenbr=361

 

[Curse]

If the fluid in the transmission is burnt or reddish/blackish color, I would not recommend changing it. The fluid in my AOD was nasty but the AOD would shift fine. Naturally I thought I would change the fluid and filter. After I changed the fluid, my AOD would barely shift. I called all the local transmission shops to ask what the problem was, they all basically told me that was normal and I shouldn’t have changed the fluid. Just a heads-up, good luck.

 

[sgarlic]

If it's been neglected (i.e. you don't know when the last time the fluid/filter was changed,) just take it somewhere reputable and have them do it. This way, if something goes wrong, you can bring it back to them to have them fix the problem, instead of having troubleshoot it.