I did a drain and refill on the transmission earlier today, and noticed smoother shifts and lower rpms etc.. This is the second drain and refill this year, did the first in the summer about 3k miles ago. I have yet to drop the pan and replace the strainer and clean the pan. Now that the fluid is almost pure red, the transmission still has a slight clunk when in 2nd gear only from about 2900k - 3100k rpms. I'm thinking changing the differential fluid also, which hasn't be changed since a complete flush at the dealership at 40k. If I drain the differential fluid, would fluid from the transmission pan drain out also? BTW I used Valvoline DEX/MERC if that matters.
i just did a drain and fill this weekend. as i recall, the diff plug is physically quite a bit higher than the pan. i wouldn't think the pan could drain back that way.
fyi, as soon as i took out the diff plug, the fluid stream shot back close to a foot. it didn't last, but it made a mess. the old fluid had 75K and 12 years on it, it looked like crap.
i refilled with dexron VI. so far, so good.
How many quarts could you estimate the differential holds? My plan to avoid that mess, is to use a good size diameter of plastic tubing and cover the drain plug and let the plug fall through and end up on the drain pan.
the bottle claims "most applications". i did a little research on bobtheoilguy's website, i liked what i saw in the dex3 vs dex6 comparison threads. the downside that gets the most mention is the viscosity... 6 is thinner going in. but data shows it is much more shear stable, so in a short time the dex 3 ends up thinner than the 6. i can confirm that what i took out of my tranny was like water.
i also had a good experience switching my 91 t-bird from mercon to mercon V, even though it didn't exist when the car was built.
btw, the 1999 differential doesn't have it's own fill plug, it shares fluid with the tranny and gets filled thru the dipstick tube. i would think the fluid in your diff will be in the same good condition as the fluid in the pan. why make work for yourself
the bottle claims "most applications". i did a little research on bobtheoilguy's website, i liked what i saw in the dex3 vs dex6 comparison threads. the downside that gets the most mention is the viscosity... 6 is thinner going in. but data shows it is much more shear stable, so in a short time the dex 3 ends up thinner than the 6. i can confirm that what i took out of my tranny was like water.
i also had a good experience switching my 91 t-bird from mercon to mercon V, even though it didn't exist when the car was built.
btw, the 1999 differential doesn't have it's own fill plug, it shares fluid with the tranny and gets filled thru the dipstick tube. i would think the fluid in your diff will be in the same good condition as the fluid in the pan. why make work for yourself
Ok, just checking because we have had bad experiences with transmissions. Damn Chryslers.
I have a quart left over, so why not. The only question I have now is, if I drain the diff. meausre how much was taken out, then put the same amount back. Will all of that fluid go back in to the diff. or will some end up in the pan?
I switched to Dex VI right after it came out and I read the specs. My wifes 2000 Avalon has 60,000+ trouble free miles with DEX VI and my sons '99 Camry has has over 90,000+ trouble free miles with the Dex VI. DEX VI Press Release
In 2005 GM released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. Also, the fluid has the potential to improve fuel economy and extend drain intervals. The performance of the new fluid far exceedes that of DEXRON®-III.DEXRON®-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. All DEXRON®-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed.. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided.DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM DEXRON III ATF specifications.
__________________ It worked fine until I fixed it!
I switched to Dex VI right after it came out and I read the specs. My wifes 2000 Avalon has 60,000+ trouble free miles with DEX VI and my sons '99 Camry has has over 90,000+ trouble free miles with the Dex VI. DEX VI Press Release
In 2005 GM released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. Also, the fluid has the potential to improve fuel economy and extend drain intervals. The performance of the new fluid far exceedes that of DEXRON®-III.DEXRON®-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. All DEXRON®-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed.. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided.DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM DEXRON III ATF specifications.
Good info, I'll use it on the next transmission service.
yeah, it made a nice difference. it shifts a lot smoother. not as quick to downshift when i get on the gas a little, doesn't thump anymore when i let off the gas. doesn't dither between 2nd and 3rd as much when climbing a hill.
but in all fairness, i can't definitely credit that to the dex 6. the old fluid was so bad i could have pissed in it and it might have been an improvement.
I switched to Dex VI right after it came out and I read the specs. My wifes 2000 Avalon has 60,000+ trouble free miles with DEX VI and my sons '99 Camry has has over 90,000+ trouble free miles with the Dex VI.
yeah, it made a nice difference. it shifts a lot smoother. not as quick to downshift when i get on the gas a little, doesn't thump anymore when i let off the gas. doesn't dither between 2nd and 3rd as much when climbing a hill.
but in all fairness, i can't definitely credit that to the dex 6. the old fluid was so bad i could have pissed in it and it might have been an improvement.
, I used to have that clunk also when letting off the gas. Gone now. First time I drained the pan, it was dark as motor oil, almost pure red now. Vavoline Dex VI is FULL synthetic BTW, any harm in using it with HM?
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1999 Toyota Avalon
The only question I have now is, if I drain the diff. meausre how much was taken out, then put the same amount back. Will all of that fluid go back in to the diff. or will some end up in the pan?
It worked fine until I fixed it! 
, I used to have that clunk also when letting off the gas. Gone now. First time I drained the pan, it was dark as motor oil, almost pure red now.
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