where to add ATF?
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Joined: 12-28-08
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From: Dallas TX
where to add ATF?
Im wanting to drop the pan n change the filter and fluid. Anyone sum it up for me? As you can tell this is a part of the cobalt i havent touched yet.
also they say you will lose 5qts on a pan drop? true?
also they say you will lose 5qts on a pan drop? true?
thats for the motor oil. our trannies hold more like 14 quarts...theyre massive
they are also sealed from the factory, so there is no easily accessible spot to add fluid. If you wanted to though, you'd have to use a pump like tool to get all of the fluid out, then refill through a small hole on top of the trans. There is another opening on the side of the trans...you should fill the tranny until oil is at the level of the middle hole while running.
they are also sealed from the factory, so there is no easily accessible spot to add fluid. If you wanted to though, you'd have to use a pump like tool to get all of the fluid out, then refill through a small hole on top of the trans. There is another opening on the side of the trans...you should fill the tranny until oil is at the level of the middle hole while running.
Last edited by HunterKiller89; Feb 25, 2009 at 12:23 AM.
wow so much mis-information.
the 4t45e is servicable, its just not as easy to fill as most cars. on top of the tranny you will see a red or black plastic cap, that is were you fill it with fluid. by dropping the pan and changing the filter you will only lose about 6L of fluid, even though it will hold about 12-13l total. when you do the service, dont throw away the pan gasket thats on it, they are a re-usable design and does not require replacment. if you use an aftermarket neoprene or cork gasket, the pan will most likley leak. once you have the pan back on, pour 6l of fluid (check your owners manual, some years require dexron VI, others require dexron III, however you can use dexron VI for either fluid requirment), have the car jacked up on 4 stands so its level (this is imporant). start the car, place it in each gear for 3 seconds, return to park, and with the car running get under it with a bucket. there is a 7/16" or 11mm plug on the passenger side of the tranny near the axle. remove that plug, fluid should drip out of that hole. if the fluid is gushing out, let it untill its a slow trickle or drip. if its to low, add fluid till it starts trickling out of the hole. re-install the plug before shutting the engine off.
the 4t45e is servicable, its just not as easy to fill as most cars. on top of the tranny you will see a red or black plastic cap, that is were you fill it with fluid. by dropping the pan and changing the filter you will only lose about 6L of fluid, even though it will hold about 12-13l total. when you do the service, dont throw away the pan gasket thats on it, they are a re-usable design and does not require replacment. if you use an aftermarket neoprene or cork gasket, the pan will most likley leak. once you have the pan back on, pour 6l of fluid (check your owners manual, some years require dexron VI, others require dexron III, however you can use dexron VI for either fluid requirment), have the car jacked up on 4 stands so its level (this is imporant). start the car, place it in each gear for 3 seconds, return to park, and with the car running get under it with a bucket. there is a 7/16" or 11mm plug on the passenger side of the tranny near the axle. remove that plug, fluid should drip out of that hole. if the fluid is gushing out, let it untill its a slow trickle or drip. if its to low, add fluid till it starts trickling out of the hole. re-install the plug before shutting the engine off.
wow so much mis-information.
the 4t45e is servicable, its just not as easy to fill as most cars. on top of the tranny you will see a red or black plastic cap, that is were you fill it with fluid. by dropping the pan and changing the filter you will only lose about 6L of fluid, even though it will hold about 12-13l total. when you do the service, dont throw away the pan gasket thats on it, they are a re-usable design and does not require replacment. if you use an aftermarket neoprene or cork gasket, the pan will most likley leak. once you have the pan back on, pour 6l of fluid (check your owners manual, some years require dexron VI, others require dexron III, however you can use dexron VI for either fluid requirment), have the car jacked up on 4 stands so its level (this is imporant). start the car, place it in each gear for 3 seconds, return to park, and with the car running get under it with a bucket. there is a 7/16" or 11mm plug on the passenger side of the tranny near the axle. remove that plug, fluid should drip out of that hole. if the fluid is gushing out, let it untill its a slow trickle or drip. if its to low, add fluid till it starts trickling out of the hole. re-install the plug before shutting the engine off.
the 4t45e is servicable, its just not as easy to fill as most cars. on top of the tranny you will see a red or black plastic cap, that is were you fill it with fluid. by dropping the pan and changing the filter you will only lose about 6L of fluid, even though it will hold about 12-13l total. when you do the service, dont throw away the pan gasket thats on it, they are a re-usable design and does not require replacment. if you use an aftermarket neoprene or cork gasket, the pan will most likley leak. once you have the pan back on, pour 6l of fluid (check your owners manual, some years require dexron VI, others require dexron III, however you can use dexron VI for either fluid requirment), have the car jacked up on 4 stands so its level (this is imporant). start the car, place it in each gear for 3 seconds, return to park, and with the car running get under it with a bucket. there is a 7/16" or 11mm plug on the passenger side of the tranny near the axle. remove that plug, fluid should drip out of that hole. if the fluid is gushing out, let it untill its a slow trickle or drip. if its to low, add fluid till it starts trickling out of the hole. re-install the plug before shutting the engine off.
