I am trying to create a capacities chart on my specsheet on my website, so I am not having to pull "the books" each time I work on the car. I know that there is a total of 16 qts (or 16.75 qts, depending on the publication) of trans fluid in the entire system. How much do you need to add after a filter change, without draining the converter? Assuming a stock converter.
Wow! I am completely amazed that this simple question stumped everyone. Seems like most of us do this every 15-20K miles anyways...
well, if you just drained the trans. from the pan, refill minus 2 quarts. then check and fill as you need. your not concerned about the converter, unless you drained it as well.
So the converter only holds 2 qts? It takes 14 qts to swap a filter? I drained the converter this time, but not the trans, but I want a quick reference for in the future when I just swap filters and do NOT drain the converter. I have swapped filters and rebuilt the valve body at least twice in the past 5000 miles since I owned the car, but never drained the converter until now. (I have only driven 5k since I owned this car.) And I never measured how much I had to add. It seems like the converter drained about 2-3 qts into the bucket I drained it into when I pulled it out this time...
trans only holds 5 quarts, where are you gettin 16+? http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/fluid_capacity.asp
Look again, that's pints. tranny plus converter is 8-9 quarts depending on size of converter. That's 16-18 pints. I often wondered why they showed the tranny and rearend in pints, and the engine oil in quarts.
better read that again there sparky. youd have to have one helluva pan to take that much. wheres paul s. when we need him?
Motor Repair Manual says 9 quarts for a small converter C-4. That's with the stock pan. 10.25 quarts with the big converter. I have the 157 tooth bell (small converter) C-4 with a 2 qt aluminum pan and all total it holds about 10-11 quarts (don't recall the exact figure, I pour 8 qts in then start it and add till the level gets to the fill mark on the stick. For just a filter change, drain into a pan, pour that into used oil containers and see what came out to figure what needs to go back.
In my experience,, and that is limited on c4's. You can expect to add up to 4 qts. on a trans pan drop with filter replacement. I have only done a couple hundred. But as a rule, I expect to add 2 - 4 qts. Dan
9.5 inch converter, B&M deep cast pan, B&M trans cooler, Mine holds 13 quarts of Mobile 1 Synthetic motor oil. This is when dry. I usually tear mine down on fluid change time and inspect.
When swapping tranny's (C4's) if you do your brst to drain the converter and cooler it takes 10 quarts (maybe 11) with a typical V-8 Maverick. (10.5" bolt pattern converter) For a typical filter change it will take about 5 to 6 quarts depending on how much drains from the cooler and converter. NOTE: you should always drain the converter on a filter and band service. Would you leave 1 1/2 quarts of dirty oil in your engine when you change the oil? Get as much oil out of the tranny as you can. Always check the fill level with the dipstick, engine idling in park. fill to half way between the add and full marks - shift it through the gears with the wheels off the ground a few times and recheck the level. NEVER fill to the full mark unless your transmission is real warm. It will puke out more fluid than it doesn't need to run. Half way between the marks will keep it running and won't let it puke the oil out when it gets up to it's HOT running maximum temp.
Thanks, I have to do this today. I am at the point where I am adding coolant, topping off the trans, and starting up the new engine for the first time... I bought 4 qts, put one in the converter. I did not drain the transmission, It doesn't have 1000 miles on the last oil/filter change, so all I should have to replace is whatever was in the converter, whatever I lost from draining the cooler, and whatever has dripped out of the trans since it has been sitting. I am guessing 3-4 qts total.
