Best way to fully drain my 4L60E?

[Matt99Z71]

I'd like to drain all the ATF in my trans, my local Carquest buddy

told me to remove the cooler line going to my radiator and that'll

eventually drain all of it out. Anyone agree or could go in any

better detail? Best procedure to refill it too?

[citydriver]

I'd like to drain all the ATF in my trans, my local Carquest buddy

told me to remove the cooler line going to my radiator and that'll

eventually drain all of it out.  Anyone agree or could go in any

better detail?  Best procedure to refill it too?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Removing the cooler line will not drain the tranny completely, unless the engine is running, this is a very dangerous practice, when the fluid runs out, damage will occur because of the lack of lubrication to the pump and other internal parts

 

The only way I know of is to pull the tranny and torque converter to drain it completely...not very cost or time effective

 

If you are set on changing ALL of the fluid, you will need to have it flushed with a special machine....if you want to do it yourself you will need to drain/refill it several times...also not very cost or time effective

Just my opinion

[JimG]

Technically, yes you can remove the cooler line and drain the ATF with the engine running. At the same time you need to keep the other end of that line sucking up fresh ATF out of the bottle.

Advantages:

- You will change most of, if not all your trans fluid.

 

Disadvantages:

- Find a way to keep the line to the tranny full of fresh ATF fluid at ALL times.

- Constantly filling reservoir holding fresh ATF fluid (unless you have a 55 gal drum full of it).

- Risky because if that line sucks air (instead of ATF), your trans may not get lubed when it needs it and then you're spending major $$$.

- Will use A LOT more fluid than any other method, i.e., you can't just pump in 16 qts and expect it to replace the existing 16 qts - you need to keep adding fresh stuff until the old stuff is completely purged. I've read it can take up to 4 times normal capacity to do this. So if the 4L60E takes 16 qts, and assuming worst case you need 4 times that, so 64 qts at $2/ea., you'll be spending $128 on the fluid alone (not including tax)

- You'll have a lot of fluid to dispose of.

 

Normally I do all the maintenance on my truck, however when it came time to get the ATF changed, I opted to pay $100 and get it done professionally. Would cost too much of my money and time to do it myself.