And i think my first statement holds true to an extent. It was made to not be serviced for 100k miles or something like that, which is why it doesnt have an easy to use drain plug and filler neck (or equivalent). This is not to say it can't be serviced, but that it is not part of the recommended maintenance
regardless, sharkey knows his transmissions...so go with what he says
I got my information from Halfcent over a year ago, so i forgot some of the details since then
quarts is close enough to liters (1quart = 946ml, or 0.946L).
it wasnt designed like this because you dont need to service it as often, its actualy a cost saver. instead of a metal tube and dipstick that needs to be designed for every different motor the tranny is used for, and all these peices need to be made, it casts them a lot less to put a cap and plug in the tranny case. what it also does is in the early days of the 4t40e was force lube shops not to do tranny services as they didnt know how, so the cars came back to gm. most do it yourselfers still shy away from servicing them as it looks complicated.
as for the service life, the basic design of the 4t40e and 4t45e came out is 95 when dexron III was out. they had a typical service life of 30k-50k miles. dexron VI fluid, wich is far superior to dexron III, has a far longer service life. dexron VI takes way longer to break down and is much more thermally stable.
it wasnt designed like this because you dont need to service it as often, its actualy a cost saver. instead of a metal tube and dipstick that needs to be designed for every different motor the tranny is used for, and all these peices need to be made, it casts them a lot less to put a cap and plug in the tranny case. what it also does is in the early days of the 4t40e was force lube shops not to do tranny services as they didnt know how, so the cars came back to gm. most do it yourselfers still shy away from servicing them as it looks complicated.
as for the service life, the basic design of the 4t40e and 4t45e came out is 95 when dexron III was out. they had a typical service life of 30k-50k miles. dexron VI fluid, wich is far superior to dexron III, has a far longer service life. dexron VI takes way longer to break down and is much more thermally stable.
i avoided it myself. I was considering swapping to synthetic ATF, but i never got around to it (especially when i found out how many quarts i'd be buying...)
good to know about the logic behind it tho.. thnx
good to know about the logic behind it tho.. thnx
New Member
Joined: 01-30-08
Posts: 187
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From: Fort Wayne Indiana
my bad...i said qoarts...not liters
And i think my first statement holds true to an extent. It was made to not be serviced for 100k miles or something like that, which is why it doesnt have an easy to use drain plug and filler neck (or equivalent). This is not to say it can't be serviced, but that it is not part of the recommended maintenance
regardless, sharkey knows his transmissions...so go with what he says
I got my information from Halfcent over a year ago, so i forgot some of the details since then
And i think my first statement holds true to an extent. It was made to not be serviced for 100k miles or something like that, which is why it doesnt have an easy to use drain plug and filler neck (or equivalent). This is not to say it can't be serviced, but that it is not part of the recommended maintenance
regardless, sharkey knows his transmissions...so go with what he says
I got my information from Halfcent over a year ago, so i forgot some of the details since then
im pretty sure recommended service is only once every 100k miles for the 4t45. Im not positive, but its needed very rarely.
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Joined: 02-19-06
Posts: 1,812
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From: Sunrise, Fl
well i switched to synthetic at about 35k miles i believe and the fluid in there didn't look too attractive...car felt awesome after. shifts were smoother and tranny temps never ran high, even in Fl weather.
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Joined: 02-19-06
Posts: 1,812
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From: Sunrise, Fl
well i was monitoring it with my dashhawk and i noticed, after the change, it wouldn't get into the higher temps and if it came close it was VERY rare. i put in Royal Purple. I know some people say RP isn't that great but it made the difference.
the difference is likley just because it has clean oil in it. ive flushed a few vejhicles and put synthetic in, the customers never reported a trans temp change. the benifit is if you are towing or hard on the vehcile it takes much higher temps to break the fluid down vs regular dexron III.
imho, get dexron VI, its semi synthetic iirc. the stats on it are impressive.
imho, get dexron VI, its semi synthetic iirc. the stats on it are impressive.
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