100% Trans Fluid Change DIY

[Q451999]

New owner of a 1999 Q45 with 110k. Body has some stone nicks and only one small rust spot. Interior drivers seat is an "8" with some wear wrinkles, the other three seats and dash are like brand new. I paid $4500.

I have experience maintaining my wife and sons Lexus's and I thought I'd share my trans fluid change. Not my idea I picked it up from a Lexus site but it works great! I've used it on Infiniti, Lexus, Toyota, and Ford vehicles. VERY EASY. No more draining from the pan.

I've got some pictures and I'll see if I can figure out how to incorporate them here.

You will need (1) 3 qt container(mark the container on the outside with a marker every quart), about 8' of plastic tubing (ID of 1/2" I think), one plastic or metal nipple that fits the tubing.

Instead of the standard trans drain and fill I do the trans pump and fill. When you take the splash shield off you will see two hoses attached to the bottom of the radiator. These are trans lines. The transmission pumps trans fluid through the radiator (does not mix with radiator fluid) to keep it cool. You will be removing the line on the passenger side. There is a spring clamp holding it on. Squeeze the protruding ends of the clamp together with pliers to loosen it. Slide it about 2" back to get past the metal tube the hose is on. Slide the hose off (you may need to work it loose by putting a screwdriver just under the edge and pushing).

Once it is off take one end of your tubing with the nipple attached and slide the nipple into the trans line hose. There is hardly any pressure but make sure the nipple is snug. Run the other end of the plastic hose into your marked three quart container. Use something on either side of the container to hold it up so the plastic hose doesn't tip it over. Locate the 3 qt container to a spot you can see it from the drivers door (that's why 8' of hose).

Turn the car on so the trans pump starts and you will see it pump out one qt (to your marked line on the bottle) in about 5-10 seconds. Turn the car off and add a fresh qt to the car where the dipstick is located. Turn the car on and pump out another qt. Add a fresh qt, and so on until you have replaced all of the fluid. The 99 has 11 qts.

You must have some containers to pour off the old fluid as the 3 qt container fills up. I never pump out more than one qt before replacing it with a new one. I do this every 20K and my trans fluid looks new every time I change it. I'm planning on having the original transmission for many years!

Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to add the pics I took.

[maxnix]

With two people and sufficiently large reservoir, you can perform this continuously. It is essentially the BG method as it uses the automatic's pump, whereas the Sun Machine has its own pump which also allows to to mechanically exchange the PS fluid.

[qship96]

With two people and sufficiently large reservoir, you can perform this continuously. It is essentially the BG method as it uses the automatic's pump, whereas the Sun Machine has its own pump which also allows to to mechanically exchange the PS fluid.

Actually, it has one huge difference from the BG/Sun machine flushes, and that is the machines basically are inserted inline like a loop of fluid flow, the procedure he is doing does not feed fluid back thru the retun from the cooler to the planetary gearset,and according to qtech could cause planetary gear fluid starvation { yet the 02-06Q recommends this method?}

[Q451999]

Qship96,

I see what you are saying. Are there parts in the planetary gear box that move when the trans is in park? Does the trans fluid pump remove fluid from there or is it pushed through from the other cooler line?

Thanks.

[qship96]

Common thought that has been repeated over and over on this board is that the return line pushes fluid from cooler output to trans. rear planetary gears.Search old posts for more info- I find it odd that this method was never mentioned as a way to change atf fluid for the 90-2001Q {they recommend pan drain/fill only in service manual} yet the 02-06Q recommend your method in their owners manual?

As far as whether rear planetary gears are revolving at idle and actually need lubrication during this process? I am not sure either way,some have strongly warned this method would starve the planetaries of fluid and harm them? True or false,I do not know.

I play it safe and just do simple pan drain/fills using the drainplug- multiple if needed at first to return fluid to brand new looking, then 1 simple drain/fill every 15K miles, forever.

