5HP30 Transmission Filter Change

[Mr._Graybeard]

Done it? Done it?! I swapped out the valve body. No pitfalls, Just make sure you got the right torx bit... too small will seem like you stripped it, but it is actually you need the bigger one. Other pitfall is the long-ass flat pan = lots of bolts.

Pennzoil MV ATF for 5+ years.

I think the torx bit in question is T-27. Got mine from my local Bumper-to-Bumper, which sells S-K tools. There are a lot of crappy bits out there, and 27 is an odd size. The bolts can strip easily, so a good tool is a sound investment, IMO.

Respectfully, I'd go to harbor freight and get a cheap hand pump to transfer the ATF into the pan. Do you really want to use squeeze bottle to move almost 2 gallons of tranny juice? Vertically?

[stargazer_61]

Well, thanks to either fat fingering the part number or misunderstanding what I was asking for, the filter that was ordered turned into the oil carrier! The parts guy at Crown tried to tell me that the catalog was incorrect. WTF? Anyway, this project is now postponed until the correct part is received next week.

Lesson learned: Only order parts with the part # from Real OEM.

Tiger, after looking at that "long ass" pan, I think I'm going to pick up an air ratchet at Harbor Freight to spin all those bolts off once I break them loose. I need one anyway. Given that you have 5+ years on your "other" oil, I feel a lot better about not going with the LA2634.

Mr. Graybeard, thanks for the reminder that I do have a fluid pump from doing the differential oil change last year. It's laying around somewhere.

John

[Tiger]

No... do not use any power tool. It doesn't take long at all... trust me. As for squeezing fluids into the tranny, it really doesn't take long at all. No need for stupid pumps that will complicates this process. I tried one techniques you guys said... have someone pour ATF into funnel into tube higher than tranny and stick hose on the other end into tranny... well for one guy, that will not work.

Squeeze bottle is so darn easy... 1/2" clear tube makes the process really fast. Each bottle can be 3/4 squeezed into the tranny in 30 seconds... how much faster do you want?

[632 Regal]

he could also just flip the thing over and pour it right in.

[stargazer_61]

Yeah, I suppose I could just flip it over and pour, but my unflipper is broken

[fkong777]

I changed my tranny with Royal Purple MAX ATF. it works. The 14mm hex socket is somewhat of a odd size tool. I got a set of larger hex socket from harbor freight tools.

[632 Regal]

I just bought a 14mm allen wrench and cut an inch of it off and used it in a socket...not bad for 2.99

[Mr._Graybeard]

I just bought a 14mm allen wrench and cut an inch of it off and used it in a socket...not bad for 2.99

Yep, even with a standard 14mm allen-head socket I had to hack a piece of the hex section off to squeeze it into place on the drain plug -- space is tight down there.

Stargazer, I did not do this myself, but you could conceivably drain and fill the pan over the weekend, drive the car for a week or so and then pull the pan next week (or in a reasonably short time) to replace the filter and do a second fluid swap. You're going to want to change fluid at least twice anyway to get out as much old fluid as possible.

BTW, look for minor leaks at the wiring harness plug and selector shaft seals. They could get worse when the new fluid is trying to get out.

In fact, that's an excellent reason to do a drain and fill now -- if you find leaks afterward, you can chase them down without having to drop the pan twice.

[stargazer_61]

Yep, even with a standard 14mm allen-head socket I had to hack a piece of the hex section off to squeeze it into place on the drain plug -- space is tight down there.

Stargazer, I did not do this myself, but you could conceivably drain and fill the pan over the weekend, drive the car for a week or so and then pull the pan next week (or in a reasonably short time) to replace the filter and do a second fluid swap. You're going to want to change fluid at least twice anyway to get out as much old fluid as possible.

BTW, look for minor leaks at the wiring harness plug and selector shaft seals. They could get worse when the new fluid is trying to get out.

In fact, that's an excellent reason to do a drain and fill now -- if you find leaks afterward, you can chase them down without having to drop the pan twice.

Oh, I didn't think of the potential for leaks at the seals on the side. Thanks for that heads up!

Did you do the fill twice like you are describing? If so, how much fluid did you use? I have 7 litres now, but can get more easily enough. I just don't want to run out.

If that 14mm is as tight as the ones on the differential, I've got that covered with an allen wrench that's been heated and bent. I used a box-end wrench on it to break it loose. Man, that was tight!

I hit up Harbor Freight the other day for a set of Torx sockets and other stuff that I needed, so I'm pretty well covered in the tool box. I have a set of bits for a ratcheting screwdriver but I didn't trust those with the pan bolts.