Is it a PITA to install a new tranny filter on a '91 Astro LT, z engine, AWD? The van has 156k miles on it and I'm not sure if the filter has ever been replaced. I'm not a very experienced mechanic so I was wondering if this would be a job best left for a pro. Thanks!
Tranny filter
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159 Posts
changing the trans filter is fairly easy. but be prepaired to get dirty. the best way to do it is to start at one end and remove the bolts starting on a corner and alternte sides as you take them out. the fluid will start to drain, when it starts wait until it quits and then following the pattern keep removing the bolts. the fluid will continue to drain as you remove the bolts. when you have removed the pan the best way that i have found to get rid of the gunk is to spray the pan and magnet with brake kleen and wipe out with a clean rag. remove the flter and check in the port to make sure that the bushing has come out. sometimes all you need is a flat screwdriver and a hammer. clean ALL the old gaket off the pan and reinstall the filter (and bushing) this is the hard part. if you are doing it with your van on the ground. it can be hard to see where to reinstall. after reinstalling your filter put the gaket on the pan with magnet reinstalled aboutwhere it was using four or so bolts to keep it lined up. after getting the bolts started and pan TOUCHING THE TRANS, install the rest of the bolts so that the pan is touching the trans. give them about another 1/2-3/4 turn. put 2 quarts atf in and start engine, fill until the fluid on the dipstick it showing about 1/2 qt. low. let engine come up to operating temp. check the level and add from there. not hard just dirty and time consuming. hope this helps. :rockon:
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167 Posts
Yeah what they said ^^^^^
You might want to duct tape a trash bag around the tranny as a makeshift splash sheld.
If your using a shallow bucket you can just put the 3 ply glad trash bag inside that and duct tape three sides
now this will require you to use a light to see the bolts but when the trans fluid starts to pour out you can easily just
lift the side you didn't duct tape to sheild you and contain the mess.
Once the initial Splash occurs the rest will "pour" out. Of course if you have your trash bag/sheild
your not worried about it!
Of course after you do this a couple of times you will beable to loosed the bolts bye eye and take your time
seeing the fluid starting to drip and control the "SPLASH" by your pace.
**** Also put the plastic trash bag inside another or a zip lock bag and put it with your left over paint cans etc that you will bring to your local hazardous collector (city, dump etc). Do not put it in the regular trash, treat your enviroment nice and your kids will have a nice enviroment!
**** Ofcourse you can bring the used trans fluid and oiul back to where you purchased it.
Have at it,
Trip
You might want to duct tape a trash bag around the tranny as a makeshift splash sheld.
If your using a shallow bucket you can just put the 3 ply glad trash bag inside that and duct tape three sides
now this will require you to use a light to see the bolts but when the trans fluid starts to pour out you can easily just
lift the side you didn't duct tape to sheild you and contain the mess.
Once the initial Splash occurs the rest will "pour" out. Of course if you have your trash bag/sheild
your not worried about it!
Of course after you do this a couple of times you will beable to loosed the bolts bye eye and take your time
seeing the fluid starting to drip and control the "SPLASH" by your pace.
**** Also put the plastic trash bag inside another or a zip lock bag and put it with your left over paint cans etc that you will bring to your local hazardous collector (city, dump etc). Do not put it in the regular trash, treat your enviroment nice and your kids will have a nice enviroment!
**** Ofcourse you can bring the used trans fluid and oiul back to where you purchased it.
Have at it,
Trip
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1,230 Posts
i've got a 93 and i just changed the trans fluid and filter in mine took about 30 minutes but i got lucky the gasket didn't stick. it peeled right off the pan. but i took my pan sprayed it with degreaser and then hosed it off then wiped it out that just seems the easiest way to me
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7,535 Posts
Trans filter and fluid is just messy as all get up! Put a plug in that pan if you plan on doing it often as in every 30K miles.
I didn't see anyone say anything about gasket sealer on the new gasket? I always put a little on just to keep the thing from moving around on me. Bad idea maybe, but I haven't had one leak on me yet and its easy to reinstall.
I didn't see anyone say anything about gasket sealer on the new gasket? I always put a little on just to keep the thing from moving around on me. Bad idea maybe, but I haven't had one leak on me yet and its easy to reinstall.
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167 Posts
Oh yeah and allways use a cork gasket, in the biz its a no brainer, just do NOT crush the cork and it will out last that
flimy sheet of neoprene "rubber" made overseas. As for gasket sealer the better way to "Set" a gasket is to use sewing thread
Tie it lightly around a couple of the just off corner holes- put in your bolts finger tighten in the others then snip the thread off
remove and install those bolts.
As for the gasket sealer some get away with it, others learn that the gasket sealer causes it to be uneven mise as well just use silicone all the way around. Again this is where the difference between rubber and cork comes in. I'd say you have greater odds at using the gasket sealer sparingly on cork than any at all with the rubber. Why? Cork conforms rubber does not.
Sure its a lil more time consuming to work clean, smart and patiently but guess what those are the ingredients to a successful job well done!
Trip
flimy sheet of neoprene "rubber" made overseas. As for gasket sealer the better way to "Set" a gasket is to use sewing thread
Tie it lightly around a couple of the just off corner holes- put in your bolts finger tighten in the others then snip the thread off
remove and install those bolts.
As for the gasket sealer some get away with it, others learn that the gasket sealer causes it to be uneven mise as well just use silicone all the way around. Again this is where the difference between rubber and cork comes in. I'd say you have greater odds at using the gasket sealer sparingly on cork than any at all with the rubber. Why? Cork conforms rubber does not.
Sure its a lil more time consuming to work clean, smart and patiently but guess what those are the ingredients to a successful job well done!
Trip
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