Anything else I should do while I have the pan dropped & access to the transmission?

Hello again fine folk of the forums!

Back again with more maintenance to my 2006 2wd 4.7. 203k

Planning to drain & replace my trans fluid coming up soon

Is there anything else I should do while I have the pan dropped & access to the trans on vehicle? Any extra preventative maintenence parts I should replace or anything?

Thanks ya'll

 

No need to drop the pan on your transmission to change the fluid. You have a drain plug for that. You'll definitely want a transfer pump for pumping fluid back into your transmission, as your 2006 doesn't have a dipstick tube and you'll have to pump fluid back in from underneath.

You'll also want to be prepared to check the fluid levels when the transmission is at the right temperature, you'll do this at the check valve, since this is a sealed transmission.

Faye has a pretty good video on it, I'd definitely suggest watching it first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_6BZpK3gg

 

Thanks for the response.

I was going to change the trans filter out too but after some research on the forums I've seen that it's not really necessary??

& yeah Faye's awesome! I saw that video & also one where guy replaces the filter.

But if it's true about the filter & don't need to do any other preventative maintenance? Guess I will just follow Faye

 

It's a metal filter, it doesn't need changing. I'd not go through the trouble of messing with it. Just do the transmission fluid and move on.

But since you're thinking about preventative maintenance, it's a good time to make sure your transfer case and differential fluids are up to date.

 

Awesome I won't complain about less work

Will do then & thanks for your time

 

I dropped mine at 100k miles (when I bought it) because that's how God intended transmissions to be serviced! It is indeed just a metal screen filter, it looked new in there when I did it. Didn't break any bolts (Cali truck) and haven't messed with the pan since. I've done 2 drain and fills since in the 18 years and 170k miles I've driven it.

 

An alternative to pumping it in is to use a funnel and clear vinyl tube (available at Home Depot etc.) and fill from the engine bay. I did it this way when doing a 14qt flush. Just make sure to route the tube away from the exhaust/headers (ask me how I know :-/ )

 

This is what I do. I wash the right side of the transmission with a pressure washer wand before pulling the plug with a 15/16" socket, that way I don't get dirt in the fluid. Since the transmission filter is only a steel screen, I installed a Magnefine inline 3/8" 20 micron filter on the hoses at the cooler and made a bracket on the front crossmember to hold it in place. I change the filter every 2 years or so. I think the factory screen is much larger than 20 micron.
Sometimes I drain the pan, add 4 quarts ATF, let it idle 10 minutes, then drain again and add 5 more quarts. Then I idle a few more minutes and lower it down off the jacks to level it and open the plug to the standpipe to get the correct level.
One thing to pay attention to is that not all first gens use the same ATF. My 2004 uses different fluid than my 2006. They are different transmissions.

 

I guess the bigger question is: Why are you dropping the pan?

Unless you're replacing something broken inside the transmission, myself and many others on here would advise you to never remove the pan.

All sealed 1st gen transmissions use WS fluid, in the event you need to drain/fill.

 

I just thought it was a necessary thing I saw someone do in a thorough youtube vid.

But yeah im just gonna go with the drain & fill

 

That's the problem with YouTube. It's full of misinformation about these trucks. Look up the dozen videos on YouTube about how to replace the valve cover gaskets on the 2UZ-FE. About 10 of them have mistakes, showing people how to do it the wrong way.

If you haven't already, go into the Megathread. Download your own copy of the FSM using the link list in the 4th or 5th paragraph. Feel free to watch videos on YouTube, but follow the FSM.

That said, you should never (except in extreme circumstances) need to drop the oil pan or trans pan on your 1st gen. I've seen one person since I signed up (and the two years prior) who needed to drop the oil pan, once, because it was leaking. And I suspect that was because some other poor sucker before him had dropped it and didn't reseal properly.