When Changing Tranny Fluid, OK To Run Car In Park To Drain?

[BlackOnBlackATX]

ok, so i have a stacked plate cooler on the way and i was wondering if when i put it on i can just run the car in park and drain the fluid via the sending hose in order to refill it with some redline afterwards? i honestly dont know if this is a bad idea because it seems logical enough since the car wont be going anywhere. i know i do not want to run the pump dry so i would obviously need to pour some fluid in while im draining until i know its done, but is this an ok method for getting the old fluid out otherwise? thanks.
Bob

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

ok well i saw in a previous post from a search that what i described is a method to follow, but are there any specific do's and dont's aside from not putting it in gear?

 

[SolidState]

I wouldn't run the car without any fluid in it....I think you would burn the torque converter up in no time....

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I would never take the chance.

Find yourself an electric pump too pump the fluid out.

JCWhitney carries a cheap 12 volt pump.

 

[wood_e]

I 2nd those comments..... I would never run any part of my car without fluid....

 

[SHOZ123]

The Ford approved method is to disconnect the cooler hose.

Start the motor.

Run in park until the flow lessens. (about 5 quarts)

Stop the motor and add 10 quarts.

Start car again until you see clean fluid or the flow lessens again.

EDIT: Then connect the hose and...

Add 4 quarts and check level.

<small>[ July 19, 2003, 10:14 AM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[ISHOU]

The cooler hose on the driver side is where the fluid pumps into the cooler. Install your new cooler and if possible,note how much fluid comes out. You can do this by pouring the fluid left in the cooler into a five gallon bucket. On the bucket, note 1 gallon, 2 gallon, and 3 gallon.(You can do this with water before hand). Put the new fluid into 3 one gallon containers. Direct the disconnected cooler hose into the bucket. Start car in neutral and pour in the new fluid as fast as it pumps out. That way the tranny never runs dry. A complete fluid change will take about 3 gallons. If doing a filter change, do that first. There are about 5 quarts of fluid in the pan. I've done this 3 times with no problems.

<small>[ July 19, 2003, 02:53 AM: Message edited by: ISHOU ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

What Paul said.

All you are doing is using the ATX pump to dispel the fluid.

Nothing is going to be damaged if you follow the directions.

This is far less messy than "dropping the pan" to change the fluid.

Steve

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

SolidState:
I wouldn't run the car without any fluid in it....I think you would burn the torque converter up in no time....

thanks for the heads up guys, and yes dont worry, i never intended on running it dry, only using the pump to dispell old fluid as new was poured in as projectSHO89 said.

 

[SHOZ123]

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is far less messy than "dropping the pan" to change the fluid.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Not to mention dropping the pan only gets about a 1/3 of the fluid changed.

 

[Bizzy]

what I hav done, is run the car in park with the hos into a bucket till the flow lessens alot. THen I'd drop the pan and change the filter there. That way there is almost no mess to be dumped outta the tranny pan. (now would be a good time to have a drainplug added)

Then bolt it back up, put in 2-3 gallons of fluid and start the car back up. Wait till the fluid comes out "like new color" then shut off and add what ever new fluid you'd like ti bring it to the proper level.