[OwnerCS]

I like this Pela 6000 for extracting ATF fluid, PS fluid, brake fluid bleeding/extraction, and to drain the radiator without removing a hose or drain plug. On the G50 you can tap the bottom of the ATF pan with the suction tube by running to down filler tube. After I went through the initial pan magnet cleaning and screen change to prepare for routine maintenance it saves time. As often as I change fluids it sure makes it an easy job. After a number of pump strokes, it builds up a vacuum so you can leave it unattended for a few minutes while it extracts the fluid. The tank holds 6 liters. I learned about the pumps from boat owners.

[maxnix]

RE04R3 holds about twice as much ATF. I doubt this vacuum pump moves much of the fine granular slime or detritus.

[OwnerCS]

Here's a picture below from my first ATF fluid change where the pan was removed to change the screen, gasket, bolts, and to clean the magnet.

Since I was removing the pan inside my garage, I wanted to extract as much fluid as possible to avoid spilling any fluid on the floor. I used the Pela pump for the initial fluid extraction. I knew once I tapped the bottom of the pan with the extraction tube that I might be able to extract more ATF than the amount that would be drained by just removing the drain plug.

In the picture below, the area in (a) shows marks on the pan bottom where the extractor tube landed. The area in (b) shows the drain plug riser and thread collar. I really don't remember any mess associated with removing the pan in the garage that October night. The picture shows how a minimal amount of fluid would have been left in the pan bottom.

While the pump can only remove the amount of ATF that is present in the pan, the idea for the extractor pump is an easy method for a DIY type person to change engine fluids on a routine basis.

I do not recommend the pump for changing VH45DE engine oil as it cannot hit the bottom of the oil pan like it does the ATF pan.

[qship96]

extractor pump or drain plug method, both are more than adequate to get the job done.The key to long transmission life is performing either method on a regular schedule. for me,that means every 15,000 miles using a true synthetic ATF {probably overkill,but it has kept my trans.working great so far at 282K,so I look at it as cheap insurance}

[Infinitiguy19]

I am no Automatic Transmission (A/T) expert but the rear planetary gears are on the output shaft of the A/T. So that mean that they will only move if he gear shifter is put in any gear other than Park or Neutral....

http://www.autoshop101.com/

[qship96]

I am no Automatic Transmission (A/T) expert but the rear planetary gears are on the output shaft of the A/T. So that mean that they will only move if he gear shifter is put in any gear other than Park or Neutral....

http://www.autoshop101.com/

Are you saying the god of all things Q {q45tech} was wrong in his mighty lectures over the years?

[Infinitiguy19]

He is not wrong because he changes the trasmission fluid on a lift where the rear wheels are allowed to spin. He did say to put in BG Quick Clean (For A/T's) and go through every gear for about a minute (Not sure on the actual time).

So as you can see the BG transmission flush (or other machines like it) is the way to go for a severly abused transmission. Thats because you can do the above with no consequences The drain and refill does'nt get every part of the trasmission clean right away but it does the job sooner or later.

[qship96]

He is not wrong because he changes the trasmission fluid on a lift where the rear wheels are allowed to spin. He did say to put in BG Quick Clean (For A/T's) and go through every gear for about a minute (Not sure on the actual time).

So as you can see the BG transmission flush (or other machines like it) is the way to go for a severly abused transmission. Thats because you can do the above with no consequences The drain and refill does'nt get every part of the trasmission clean right away but it does the job sooner or later.

That is not what I was referring to, I was saying that qtech always said not to do the procedure the original poster was describing in the first post of this thread, as he claimed it would starve the planetary gears- yet the 02-06q FSM recommends this exact procedure, as do most newer nissan/Inf. models......what is in question is whether or not rear planetaries actually "starve" for fluid by performing this procedure or not.your own link makes one wonder? Either way, makes no difference to me, as I am a firm believer in 15K simple drain/fills.

[Infinitiguy19]

Well if done correctly then I see no way it could do any damage as Maxnix said its a poor mans BG machine. Now if you not fast enough too maintain the proper level of transmission fluid then I could see damage occuring.

If one could do this method correctly on a lift and go through all the gears then its like a BG flush for half or less the cost!